Graduate Rite at Commencement

Wisdom hosts a feast. Proverbs 9:2 says of wisdom, “She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table.” When one finds wisdom, he finds a table filled with the best things: meat, wine, and everything for a feast. In contrast, the modern secular world offers data and information. While these tools are important, they focus on the mental and scientific part of knowledge, missing the heart, which is wisdom. Wisdom is living in step with God’s law and applying His word to our daily life. New Saint Andrews College desires to be a place of wisdom, which means NSA loves to celebrate and feast. This festive culture is seen at graduation and is highlighted in the wine ceremony at Commencement.

After the students receive their graduation diplomas, the faculty and graduates participate in the Graduate Rite. The NSA faculty, led by President Ben Merkle, stands with wine glasses raised and offers a toast to the graduating class. The faculty members say in Latin: “Omni cui multum datum est,” and the graduating students with glasses raised, respond saying, “Multum quaeretur ab eo.” Then they all drink together. 

This celebration marks several key elements of the college: the love of Latin, the high place of Scripture, the joy of celebration, and the lofty calling for NSA graduates. All of these things point to the college’s desire to promote wisdom.  

“To whom much is given, much will be required.”

The Latin phrase “Omni cui multum datum est, multum quaeretur ab eo,” means, “to whom much is given, much will be required.” Jesus says this in Luke 12:48. The fact that this parting toast is executed in Latin, demonstrates NSA's deep appreciation for the Latin language and its importance in Western culture. Latin has shaped Western culture for thousands of years. Students study many vital figures who used and were shaped by Latin: Augustine of Hippo, the Venerable Bede, Thomas Aquinas, Dante Alighieri, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and many more. In this ceremony, the faculty and graduates honor the work of the past, while they look to further that work of culture building.

In this ceremony, the faculty and graduates honor the work of the past, while they look to further that work of culture building.

This Graduate Rite also highlights the college’s love of Scripture. NSA has established its program on God’s word and works to ensure that the students know God’s word well. Students take theology in both freshman and senior years. This bookend of theology courses secure a solid theological foundation for students. As was said of John Bunyan, NSA desires to bleed the Bible throughout her institution. The Bible shapes who and what NSA is. 

The Bible shapes who and what NSA is. 

NSA also understands that God calls His people to work six days a week, giving His people one day to rest. This pattern of work and rest is for the good of God’s people. The rest that God gives is the rest of salvation won by the blood of Jesus. This atoning work brings joy and gladness to all that the students and faculty do at the college. It is the ground for all celebrations at the college, especially the Graduate Rite.  

When graduating from NSA, students step into a higher calling than when they were students at the college. Graduates must take up the mantle that the NSA faculty has given to them. The faculty are distinguished scholars and academics who have poured days, months, and years into these graduates. This is not a little gift. The reality is that this gift is more significant than graduates can understand at this point. The bar has been set high, and graduates must step up and receive. 

Graduates must take up the mantle that the NSA faculty has given to them.

The Graduate Rite reminds graduates that they have much to share with others out in the world, and God will hold them to that standard. Graduates should not bury or hoard this gift. In order to receive the NSA education properly, it must be shared with others. This sharing should not come from a place of pride, as if graduates have everything and others have nothing. Rather, graduates must share what they have received in the way they have received it: at a feasting table filled with good food and good drinks. This is the way of wisdom. Come out and celebrate wisdom with the graduates at this year’s Commencement.

Omni cui multum datum est, multum quaeretur ab eo. 

To whom much is given, much will be required.