Mount Alvernia College Opening Mass Analysis

Ritual is a constant feature of all human societies (B.Donald 1991). The Mount Alvernia College opening mass is a ritual, focused on the Franciscan ethos and community. Through careful analysis, using Terrance Lovat’s ideologies of the framework of a ritual, it can be proven that the annual opening mass of Mt Alvernia College is a ritual (Goldberg, Blundell, & Jordan T.L, 2009. Terrance Lovat’s ideologies are that there are 5 stages of a ritual. Which are, step 1, leaving the ordinary. Step 2, engage in a preparatory rite, such as an entrance into a sacred place. Step 3, experiencing a high point or climax of the ritual. Step 4, as a community joining in a form of celebration. Finally, Step 5, leaving the ritual, back to the ordinary (Goldberg,
Although, we have similar symbols to a streamline Catholic Eucharistic mass, such as candles, cloths, the bible, altar and holy water; we also a have unique symbols such as the San Damiano cross, scripture reading of the Franciscan creed opposed to the Nicene or apostle’s creed, the location or sacred place used (in San Damiano) and the clothing of the priest. The fours symbols above allow viewers to affirm that the community is of Franciscan faith. This is as these symbols are not present in an orthodox catholic church. The sacred place of San Damiano, and the San Damiano cross is a symbol, connecting the college community to St Francis (Sacred Destinations, 2017). The first event of the Franciscan faith is when God spoke to Francis through the San Damiano cross, telling him to rebuild his church (Franciscan Friars, 2017). Assisi is where Saint Francis did this, on a small hill, named San Damiano (Franciscan Friars, 2017). The college mass was held in the san Damiano due to its direct link to the founders of the Franciscan faith. The clothing of the priest or celebrant is also different in the college ritual as the priest is clothed in brown attire rather than the orthodox white garment, this is also specifically Franciscan (Together at One Alter,
The Mt Alvernia College opening mass is indeed a ritual as is follows Terrance Lovat’s five step structure of a ritual, as well as using divergent scripture readings and symbols to make is recognisably Franciscan. The use of unorthodox catholic readings and symbols in the ritual affirms to the community the Franciscan ethos heavily woven throughout the college community and the commitment made daily to keep the Missionary Franciscan sisters ideologies and spirit alive in our