The Five “I’s” of a Catholic University

I would like to share with you, what characteristics I think a Catholic University that is worthy of this name should possess. I have found five of them and they all start with the letter I.

First is innovation. Indeed if there is no innovation you cannot preserve. To be faithful to a strong tradition means to be open to the future with confidence. True tradition never stops innovation. Saints were the greatest revolutionaries. What is stopping tradition is novelty without tradition.

Second is ideas. Truth will make you free and freedom will make you true. You cannot have truth without freedom. But to be free here is not in the anarchist sense, where everything is possible, but the sense where everything is probable.

Third is independence. A true Catholic University has to collaborate with civil authorities but not be their hostage, especially in parts of the world where political systems are indifferent or against Christianity. In this way the University risks becoming the disease that it wants to cure. True Christians kneel only in front of God.

Fourth is instruction. A true Catholic University looks beyond and knows that everything you are learning is for a much higher and noble cause than “to have a piece of paper”. A University that would transform itself into a diploma factory to favor certain religious orders, maybe struggling with vocations, would be a misdeed and a deceit.

Fifth is identity. A Catholic University is Catholic first, so has not to water itself down to please the world. Especially in areas where Christianity is in the minority, a Catholic University has to be a companion of Jesus in the desert, fighting with the devil and not becoming like him.