Alma Mater

ALMA MATER. - A medieval expression, synonymous with University. The concept of "mother" was applied to the university from the very origins of this glorious institution (13th century); and before long the correlative concept of fecundity was added to it: "alma."

The oldest documents give us three chronologically distinct expressions: 1) Mater Universitas, which is found for the first time in an Oxford Ordinance of about 1300 (cf. H. Anstey, Munimenta academica Oxon., 1, London 1868, p. 77); 2) Alma Universitas, frequent in documents of the 14th century and later; 3) Alma Mater, which appears in documents of the second half of the 14th century, almost a fusion of the first two expressions. Innocent IV spoke of Oxford as a mater faccenda, which "de utero suo filios producit ad iustitiam eruditos" (6 Oct. 1254). A century later, in 1342, King Edward III of England regarded the Universitas of Cambridge as "mater et propagatrix studentium peritorum." From this concept of the Mater Universitas derive the terms matricula and matriculation of students (obimni).

Said of persons and of institutions, the term almus always contains a meaning of honor and veneration, of beauty and holiness (Festus, s. v.). Thus A. M., referred to a university, is a noble appellation, which on the lips of its students expresses affectionate esteem and gratitude toward the Athenaeum that has formed them intellectually and spiritually. The choice of this academic expression cannot have been unconnected with liturgical inspiration, offered above all by the Marian hymns Alma Redemptoris Mater (v.), and the "Dei Mater alma" of the Ave maris stella.

Igino Cecchetti