For the purposes of these discussions, I will use the following definitions:
Spirit - the shared feelings of passion for the university and football team
Spirituality - the personal search for meaning in one's life through contemplation and prayer
Religion - the organized creed and practices of a specific religion.
In the context of this blog, I will use the term Catholic to refer to the religious faith rather than spirituality. It should go without saying that the three are not mutually exclusive.
For example, I would consider the Leprechaun and the Notre Dame Victory March to be examples of ND Spirit - icons which are well recognized but hold no claim of spiritual or religious meaning. Such symbols are typical of most collegiate programs and is part of the quiltwork of college football pageantry which makes the game so vivid across the country.
As a counter example, the Grotto is a place on campus which is primarily spiritual. While it has elements which are specifically Catholic (statue of Virgin Mary, prayer services), it is primarily a place for quiet contemplative prayer. I would contrast this with the gameday ritual of players attending mass before every home game as, of course, a religious activity, in that it is a distinctly Catholic ceremony.
Other campus icons such as the golden dome and the name of the university themselves are tributes to the Virgin Mother, Mary. While these symbols have strong spiritual meaning, the meaning is best felt as part of the Catholic faith in that Marian beliefs and practices have a strong Catholic tradition but are less prevalent with many other Christian denominations in the US. For my purposes I will consider them primarily Catholic rather than spiritual in that they are not universally accepted symbols. (this is not thesis-worthy work, so please do not be offended if I inadvertantly misrepresent beliefs)
So where do we put other familiar campus icons such as Touchdown Jesus and Number One Moses? I believe that part of the reason for so much passion (positive and negative) about Notre Dame football is that many of the prevalent symbols can have meanings in all three areas. I will revisit some of these icons in later postings.
I imagine that some of the same reasons that attract certain people to support Notre Dame cause detractors to have an active dislike for the team. Disregarding religious affiliation and prejudices, some Catholics are leery of the identification of the team with the faith. Co-opting spiritual symbols into the realm of college football pageantry has the potential of reducing the symbol's power to inspire and/or program negative responses for opponents of the team. Beyond this, the common equating of Notre Dame as the holding some prestiged position in the Catholic faith is also poor religion. Catholicism is the largest denomination in the United States; every team in college football has Catholic players and fans, just as Notre Dame has players who are not Catholic. To claim that Notre Dame has favored status as a Catholic football institution is one of the reasons cited by ardent opponents (haters). Yet, there is clearly a following amongst Catholics that gives ND a fanbase which is far more national than most college teams. This is an area ripe for examination, as the roots of this history are as much historical and cultural as they are religious.
Does the university foster this role? The athletic programs certainly benefit from this prestiged position financially, using their broad national appeal to retain independence and negotiate its own television contracts. However, there have been signs of tension in the administration (Notre Dame is governed by the Holy Cross Order of Catholic priests) over the proper role of athletics within the university mission, which will sometimes be at odds with the football program.
The University mission statement itself expresses tension between the need to be a great learning institution and a place of free thought and belief with maintaining its Catholic beliefs and traditions. The following excerpt from the university mission statement demonstrates this:
The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic academic community of higher learning, animated from its origins by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The University is dedicated to the pursuit and sharing of truth for its own sake. As a Catholic university one of its distinctive goals is to provide a forum where through free inquiry and open discussion the various lines of Catholic thought may intersect with all the forms of knowledge found in the arts, sciences, professions, and every other area of human scholarship and creativity. The intellectual interchange essential to a university requires, and is enriched by, the presence and voices of diverse scholars and students.
The Catholic identity of the University depends upon, and is nurtured by, the continuing presence of a predominant number of Catholic intellectuals. This ideal has been consistently maintained by the University leadership throughout its history. What the University asks of all its scholars and students, however, is not a particular creedal affiliation, but a respect for the objectives of Notre Dame and a willingness to enter into the conversation that gives it life and character. Therefore, the University insists upon academic freedom which makes open discussion and inquiry possible.
Notre Dame is dedicated to being both a world class university and provide an environment where spirituality can flourish. It is not particularly evangelical, but rather provides opportunities for faith and allows individuals to choose their own level of involvement. There is a fair range in the approach to religion amongst Catholic universities in the United States, and Notre Dame is considerably more secular than institutions where formation plays a central role, such as Franciscan University or Ave Maria University. I believe that the university stays mostly silent on the more blatant secular uses of religious symbols surrounding the football team while providing opportunities to fans and students alike to find some spiritual meaning in the experience of the university. I also believe that it is this distinction which makes the 'ND Spirit' a unique phenomenom in college football and drives so much passion in its fans. Even those who can't vebalize it, often describe the ND experience with feelings of attachment which go beyond team loyalty.
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