Antonine University (UA) celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds and the 30th anniversary of its foundation, upon the invitation of its Rector, Fr. Michel Saghbiny.
On this occasion, the University held a celebratory Mass at Our Lady of the Seeds Church on the Hadat–Baabda Campus, presided over by Rev. Abbot Joseph Bou Raad, Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order (OAM) and UA Chancellor, and concelebrated by Fr. Saghbiny and Fr. Ziad Maatouk, Secretary General and Vice Rector of Administration, in the presence of members of the Order’s Council, vice rectors, members of the Board of Trustees, and members of the academic, administrative, and student bodies.
On Education Beyond Knowledge
During the homily, Abbot Bou Raad reflected on the Word of God as a seed offered to all, explaining that when hearts become hardened, they can no longer receive it, leaving the seed outside, unable to take root. He stressed the importance of becoming “good soil,” open to questioning, reflection, relationships, and the search for truth.
He noted that the University exists as a space that brings people together not merely to accumulate knowledge, but to listen deeply and leave transformed. Education, he emphasized, should shape individuals inwardly and guide them toward becoming specialized professionals grounded in human and spiritual growth.
He added that true transformation begins when individuals acknowledge their own ignorance, explaining that those who refuse to recognize what they do not know cannot grow, while those who remain open to learning continue to expand their horizons.
Abbot Bou Raad also emphasized the constant presence of the Virgin Mary as a mother who accompanies and supports all those who call upon her in moments of need and in their search for God.
He further underlined that Antonine University has always sought the intercession of the Virgin Mary, expressing hope that the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds would remain a blessed occasion for all and that Mary’s encouraging presence would continue to accompany the University community throughout its journey.
He also expressed the hope that the University would preserve its openness, which he described as an example to follow, allowing everyone within its community to feel safe and able to pursue knowledge without rivalry over who is smarter or stronger. What matters most, he noted, is walking together on one shared path so that, with God’s guidance, Lebanon may become a true homeland united by mutual love, solidarity, and shared belonging rather than division and competition.
On Symbols, Heritage, and Continuity
Before the Rector’s address, Fr. Jean Al Alam, Vice Rector for Integral Human Development, presented the symbolism behind the liturgical vestment specially designed for the occasion and produced by the Antonine Workshop for Liturgical Vestments using traditional vegetal silk, reflecting both Lebanese artisanal heritage and environmental consciousness.
The vestment incorporated several symbolic elements: the cedar of Lebanon, representing steadfast faith and deep ecclesial roots; oak branches inspired by the landscape surrounding the Monastery of Mar Chaaya, the mother home of the Antonine Order, symbolizing strength, patience, and resilience; and olive branches embodying peace, love, and service to humanity.
The back of the vestment featured the Monastery of Mar Chaaya as a place of prayer and union with God, alongside the Antonine Tau and the emblem of the 325th Jubilee of the Antonine Maronite Order, for which the vestment was specially created.
Fr. Al Alam also explained that the crown designed for the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds carried a symbolic reference to the 30-year journey of Antonine University and to the continuity of the Order’s mission across generations, linking memory, heritage, and hope for the future.
On Values, Nationhood, and Human Responsibility
Following the Mass, Fr. Saghbiny delivered a speech in which he stated: “In light of the circumstances we have endured and continue to endure, Antonine University chose to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its foundation and the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds with its eyes fixed on the nation’s deep wounds, on its students and their families, their homes, and their towns.”
Fr. Saghbiny’s address was titled “The University as a Laboratory of Values,” as he reflected on what he described as the distortion of values and their meanings in today’s world. He pointed out that “the aggressor, the criminal, and the killer have become portrayed as the most ethical figures and even as mediators of peace; human dignity has become reserved for a select category of people; security and safety are imposed through threats and intimidation; and truth is delivered through distortion, misinformation, and slander. In such times, questioning the meaning of values becomes both a right and a duty.”
“We must reread our values,” he added, “because what is presented to us today as values is distorted and misleading. The value of peace cannot justify violence and killing, and the sacred right to self-defense cannot justify massacres and forced displacement.”
Fr. Saghbiny continued: “We educate generations of students so they may become distinguished individuals who recognize equality in dignity and respect differences in ideas and diversity in belonging.”
He also highlighted the central place that values occupy at Antonine University: “At our University, we seek truth in order to apply it consistently and communicate it wisely. In pursuit of excellence, we strive to achieve the highest standards in education, research, and service. Our diversity is safeguarded by fostering an inclusive academic community that respects the differences and diversity of its members.”
He added: “Integrity, for us, means encouraging the University community to act ethically, honestly, and fairly. Responsibility means strengthening solidarity and active citizenship through actions that preserve sustainability. Finally, through cultural awareness, engagement in creative work, and the promotion of local and global cultural heritage, we express beauty.”
Fr. Saghbiny also expressed concern that even the simplest humanitarian demands, such as mourning the martyrdom of children or condemning the targeting of paramedics and journalists, have become grounds for accusations of betrayal.
“What defines national responsibility?” he asked. “We may buy and sell whatever we wish, but not our country, please. Unfortunately, Lebanon borders an imaginary victim that claims a sacred mandate for perpetual revenge, annihilating whomever and whatever it wishes, and asserting a divine title deed that permits it to kill and settle wherever it desires. Pope Leo XIV said: ‘Do not invoke the name of God in choices of death.’”
He concluded by stating: “If Antonine University has chosen these values as part of its educational approach, we affirm that our students also acquire many other values through their respective fields of study. We believe in the effectiveness of these values because we aspire to contribute to Lebanon’s transition from a land of contradictions to a land of mission, and from a country where civilizational identities collide to one where spiritual identities interact and complement one another within a unifying national identity.”
On Legacy, Mission, and Hope
The celebration concluded with an exchange of greetings and a toast marking the occasion. In a symbolic gesture inspired by the Feast of Our Lady of the Seeds, attendees also received two bottles of olive oilblessed by Abbot Bou Raad and offered as a sign of sharing, blessing, and attachment to the land.
Coming directly from southern Lebanon, the gift carried a meaningful reminder of the values of solidarity, faith, and belonging that continue to accompany the University’s journey.
As Antonine University marks 30 years since its foundation, the occasion reaffirmed its commitment to remaining a space where education goes beyond the transmission of knowledge to form individuals guided by truth, openness, responsibility, and human dignity.
Under the protection of Our Lady of the Seeds, the University continues to look ahead with hope, carrying forward a mission rooted in serving both the individual and society, while contributing to a more united, humane, and purposeful future.