The Naples Daily News has a story about the first day of classes at Ave Maria University in Florida, the upstart (and way conservative) Catholic school started by Domino’s Pizza magnate Tom Monaghan.

“Salve, regina, mater, misericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve …” chants Ave Maria University professor Daniel Nodes. Freshman Keith Badinelli recites the prayer in perfect unison. In English: “Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Badinelli doesn’t need the translation. He’s new to the school, but the Latin prayer is one students at the conservative Catholic college are very familiar with.

For most Ave Maria students, it’s not just a consistent way to begin class – it’s a welcome reminder of where they came from, and why they’re here.