There's no need to be superstitious now, because Cambridge has officially conferred the PhD upon me. With my parents grinning in one corner, the Latin was said, I kneeled and received my degree. You can read a full description of the ceremony here, but here's the pertinent part:
The Praelector presenting the graduand holds the candidate by his or her right hand and says:
"Dignissima domina, Domina Procancellaria et tota Academia praesento vobis hunc virum (hanc mulierem) quem (quam) scio tam moribus quam doctrina esse idoneum (idoneam) ad gradum assequendum (name of degree); idque tibi fide mea praesto totique Academiae."
["Most worthy Vice-Chancellor and the whole University, I present to you this man (this woman) whom I know to be suitable as much by character as by learning to proceed to the degree of (name of degree); for which I pledge my faith to you and to the whole University."]
The graduand's name is called and they step forward and kneel. Clasping the graduand's hands, the Vice-Chancellor says:
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| I spent many, many hours in that library behind me. |
["By the authority committed to me, I admit you to the degree of (name of degree) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."]
Oh, and as luck would have it, the man acting as Vice-Chancellor for my ceremony was Rowan Williams -- until recently the Archbishop of Canterbury, and generally an amazing man! If anyone is qualified to give me a degree in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, it's him! I'd been told that the ceremony is almost disappointing in its brevity, but I thought it was perfect: arcane and ritualistic enough to have a sense of gravitas, yet no hours sat listening to sub-par speakers and lists of strangers' names. I'd love to do it again! But oh, wait, I have the highest degree it's possible to achieve. Woooooooooo!!!!
