William C. Michael

Catholic apologetics is the work of explaining, defending, and sharing the truths of the Catholic faith. It is a work that has always been important, but in today’s world, it is more necessary than ever. Many Catholics find themselves unprepared when questioned about their beliefs. They may know that the Church teaches something, but they often cannot explain why. In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, the study of Catholic apologetics is not approached as a separate, modern discipline. Instead, it is rooted in the timeless studies of the classical liberal arts, classical philosophy, and Scholastic theology. These studies give students … Continue

What Is a Syllable? A syllable is a single unit of sound in a word. In Greek, every syllable must have a vowel or a diphthong, which is a pair of vowels sounded together. Therefore, the number of syllables in a word equals the number of vowels or diphthongs it contains. For example, in the Greek word for truth, “alētheia,” there are four vowels or diphthongs, and therefore four syllables. Naming the Syllables: Ultima, Penult, Antepenult Greek grammar gives special names to the final syllables in a word. These names are important because they help us describe accent placement and … Continue

In this lesson, we take our first steps into the study of grammar by learning about the basic elements of thought and language. Before we can understand how words work in sentences, we need to understand what we use words for. We begin by exploring how we come to know things—through our five senses and through our awareness of feelings and ideas. These things we know, whether we see them or simply feel them inside, are called objects. We will also learn what a word is and how it helps us express our thoughts about these objects. This simple but … Continue

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, theologians and faithful alike have wrestled with the relationship between conscience and Church authority. In an age that champions personal autonomy and moral subjectivism, the tension between obeying one’s conscience and submitting to the Church’s authoritative teaching seems greater than ever. However, within the Catholic tradition, these two demands are not contradictory. Properly understood, conscience and Church authority are ordered to the same divine truth and are complementary rather than contradictory. To understand this relationship, we must consider three authoritative sources of Catholic teaching: the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the Summa … Continue

Understanding the Catechism of the Catholic Church: An Introduction In the life of the Catholic Church, few resources are as central, as trustworthy, and as transformative as the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a gift from the Church to the world, offering a clear and complete summary of Catholic doctrine for believers of every age and background. Whether read by a parish priest, a high school student, or a parent leading religious instruction at home, the Catechism serves as a compass that faithfully points toward the truth of Christ. But what exactly is a catechism? Why is the … Continue

Any parents or students interested in learning how to manage self-paced studies in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy should read this article carefully and use it as a guide for their studies. When I tutor students, I prepare weekly planners that guide their studies and ensure steady progress in every subject. Over time, it became clear to me that the system I use could be reduced to a small number of simple actions. Once these actions were clearly defined, they could be automated and made available to all students. That is what now exists in the Management reports on the … Continue