William C. Michael

In the contemporary world, Catholic adults are increasingly surrounded by a continuous stream of content—books, podcasts, online lectures, videos, and social media commentary. Much of this content, while often well-intentioned, is consumed in a disorganized and passive manner. The result is not intellectual formation but fragmentation. Catholic men and women may pursue occasional readings in theology or philosophy, watch a few lectures on sacred Scripture or the lives of the saints, or quote well-known lines from Marcus Aurelius or St. Augustine. Yet without a coherent framework of study, these pursuits often fail to produce real understanding or moral transformation. The … Continue

Sunday, July 13Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimePsalter Week III Monday, July 14Monday of Week 15 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional Memorial: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin Tuesday, July 15Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchProper of SaintsPsalter: Common of Pastors or Doctors Wednesday, July 16Wednesday of Week 15 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional Memorial: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Thursday, July 17Thursday of Week 15 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week III Friday, July 18Friday of Week 15 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional Memorial: Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest Saturday, July 19Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIIOptional … Continue

In the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, students are often required to demonstrate their mastery of assigned readings by composing written outlines. These outlines are not mere assignments to be completed for a grade; they are meant to prove that the student has read the text thoroughly, understood its structure, and studied it with attention and care. An outline that is well composed shows both the form and the content of a text, and it allows the teacher to see clearly whether the student has truly understood what he has read. The first step in writing such an outline is to … Continue

Sunday, July 6 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimePsalter Week II Monday, July 7 Monday of Week 14 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week II Tuesday, July 8 Tuesday of Week 14 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week II Wednesday, July 9 Wednesday of Week 14 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIOptional Memorial: Saints Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, Martyrs Thursday, July 10 Thursday of Week 14 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week II Friday, July 11 Memorial of Saint Benedict, AbbotProper of SaintsPsalter: Common of Holy Men Saturday, July 12 Saturday of Week 14 in Ordinary TimePsalter Week IIOptional Memorial: Blessed Virgin Mary

In the modern age of information, where nearly every question can be typed into a search engine or asked of an AI chatbot, we would expect truth to be more accessible than ever. The entire repository of human knowledge is, in theory, available to anyone with an internet connection. But despite this apparent abundance, there is a deep and troubling problem at the heart of our digital world: the systems we rely on for knowledge are not designed to give us what is true. They are designed to give us what is popular. This single flaw has led to the … Continue

The art of rhetoric, the discipline concerned with the effective use of language in persuasion, was studied and refined by the greatest minds of ancient Rome, with Marcus Tullius Cicero standing as its most influential teacher. For Cicero, rhetoric was not merely a skill useful in politics or law, but a vital part of the good life, an essential art for anyone aspiring to virtue and wisdom in public and private affairs. His formulation of the five canons of rhetoric has endured for over two millennia, providing the structural foundation for both classical and modern approaches to persuasive communication. These … Continue

So today is Sunday, July 6, and this is William Michael, the headmaster of the classical liberal arts academy. One of the most frequent questions that I receive comes from adult men asking how they can obtain a classical education. They may be through their own formal studies. They may be established in their own career, married, starting a family. I’ve even had older men established in their careers in the latter half of their lives, wanting to get the education that they never had, and seeing it as a good opportunity later in life to do that. And so … Continue

I am often asked what I believe about the origin of the world, and how I reconcile that belief with the claims of modern science. I believe that the world was created by a God of infinite wisdom and power, not by a long process of incremental development, but instantaneously, in a single act of incomprehensible and miraculous power. Anything less would be inappropriate for a divine being of such greatness. This is not a belief formed in reaction to modern ideas, nor is it based on a simple or literal reading of the Book of Genesis. Rather, it is … Continue

It’s often assumed by Christians that there is little value in the study of pagan philosophy when we have works written by Christian authors.  As a Classicist, I have frequently been asked by parents why the kids are studying this pagan author rather than a saint or doctor of the Church. It’s a good question, but it’s only asked because modern Catholics haven’t studied the ancient philosophers.  If they did, they’d know the difference between Christian and pre-Christian teaching, and why pre-Christian teaching is so important. An exclusive Christian view ignores the fact that reason is a natural gift from … Continue

In the midst of a fast-paced and often secular world, Catholic adults are increasingly seeking ways to order their lives around prayer, reflection, and devotion. Yet building a meaningful and consistent devotional life can be daunting without guidance. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy offers a solution rooted in tradition, discipline, and faithfulness: a structured devotional program that centers on three core courses—Daily Scripture Reading, The Holy Rosary, and The Liturgy of the Hours. These courses are not merely educational but formational. They invite adults to enter into the rhythm of the Church’s spiritual life, cultivating habits that align the soul … Continue