William C. Michael

In this talk, Mr. William C. Michael of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy discusses the need for practical objects to direct and order classical studies for modern students.

In modern schools, students are taught to answer controversial questions using what is called the “Five Paragraph Essay”. While this is a simple and helpful model for beginners, we can learn from the example of St. Thomas Aquinas to do better. In the document below, I have provided instructions for how to write an argumentative essay following the method employed in Scholastic philosophy. Please note that this method was discussed in a live class held on October 27, 2023.

It is common to find students, and their parents, complaining about schools today. Students complain about subjects to be studied, textbooks to be read, lessons taught by teachers, assignments to be completed, tests to be taken, etc.. The modern student sets himself up as the judge of schools, which is absurd. Parents often join their students in this unreasonable judgment, not understanding what schools are for. First, no one has any need of a school. All students may study whatever they wish, however they wish. A student can grow up and live an entirely self-sufficient life. He can direct his … Continue

Attributed to St. Ambrose (340-397), this hymn is sung at Lauds (Morning Prayer) on Mondays. The chant below is performed by the monks of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux. Splendor paternae gloriae,de luce lucem proferens,lux lucis et fons luminis,diem dies illuminans. Verusque sol, illaberemicans nitore perpeti,iubarque Sancti Spiritusinfunde nostris sensibus. Votis vocemus et Patrem,Patrem perennis gloriae,Patrem potentis gratiae,1culpam releget lubricam. Informet actus strenuos,dentem retundat invidi,casus secundet asperos,donet gerendi gratiam. Mentem gubernet et regatcasto, fideli corpore;fides calore ferveat,fraudis venena nesciat. Christusque nobis sit cibus,potusque noster sit fides;laeti bibamus sobriamebrietatem Spiritus. Laetus dies hic transeat;pudor sit ut diluculum,fides velut meridies,crepusculum mens nesciat. … Continue

The following explanation of the works of Plato was written by Thomas Taylor in 1804. “The dialogues of Plato are of various kinds; not only with regard to those different matters, which are the subjects of them; but in respect of the manner also, in which they are composed or framed, and of the form under which they make their appearance to the reader. It will therefore, as I imagine, be not improper, in pursuance of the admonition given us by Plato himself in his dialogue named Phaedrus, and in imitation of the example set us by the antient Platonists, … Continue

AETERNA caeli gloria,beata spes mortalium,celsi Parentis Unice,castaeque proles Virginis: Da dexteram surgentibus,exsurgat et mens sobria.flagrans et in laudem Deigrates rependat debitas. Ortus refulget lucifer,ipsamque lucem nuntiat,cadit caligo noctium,lux sancta nos illuminet. Manensque nostris sensibusnoctem repellat saeculiomnique fine temporispurgata servet pectora. Quaesita iam primum fidesradicet altis sensibus,secunda spes congaudeat,tunc maior exstat caritas. Sit, Christe, rex piissime,tibi Patrique gloria,cum Spiritu Paraclito,in sempiterna saecula. Amen.