William C. MichaelWilliam C. Michael

Mr. William C. Michael, O.P., is the founder and headmaster of the Classical Liberal Arts Academy and a Lay Dominican in the Catholic Church. Mr. Michael received an honors degree in Classics and Ancient History from Rutgers University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He led the CLAA to accreditation with Cognia in 2024. He has been studying and teaching the classical liberal arts for over 30 years.

Understanding the Sacraments

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The sacraments are mysterious. In fact, the Greek word for sacrament is μυστήριον (mysterion). Protestants argue that there are only two sacraments and that they are optional signs used to celebrate “spiritual” experiences. Catholics disagree and argue that there are seven sacraments and that they are not merely signs of spiritual things, but the means by which God distributes His grace to us in the Church. What does the Bible teach us about the Sacraments?

Latin Vocabulary, Lesson 11. Metals

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To complete this lesson, complete the following tasks: Lesson Plumbum est molle et grave. Ferrum est durum et Calybs durior. Faciunt Cantharos e stamno, ahena e cupro, candelabra ex orichalco, thaleros ex argento, scutatos et coronatos ex auro. Argentum vivum, semper liquet, et corrodit metalla. Exposition Plumbum est molle et grave. Ferrum est durum et Calybs durior. Translation: Lead is soft and heavy. Iron is hard and steel heavier. Faciunt Cantharos e stamno, ahena e cupro, candelabra ex orichalco, thaleros ex argento, scutatos et coronatos ex auro. Argentum vivum, semper liquet, et corrodit metalla. Translation Lead is soft and heavy. … Continue

The Duties of Catholic Parents

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Catholic parents today are tormented by subjective ideas about parenting. The truth is that the duties of parents are limited and objective. Parents are not responsible for the choices their adult children make, nor for the response of their children to good Catholic parenting. They are simply responsible to carry out the work assigned to them (by God), knowing that God is also involved in the lives of their children and ultimately responsible for their salvation and happiness. In this extended talk (1 hr. 45 min.), Mr. and Mrs. Michael discuss the 27 duties of Catholic parents taught in the … Continue

Military Careers for Catholic Homeschool Students

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In Catholic homeschool circles, most students talk about three options as they approach adulthood: Religious vocations (rare) College studies Full-time work Outside of religious vocations, which are extremely rare today, college studies and full-time work can present real financial challenges to young Catholic adults. What few homeschool students talk about are the great military opportunities available to them. When most people think about the military, they think about soldiers being sent into combat with machine guns, but that’s a very small part of what our military does. The American military is an enormous institution that depends on every kind professional … Continue

Newman on Modern Students

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“The pleasurable excitement of reading what is new is their motive principle; and the imagination that they are doing something, and the boyish vanity which accompanies it, are their reward. They do not like Logic, they do not like Algebra, they have no taste for Mathematics; which only means that they do not like application, they do not like attention, they shrink from the effort and labour of thinking, and the process of true intellectual gymnastics.”

St. John Henry Newman
On the Idea of the University