Yesterday, I received a message from a Catholic mother who models a virtue needed to learn about and enjoy an authentic classical Catholic education. This virtue is valuable in all areas of life, especially when matters are confusing and immediate reactions would be ignorant and emotional. I wanted to share this letter as an example of this rare virtue and say a little about it below.
Dear Mr. Michael,
I am a Catholic homeschooling mother in [location] , and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your work.
Like many homeschooling parents, I have spent the past few years trying to find my footing amid the many approaches and trends in the homeschool world. I first came across your Academy on YouTube some time ago. While I was intrigued by many of your ideas, I will admit that at the time I found parts of your commentary difficult to receive, and I think I wasn’t yet in a place to fully understand or appreciate your perspective.
In the meantime, I explored other approaches, including Charlotte Mason education, which initially drew me in with its beauty and appeal. However, over time I found myself wanting something more structured and ultimately more rooted in a deeper intellectual and spiritual tradition.
This led me back to your work, and I recently read your book on Understanding Classical Catholic Education. I was genuinely struck by it. It was both eye-opening and clarifying, and it helped me see how classical education is not only part of our Western heritage, but deeply connected to our Catholic tradition.
I have also revisited your talks with a different perspective, and I now better understand the conviction and urgency behind your message. While your directness initially caught me off guard, I have come to appreciate the clarity and purpose behind it.
Thank you for the work you are doing to articulate and promote a more disciplined and meaningful vision of education. I have found your framework—especially your presentation of the spectrum from modern education to classical liberal arts education, along with the improvement plan—to be very helpful as I continue to grow in my own understanding and practice.
May God bless you in your continued work.
Sincerely,
[Name]
In ancient Greek philosophy, ἐποχή (epoche) referred to the habit of delaying judgment. The Oxford English Dictionary defines this as, “suspension of judgement or belief in the face of the impossibility of attaining actual knowledge.”((Oxford English Dictionary, “epoché (n.),” December 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1059292463.)) Wise men know what they don’t know, and are not willing to commit to a position when they know that they do not possess the knowledge necessary to make a reasonable judgment. Rather than immediately publish their present opinion, they decline to say anything and continue learning.
A perfect example of this is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. As she watched the mysteries of the Gospel unfold in real-time, she did not react with judgment. When, for example, the shepherds arrived at the place where the Jesus was born, and shared the message they received from an angel, we read:
“[The shepherds] went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” ((New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Lk 2:16–19.))
This delayed judgment or prudent “skepticism” is a virtue we need to take the time to study, discuss and deliberate on complicated subjects in confusing times. If we learn to think and behave in this way, we will be able to enjoy many good things available only to those who do so.
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
