Blog

Starting Late: Restoring Order in the Home When Habits Have Already Gone Wrong

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Many young mothers begin family life with good desires, but without firm principles. They love their husbands. They love their children. They want a peaceful Catholic home. They want reverence at Mass. They want ordered sleep, happy children, and time for prayer. Yet many find themselves, after a year or two, living in disorder. The baby does not sleep well. The mother is exhausted. The father comes home from work and is quickly handed a child. Church becomes stressful. The child whines, squirms, cries, and resists restraint. The mother feels embarrassed and helpless. The father feels pressured. The couple may … Continue

Don’t Be Presumptuous about “Family Planning”

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Summary Young Catholic couples should not feel pressured to have large families by cultural or political messaging. Decisions about children must be made prudently and privately by husband and wife, based on their real circumstances, including health, finances, and social environment. Large families are not a requirement of Catholic teaching, and having many children should not be treated as an ideal in itself. Couples must avoid unrealistic expectations about marriage and parenting, especially the assumption that they can easily raise perfectly devout children regardless of circumstances. Family life is long, demanding work that requires serious preparation, patience, and adaptability. Rather … Continue

Save 30-50% off on Verbum Academic Software

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One tool I use daily for study and writing is Verbum, which is one of the largest digital libraries available for Catholic books. I’m happy to announce that Verbum has added the Classical Liberal Arts Academy to its list of recognized colleges, seminaries and universities, and offers 30-50% off on its academic software for enrolled students. To request this discount, you will need a letter from the CLAA verifying your enrollment status, which we’re happy to provide. Verbum is highly recommended. God bless your studies, Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.HeadmasterClassical Liberal Arts Academy

Man and Machine: Generic vs. Individual Superiority

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In the present age of artificial intelligence, it has become common to assert that man is superior to machines. This claim is often made as though it were obvious, needing no defense. Yet when examined carefully, it becomes clear that such a statement is usually made in a generic and theoretical sense rather than in an individual and actual one. Machines already surpass many men not only in tasks associated with intelligence, but also in efficiency, consistency, and productivity in work. This fact forces us to reconsider what is really meant by human superiority. The question must therefore be posed … Continue

How to Handle Private Beliefs in Public Life

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Summary Living with strong convictions in a free and diverse society requires a clear distinction between private and public life. In private life, individuals may order their actions entirely according to their own beliefs. In public life, however, they must respect the equal rights and freedoms of others and cannot treat shared spaces as extensions of their own authority. The expression of beliefs requires prudence. While individuals are free to speak according to their convictions, public and professional contexts impose real consequences, which must be accepted as part of living in a free society rather than interpreted as violations of … Continue

Physical Education for Classical Schools

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Summary Modern education suffers from two extremes in physical training: on one side, sedentary and undisciplined children who are weak and unhealthy; on the other, overtrained athletes engaged in excessive, specialized sports that do not contribute to a well-lived life. Neither extreme is reasonable. Drawing on Aristotle, physical education must aim at a golden mean—a balanced development of the body that serves the soul. The body is the instrument of the soul, and without proper physical training, a person’s intellectual and moral potential cannot be fully realized. Physical discipline cultivates strength, endurance, temperance, and courage, all of which are necessary … Continue

Schools are Ready for Change

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In my work in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy I receive contacts from schools that acknowledge their awareness that the current school model is not sustainable and that improvement is needed. They are ready for change but there is a problem: being educated in modern schools themselves, and having no idea where to look for solutions, they are stuck. There is little to no knowledge of alternatives to the ordinary arrangement and operation of modern K-12 schools. The schools are not goal-oriented and designed for success in the present generation. They are still operating as schools did 30 years ago. … Continue

Holy Week in a Busy Home: Loving Christ in the Midst of Motherhood

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When Holy Week Feels Out of Reach Holy Week has come, and the Church grows quiet. The readings grow heavy, and we are invited to walk with Christ in His Passion—to watch, to pray, and to remain with Him. The Church slows down and asks us to look closely at suffering, love, and sacrifice. Yet in your home, nothing slows down. The baby is crying, and a toddler is pulling at your dress. Another child needs help, another is hungry, and another is upset. The house is full, the work is constant, and your body is tired. You may look … Continue

The Bible and Classical Education

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The relationship between the Bible, philosophy, and classical education is often misunderstood in modern discussions, especially among Christians. It is commonly assumed that the Bible replaces all other forms of knowledge, or that the world before Scripture was largely ignorant and in need of correction. From this assumption, it follows that children should be taught to consider only the Bible as a source of truth, as if it were sufficient for all intellectual development. Some even quote passages like 2 Timothy 3:15-16 as proof of this. However, when we examine the history of philosophy, the teaching of the Church Fathers, … Continue

Wednesday Parent Meetings

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Dear Parents, Each Wednesday evening at 9:00 PM (EST), my wife and I host an open Zoom meeting for CLAA families. All parents—both prospective and currently enrolled—are warmly invited to attend. There is no cost to participate, though registration is required. The meeting room opens promptly at 9:00 PM. I begin with a brief update on current developments within the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, along with timely guidance for parents based on the academic calendar. Following these remarks, the meeting is opened for discussion, where parents are free to ask questions and engage in conversation on any topics related to … Continue