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In September 2020, St. Michael's Abbey began the Archangel Institute, a faith-formation program for young men aged 14-18. The Institute offers weekly high school-level religion courses, spiritual outreach to parents, and quarterly father-and-son days of recollection to foster authentic Catholic maturity among our youth. Additionally, the Institute continues the Prep School's long-standing tradition of an annual pilgrimage to Rome for fathers and their sons.
These courses, which for some years formed the core religion curriculum at St. Michael’s Prep, are taught by Norbertines and offered on Monday evenings for the duration of one academic year: September – May. It is hoped that the curriculum, which can either supplement or substitute for other religion courses, is recognized by various entities as fulfilling certain religion requirements.
In addition to classes, the Archangel Institute provides days of recollection with a view toward the human formation of our young men. These days, designed for the students and their fathers, occur four times in one academic year on a Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The day typically includes a talk by a Norbertine or an outside speaker, Mass, lunch, and a sport activity.
* Fee includes full-year tuition, polo & sweat shirts, and lunch for Days of Recollection. Fee does not include books, retreats, or Rome Trip.
** Fee includes full-year tuition, and lunch for Days of Recollection. Fee does not include books, retreats, or Rome Trip.
Students will encounter the four pillars of the Catholic Faith as indicated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Creed, Sacraments, Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. Lectures will be geared toward the fuller integration of these four dimensions into daily life. Special emphasis will be placed on fostering true Christian maturity in the context of a vibrant Liturgical life.
This is a 1 year, 1 credit course.
Essential Texts:
• My Catholic Faith – Louis LaRavoire, S.T.D
Supplementary Texts:
• Catechism of the Catholic Church – Catholic Church
• Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma – Ludwig Ott
After treatment of certain principles necessary for the study of Sacred Scripture, the course will present an overview of how God worked through His chosen people. With this background, students will be exposed to the Scriptural teaching about the Person and Mission of Christ. Finally, there will be an overview of the Early Church and the working of the Holy Spirit within Her.
This is a 1 year, 1 credit course.
Students will be introduced to the elements of philosophy: logic, natural philosophy, the study of the soul, and ethics.
This is a 1 year, 1 credit course.
Handbooks to be provided by the teacher:
Physics – Aristotle:
De Anima – Aristotle:
Nichomachean Ethics – Aristotle
This course dedicated to marriage and family ethics consists of three main parts: marriage and family from the perspective of natural reason; marriage and family in the light of revelation; and practical advice about marriage and families based upon the conclusions reached.
This is a ½ year, ½ credit course.
Essential Texts:
Supplementary Texts:
Students will review Catholic principles as a response to contemporary ethical issues. Particular attention will be directed toward issues such as abortion, contraception, euthanasia, in-vitro fertilization, and human cloning. Emphasis will be given to the biblical perspective necessary for students to make a well-reasoned response to the classic objections against the faith. Particular attention will be given to the Eucharist, the Canon of the Bible, The Bible Alone, Apostolic Authority, Marian Doctrines, Confession, Prayer to the Saints, Purgatory, Tradition, Doctrinal Development, Priestly Celibacy, Different Denominations, and Christ’s One True Church.
This is a ½ year, ½ credit course.
Essential Texts:
Supplementary Texts:
Is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of Jesus Christ.
