Nestled in Virginia\u2019s Shenandoah Valley amid the breathtaking sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains is Christendom College, a stel- lar example of a small, orthodox Catholic liberal arts college. For more than a genera- tion, Christendom has been preparing under- graduates to live their faith within families, careers and vocations.

elementary school building in Triangle, Vir- ginia, about 45 minutes south of the nation\u2019s capital. Two years later, a permanent campus was established at its present site in Front Royal, 70 miles west of Washington, D.C.

emphasizing its role as an educational apos- tolate, requiring all professors to be Catho- lic and teach all classes through a Catholic prism, fostering a vibrant campus spiritual life and enforcing college regulations con- sistent with Catholic teachings. The spiritual emphasis is so comprehensive that the college says that Catholicism represents \u201cthe air that we breathe.\u201d

Consistent with its Catholic worldview, Christendom has an 84-credit core curricu- lum that constitutes about two-thirds of the four-year program. All courses in the fresh- man and sophomore years are prescribed.

Founded:197 7
Type of institution: Small liberal arts college
Setting: Small town
Undergraduate enrollment: 397 (2006\u201307

These include four theology courses, includ- ing \u201cFundamentals of Catholic Doctrine I and II.\u201d There also are four required philosophy

For the junior and senior years, students must take two more theology courses (\u201cMoral Theology\u201d and \u201cApologetics\u201d) and two ad- ditional philosophy courses. Two years of a foreign language\u2014Latin, Greek, French or Spanish\u2014are required as are courses in Eng- lish, history, science and political science (one of which is \u201cSocial Teachings of the Church\u201d). All students must write a senior thesis.

Students can select from six majors and work in their concentration in the third and fourth years. The majors are classical studies, English language and literature, history, phi- losophy, political science and economics, and theology.

President Timothy O\u2019Donnell told us, \u201cThe college has a very clear vision. We stress aca- demics and Catholicism. As a result, we at-

Clearly it is a program that works on a number of levels. Despite its small size, the 397 students in the 2006\u201307 academic year came from 45 states and two other countries. About half of these students had been home- schooled.

man retention rate. This success is even more impressive given that the college and its stu- dents accept no federal funds or federal aid, including no federally subsidized student loans.

markedly with the nationwide average of only 20 percent. Similarly, it receives 11 percent of such funding from corporations and founda- tions as opposed to the 52 percent in the rest of the country.

But a few students, a\ue004er receiving the ben- e\ue000t of the rigorous core curriculum program of the \ue000rst two years, choose to transfer to

another college that allows them to major in disciplines other than the six at Christendom. The college understands this and awards an Associate of Arts degree to those students choosing to move on. At the 2007 commence- ment, two of the 70 graduates received an associate\u2019s degree.

Christendom, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities, pre- pares students for graduate school and vari- ous professions. It also has seen about 10 per- cent of its alumni enter religious life. And, in keeping with its atmosphere of like-minded students and support for family life, approxi- mately 300 \u201calumnus-to-alumna\u201d marriages have taken place.

The college acquired the Notre Dame Graduate School ten years ago. Located in Al- exandria, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., it awards a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, mostly to adult students. The school holds summer sessions at the Front Royal campus.

A 13-member board (which includes one priest) governs the college. Founding presi- dent Dr. Warren Carroll and current president Dr. O\u2019Donnell are members. Christendom is located within the Diocese of Arlington, and according to the college, \u201cis submissive to the authority of the Bishop of Arlington regard- ing the orthodoxy of Catholic doctrine taught

Dr. O\u2019Donnell has been at the college for 23 years and was named its third president in 1992. He received both his licentiate and doc-

St. Thomas Aquinas, the well-regarded Rome institution known as the Angelicum. Among other honors, Dr. O\u2019Donnell was named by

fuller Catholic identity. It does truly permeate the campus. All faculty members are Catholic and annually make a Profession of Faith and take the Oath of Fidelity before the Bishop of Arlington. According to one of these profes- sors, \u201cThe faculty believes this commitment to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church strengthens our academic freedom, since it frees us from error in fundamental principles upon which our research and teaching are based.\u201d

This approach is clearly articulated in the college\u2019s vision statement, which notes, \u201cOnly an education which integrates the truths of the Catholic Faith throughout the curriculum is a fully Catholic education.\u201d

Not surprisingly, Christendom has fully embraced Ex corde Ecclesiae. It is refreshing to read of such support from a college president. As Dr. O\u2019Donnell writes: \u201cEx corde Ecclesiae is the call of a parent to her rebellious child. The Holy Father\u2019s ardent desire is that those in leadership positions should come to their senses and return to their Father\u2019s house lest they perish on the way.\u201d

The list of speakers who have appeared on campus represents a veritable \u201cwho\u2019s who\u201d of Catholic orthodoxy, ranging from promi- nent cardinals and leading Catholic public

There are no questionable speakers and, in fact, every speaker we could identify actively promoted Catholic teachings. There are no clubs that are at variance with Catholic beliefs. One college administrator put the identity is- sue in perspective: \u201cThe greatest strength of Christendom College is its integral living out of orthodox Catholic doctrine both inside and outside the classroom.\u201d

In a move that further emphasizes its commitment to the Church, Christendom sponsored a three-day religious Discernment Weekend in February 2007. Arlington Bishop Paul Loverde celebrated the opening Mass and Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, was a featured speaker.

The college also evangelizes to a broader audience through its Christendom Press, which currently has 32 titles in print. Distrib- uted through ISI Books, the press includes works on religion and Catholic-related his- tory from such authors as Dr. Carroll, Father Stanley Jaki, O.S.B., Mark Shea and L. Brent Bozell.

The Chapel of Christ the King is at the center of the campus. All activity on campus pass- es by the chapel several times a day. Time is taken out every class day to allow students to