Religious formation of children and the key role of adults according to the pedagogical concept by Maria Montessori in the example of “The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” by Sofia Cavalletti

Abstract

The article raises an important issue of an adult’s role in religious formation of   a smaller child according to the concept of M. Montessori (1870–1952), which recently   has become more and more popular in Poland.   The aim of the thesis is to present the main idea of the “The Catechesis of the Good   Shepherd” developed by S. Cavalletti and G. Gobbi. In the first paragraph the general   principles of the catechesis are described, conveying the essential biblical message of the   Old Covenant between God and a man as a sign of love. In the following paragraph the   role of catechesis and a catechist according to Cavalletti is explained in comparison to the   Catholic Church’s teaching. Finally, the author clears the method of religious teaching by   Cavalletti up that tends to be called a “method of signs” in terms of liturgical and biblical   language.