Maria Montessori Pedagogy and its Application in Religious Education

Presen work deals with Maria Montessori pedagogy and its application in religious education. The goal of the study is to introduce the basic principles of Montessori-pedagogy and point out the use of those principles within the frame of religious education. The theoretical part is concerned with biography of Maria Montessori, her work, antropological background and the basic principles of Montessori pedagogy. Further, it discusses the issues of her work that are either implicitelly or explicitelly related to religious education. Beside this, the practical part of the thesis introduces the work of Italian catechist Sofia Cavaletti, who was inspired by Montessori pedagogy. In 60´s of the last century, Sofia Cavaletti managed a catechetical centre in Rome. She established atriums in several parishes in Rome, in which the methods of Montessori pedagogy were utilized. Subsequently, Godly Play method is mentioned in present work. The method was developed by Jeron W. Berryman, an american theologist and priest of episkopal church, who was inspired by the work of Maria Montessori as well as by the work of Sofia Cavaletti