Maria Montessori involved in Theosophy.

[Br_Allen]

Quote

 

Maria Montessori was raised Catholic but heavily influenced by revolution and theosophy. At her young age, she was involved in feminism and altering the relationship of women in the family. This would apparently be a result of the Theosophy Society of which she was a member which also led to her not raising her child in spite of her advanced degree and capacity to make a higher salary. Maria neglected to care for her child out of wedlock and spent her time attempting to educate the mentally ill. Her involvement in theosophy formed her education methods as well as her understanding of God and religion.

 

In 1807 Maria Montessori was born into an Italian Catholic family. Many theosophists claim that at a young age she was involved in the Theosophy Society, which would explain her strong views on feminism. For during first-wave feminism, English women were several hundred times more likely to join the Theosophical Society. Not only was Montessori revolutionary in her desire to attain higher education, she acquiring a doctorate by joining a boys-only school. She clearly spoke out against the biblical understanding of motherhood and the role of the family.

“the woman of the future will have equal rights as well as equal duties…Family life as we know it may change, but it is absurd to think the feminism will destroy maternal feelings. The new woman will marry and have children out of choice, not because matrimony and maternity are imposed on her.” Maria Montessori https://thenewinquiry.com/blog/dr-maria-montessori-feminist/

This concept that women will not marry and have children because matrimony and maternity are imposed on her is foreign to Catholicism. The popes have made it clear that children are the fruit of marriage, as well as its primary end, as formally declared during the pontificate of Pius XII. Montessori rejected the moral obligation of both husbands and wives to carry out God's Command and be fertile and multiply.

"Maria often found herself at odds with many of the teachings of the Catholic Church." Scottie May https://www.biola.edu/talbot/ce20/database/maria-montessori

Eventually, Maria Montessori would have a child with a fellow doctor who was co-director with her in the Orthophrenic School in Rome. Knowing that upon a decision to marry, Montessori would be expected to give up her career, Maria choose to continue with her work. Out of a desire for not wanting to be burdened with caring for her son, she placed him in foster care and continued her career.

 

 

Eventually, Maria Montessori began working with mentally disabled children. It was through her role as a teacher that she would begin to implement her understanding of theosophy into her method of education. She eventually started a school called Casa dei Bambini, which was the beginning of her fame. The school was spoken about highly by her friend Annie Besant, the famous theosophist.

"MARIA MONTESSORI had her first acquaintance with theosophy, early in the twentieth century, when she went to hear Annie Besant speak in London in 1907 after Montessori had established her first Casa dei Bambini(i.e., Children's House). Annie Besant spoke in praise of Montessori's work in education which pleased Montessori, and thus sealed their friendship." Winifred Wylie https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/42-publications/quest-magazine/1409-montessori-and-the-theosophical-society

Though Maria Montessori did receive a blessing from Pope Benedict XV, she was highly criticized by the Jesuits and revered by many as a liberal.

 

Eventually, Maria would head to India, where her involvement in theosophy would become fully manifest. It was here that she would write for the Theosophy Society Journal, where we can clearly see her involvement in the occult. Various blog posts have talked about how several of Montessori's ideology has been condemned as an error of the modernist. However,Maria also falls into the error of religious indifferentism.

“Just as language has many: English, Swedish, Swahili, and so forth, so does elevation express itself by way of different creeds: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and many different belief systems in order to communicate with and about god." Maria Montessori https://www.crossroad.to/Q&A/education/Montessori.htm

 

This radical understanding of religions is consistent with theosophy, which is looking for truths in all the different religions and this also explains her early involvement with feminism. For Wikipedia remarks on how during first wave feminisms, the Theosophy Society marched under the banner of Free Masonry. From this foundation, we see the philosophical foundations for the Montessori Method and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In some of her publications such as "The Child: The Eternal Messiah", we can see how the ideology of theosophy permeates the Montessori Method, as well as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. This blog post reveals how her understanding of theosophy affects her teaching method, which is manifest in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program. This post also explains why the founders of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, who were disciples of Montessori, produced a system that would administer to many different faiths. They appear to hold to the theosophical idea that no religion is perfect, but that all contain bits of truth.

Ecumenism is not just a branch of catechesis; rather, the spirit of ecumenism does permeate the whole of catechesis. (p. 123 Religious Potential of the Child, 6-12 years)

 

 

Montessori's contributions to the Theosophy Society's journal

 

Maria Montessori was raised Catholic but heavily influenced by revolution and theosophy. At her young age, she was involved in feminism and altering the relationship of women in the family. This would apparently be a result of the Theosophy Society of which she was a member which also led to her not raising her child in spite of her advanced degree and capacity to make a higher salary. Maria neglected to care for her child out of wedlock and spent her time attempting to educate the mentally ill. Her involvement in theosophy formed her education methods as well as her understanding of God and religion.

 

In 1807 Maria Montessori was born into an Italian Catholic family. Many theosophists claim that at a young age she was involved in the Theosophy Society, which would explain her strong views on feminism. For during first-wave feminism, English women were several hundred times more likely to join the Theosophical Society. Not only was Montessori revolutionary in her desire to attain higher education, she acquiring a doctorate by joining a boys-only school. She clearly spoke out against the biblical understanding of motherhood and the role of the family.

“the woman of the future will have equal rights as well as equal duties…Family life as we know it may change, but it is absurd to think the feminism will destroy maternal feelings. The new woman will marry and have children out of choice, not because matrimony and maternity are imposed on her.” Maria Montessori https://thenewinquiry.com/blog/dr-maria-montessori-feminist/

This concept that women will not marry and have children because matrimony and maternity are imposed on her is foreign to Catholicism. The popes have made it clear that children are the fruit of marriage, as well as its primary end, as formally declared during the pontificate of Pius XII. Montessori rejected the moral obligation of both husbands and wives to carry out God's Command and be fertile and multiply.

"Maria often found herself at odds with many of the teachings of the Catholic Church." Scottie May https://www.biola.edu/talbot/ce20/database/maria-montessori

Eventually, Maria Montessori would have a child with a fellow doctor who was co-director with her in the Orthophrenic School in Rome. Knowing that upon a decision to marry, Montessori would be expected to give up her career, Maria choose to continue with her work. Out of a desire for not wanting to be burdened with caring for her son, she placed him in foster care and continued her career.

 

 

Eventually, Maria Montessori began working with mentally disabled children. It was through her role as a teacher that she would begin to implement her understanding of theosophy into her method of education. She eventually started a school called Casa dei Bambini, which was the beginning of her fame. The school was spoken about highly by her friend Annie Besant, the famous theosophist.

"MARIA MONTESSORI had her first acquaintance with theosophy, early in the twentieth century, when she went to hear Annie Besant speak in London in 1907 after Montessori had established her first Casa dei Bambini(i.e., Children's House). Annie Besant spoke in praise of Montessori's work in education which pleased Montessori, and thus sealed their friendship." Winifred Wylie https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/42-publications/quest-magazine/1409-montessori-and-the-theosophical-society

Though Maria Montessori did receive a blessing from Pope Benedict XV, she was highly criticized by the Jesuits and revered by many as a liberal.

 

Eventually, Maria would head to India, where her involvement in theosophy would become fully manifest. It was here that she would write for the Theosophy Society Journal, where we can clearly see her involvement in the occult. Various blog posts have talked about how several of Montessori's ideology has been condemned as an error of the modernist. However,Maria also falls into the error of religious indifferentism.

“Just as language has many: English, Swedish, Swahili, and so forth, so does elevation express itself by way of different creeds: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and many different belief systems in order to communicate with and about god." Maria Montessori https://www.crossroad.to/Q&A/education/Montessori.htm

 

This radical understanding of religions is consistent with theosophy, which is looking for truths in all the different religions and this also explains her early involvement with feminism. For Wikipedia remarks on how during first wave feminisms, the Theosophy Society marched under the banner of Free Masonry. From this foundation, we see the philosophical foundations for the Montessori Method and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In some of her publications such as "The Child: The Eternal Messiah", we can see how the ideology of theosophy permeates the Montessori Method, as well as Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. This blog post reveals how her understanding of theosophy affects her teaching method, which is manifest in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program. This post also explains why the founders of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, who were disciples of Montessori, produced a system that would administer to many different faiths. They appear to hold to the theosophical idea that no religion is perfect, but that all contain bits of truth.

Ecumenism is not just a branch of catechesis; rather, the spirit of ecumenism does permeate the whole of catechesis. (p. 123 Religious Potential of the Child, 6-12 years)

 

 

Montessori's contributions to the Theosophy Society's journal

 

CGSExposed.com

[Lea]

Well, there are a few obvious errors in this text, starting with the wrong date of birth (occurs several times). I wouldn't take it too seriously. 

[Br_Allen]

 

1 hour ago, Lea said:

Well, there are a few obvious errors in this text, starting with the wrong date of birth (occurs several times). I wouldn't take it too seriously. 

Clearly mixing up 1807 with 1870 is not a malicious mistake, it does not invalidate the rest of the document. Petty concerns like this are indications that one does not like the content rather than the content actually being false.

Edited June 8, 2020 by Br_Allen

[Luigi]

I don't know anything at all about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I do know some about Maria Montessori. 

Whether she was a good Christian or Catholic has little to do with her educational methods. Her pedagogy focuses on sensory experience as the primary mode of learning and on letting the child explore topics that are of interest to her or him individually.

So apparently, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd applies Montessori's methods to teaching catechism? Does Catechesis of the Good Shepherd incorporate her theosophy concepts into its content, or does it teach the catechism of the Catholic Church?

[Br_Allen]

First off Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not approved by the USCCB and the founders talk about removing content form their content based on how the children felt. The ideology behind her method is based on her influence in theosophy and her concept of "the child as a little messiah".

[Br_Allen]

On 6/8/2020 at 11:29 PM, Luigi said:

So apparently, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd applies Montessori's methods to teaching catechism? Does Catechesis of the Good Shepherd incorporate her theosophy concepts into its content, or does it teach the catechism of the Catholic Church?

CGS fails to teach many teachings which out to be covered in a catechesis program. Though it may mention these topics briefly, it fails to give the proper depth on  many essential issues such as grace and the trinity. The Baltimore Catechism is not the only Catechism, but all Catechesis should be covering most of the content found in this book. This is not the case with CGS.

[Luigi]

3 hours ago, Br_Allen said:

CGS fails to teach many teachings which out to be covered in a catechesis program. Though it may mention these topics briefly, it fails to give the proper depth on  many essential issues such as grace and the trinity. The Baltimore Catechism is not the only Catechism, but all Catechesis should be covering most of the content found in this book. This is not the case with CGS.

But it doesn't teach her theosophy. That's good to know. 

[Br_Allen]

15 hours ago, Luigi said:

But it doesn't teach her theosophy. That's good to know. 

You are correct.

But it would certainly appear that some of the principles in theosophy come out in CGS as a form of false ecumenism.  https://www.cgsexposed.com/post/catechesis-of-the-good-shepard-promotes-prayer-to-false-gods

[Seven77]

 irrelevance.  she's not a Catholic role model nor was she a catechist. Her teaching methods are not invalidated by her politics… Reject what is evil, hold fast what is good (Romans 12:9). 

 

[Theoketos]

Reject what is evil, hold fast what is good (Romans 12:9). 

 

[Br_Allen]

17 hours ago, Seven77 said:

 irrelevance.  she's not a Catholic role model nor was she a catechist. Her teaching methods are not invalidated by her politics… Reject what is evil, hold fast what is good (Romans 12:9). 

 

Her teaching methods are invalidated because they are based on theosophy and fall under the error of modernism. Such as her concept that children are 'little messiahs'.

Edited June 22, 2020 by Br_Allen

[Luigi]

1 hour ago, Br_Allen said:

Her teaching methods are invalidated because they are based on theosophy and fall under the error of modernism. Such as her concept that children are 'little messiahs'.

Is the "little messiah's" concept included in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials? 

[Br_Allen]

8 minutes ago, Luigi said:

Is the "little messiah's" concept included in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd materials? 

They are implicitly included through this statement. 

"With this aim in mind, the catechist embraces Maria Montessori’s vision of the human being and thus the attitude of the adult regarding the child; and prepares an environment called the atrium, which aids the development of the religious life." https://www.cgsusa.org/discover/the-cgs-method-past/the-32-points-of-reflection/

[tinytherese]

On 6/8/2020 at 1:56 PM, Br_Allen said:

 

Clearly mixing up 1807 with 1870 is not a malicious mistake, it does not invalidate the rest of the document. Petty concerns like this are indications that one does not like the content rather than the content actually being false.

Errors like that can lead people to question how accurate the text is. It also comes off as sloppy and unprofessional. I had a professor in college who was very particular on what we could use as sources for our research papers. If I would've showed her a source with such errors, she wouldn't give me permission to use it.

[Declan White]

On 7/5/2020 at 2:36 AM, tinytherese said:

Errors like that can lead people to question how accurate the text is. It also comes off as sloppy and unprofessional. I had a professor in college who was very particular on what we could use as sources for our research papers. If I would've showed her a source with such errors, she wouldn't give me permission to use it.

I absolutely agree with you

Edited January 8, 2021 by Declan White