Byzantine Catholicism
The Catholic Church consists of six Rites, which are further broken down into 24 Churches. While all are in communion with Rome, each have different traditions and practices that have developed under the influence of the local culture. The Byzantine Rite is Catholicism as it developed in the eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire.
In speaking of the Western and Eastern Rites, Pope St. John Paul II said, "The Church must breathe with her two lungs!" Byzantine Catholicism, with its unique liturgical customs and emphasis on aspects of sacred theology, shows the beauty and universality of the Holy Catholic Church.
Montessori in the Byzantine Tradition
Maria Montessori herself was Catholic and her faith greatly influenced her work. One could say that the Montessori approach is a very Catholic approach to understanding the human person and to learning.
Both Montessori and the Byzantine tradition are very hands on and respect the need for physical connection and interaction for learning.
Through the use of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we present to the children the reality of Christ the Good Shepherd, learn the nomenclature of Divine Liturgy and the Church, read about the infancy of Christ, meditate upon the parables, learn about the Liturgical seasons and traditions of the Byzantine faith, and more.