Here at last is the long-awaited continuation of The Religious Potential of the Child (from 3 to 6 years old). The author, Sofia Cavalletti, the founder of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, describes an approach to the religious education of children according to the methods of Maria Montessori. In this book Cavalletti draws on her long experience with children from diverse cultures and environments to describe the vital religious needs of the older child (6 to 12 years old). The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children ages 6 to 9 and 9 to 12 builds on the foundation in scripture and liturgy offered to the 3- to 6-year-old child. The theme of the covenant between God and humankind, first revealed to the people of Israel, is expanded to include all of history, from creation to the Parousia, the second coming of Christ. For the older child, awareness of participation in this covenant relationship leads spontaneously to a sense of moral responsibility and of engagement with the cosmos in all its manifestations. This book will be a great help to educators and catechists seeking to understand the characteristics of the older child, particularly the child's relationship with the mystery of God. Even those not familiar with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will find in these pages wisdom and insight into the religious life and needs of older children.
