Maria Montessori : Tthe Knight of the Child

Today we celebrate the recurrence of an auspicious day - a day dear to the heart of all montessorians - the 135th anniversary of Dr. Maria Montessori.

On this day many years ago, a child was born; one of the very few in the history of mankind, whose great work proclaims a solution to the reconstruction of human society today.

The child eventually grew into a woman of unparalleled compassion, extreme intuitive sensitivity, brilliant intelligence and vigorous physical beauty.

To attain that level she had to climb the flight of steps of long years, in the darkens of misunderstanding. Most of the steps were spiked with the sharp thorns of hostility and organised persecution. But the bleeding feet of her spirit trod severely on, ascending ever higher because up there at the end of the long climb a light was shining that annulled the shroud of darkness that surrounded her.

Her inborn compassion sharpened by the long suffering she had undergone, made her see the suffering hidden under the smile of children, she saw their fetters masked by parental love and she became the Knight of the Child. What can we, the young and old, do on this day to render her homage, and to do justice to her striving? Were she alive she would be pleased if we all, scattered as we are in many different lands, were to implore, as she did;

"Help me O Lord to penetrate into the Secret of Childhood, so that we may know him, love him and serve him according to your laws of justice and following your divine Will."

Let us embrace the cause of the Child, and strive to make it known and understood.

A commemorative mass of thanksgiving will be celebrated at the Montessori Training Centre, St. Bridget's Convent, Colombo 7 on August 31 at 3.00 p.m. The celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Lalith Perera, Parish Priest, All Saints Church, Borella.

Sr. Loudes Paiva RGS