CGS was developed in Rome in 1954 by Sofia Cavalletti, a Scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessorian. It's based on the Bible, the Catholic Church's Liturgy, and Montessori's educational philosophy.

CGS aims to help children grow in their faith and relationship with Christ. It recognizes the bond between God and the child, and the idea that the child's religious potential is already there.

CGS uses the Montessori method and a prepared environment called an atrium to create a sacred space for children to learn, ponder, and celebrate the Catholic faith. The atrium is designed to help children work independently and focus on their relationship with God.

God and the child have a unique relationship with one another particularly before the age of six. The growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child. Children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship. This spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means.

“but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~ Matthew 19:14

The atrium (or prepared environment) is one of the important elements that helps the relationship between God and the child to flourish. After a theme has been presented, the child is free to choose an activity that will make possible the inner dialogue with the “Interior Teacher.”

“Human experience is integral to catechesis, in its identity and process and also in contents and method, because it is not only the place in which the word of God is proclaimed but also the space in which the word of God is proclaimed but also the space in which God speaks.” ~ Directory for Catechesis 197

The catechist’s role is to prepare the environment and to give selected presentations from scripture and liturgy that “call forth” the child’s response rather than “pour in” information. The catechist listens with the child and together they ask, “God, who are you? How do you love us?”

“The Catechist “will not seek to keep directed towards himself and his personal opinions and attitudes the attention and the consent of the mind and heart of the person he is catechizing. Above all, he will not try to inculcate his personal opinions and options as if they expressed Christ's teaching and the lessons of his life. Every catechist should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me (John 7:16).’… what detachment from self must a catechist have in order that he can say, ‘My teaching is not mine!’” ~ Catechesi Tradendae 6