The Infant of Prague

Prague is the capitol city of the Czech
Republic, which is at the very central of Europe
with Germany, Poland, Russia and Austria as its
neighbours. The history of the Infant Jesus of
Prague started in the 17th century when a statue
of the Infant Jesus was brought into Bohemia
(now Czech Republic) and eventually was given to
the Discalced Carmelites in Prague. Since then,
the statue has remained in Prague and has drawn
many devotees worldwide to go and honor the Holy
Child. Many graces, blessings, favors and miraculous
healings have been received by many who petitioned
before the Infant Jesus.

The exact origin of the Infant Jesus statue was
not truly known, but historical sources point to a
small 28cm high sculpture of the Holy Child with a
bird in his right hand carved in around the year 1340.
Many other Infant Jesus sculptures were also carved
by famous masters throughout Europe in the Middle Ages.

The popularity of the Child Jesus grew in the
Baroque period in Spain which may have been caused
by the visions of St. Teresa of Avila. A number of
sculptures made in Spain eventually found their way
to Prague. These sculptures were made of wax, ivory,
and bronze and were dressed in garments reflecting
the aristocratic fashion of that period.

It is unknown to this date which of those early
sculptures that got to Prague was the exact origin
of the Infant Jesus of Prague. It was speculated that
it came from a monastery in Bohemia and from there it
was obtained by Dona Isabella Manrique who gave it as a
wedding gift to her daughter Marie Manrique who married
a noble of the Czech kingdom. Later, the Holy Infant
statue was again given to Marie's daughter Polyxena
as a wedding gift in 1587. In 1628, Lady Polyxena
presented the statue to the Carmelites at the Church
of the Virgin Mary the Victorious in Mala Strana
saying, "I am giving you what I most esteem of my
possessions. Keep the sculpture in reference and you
will be well off" (*FN1*). This statue then became
known as the Infant Jesus of Prague. It stands 47 cm
high (includes a 2cm base) and has a long gown around
the wax body.

Shortly after 1628, the Saxons and the Swedes took
turns to invade Prague and the Carmelites had to flee
and the veneration of the Holy Infant ceased. It was
not until 1638 that a young priest named Fr. P. Cyril,
a Matre Dei, returned to Prague and found the Holy
Infant statue buried in the ruins of the Lady of Victory
church. Fr. Cyril cleaned the statue and placed it
in the oratory for worship. While he was praying before
the Infant Jesus, he heard the Infant Jesus say,
"Have pity on Me and I will have pity on you. Give Me
My hands and I will give you peace. The more you honor
Me, the more I will bless you".

The repairing of the statue's hand was a miracle
since Fr. Cyril and his peers did not have the
financial resources nor the know-how to repair it.
Through prayer, Fr. Cyril asked the Blessed Virgin
Mary in several occassions to to provide the necessary
funds for fixing the Infant statue. The Divine Infant
spoke to him again, "Place Me near the entrance of
the sacristy and you will receive aid" Fr. Cyril
then did what he was told and in a few days time,
the statue was fixed by a man who came to the
sacristy to offer help.

Since the statue was fixed, a number of miracles
had occurred and the word began to spread, resulting
in a large increase of veneration to the Holy Child.
This includes the Czech nobles as well. These early
miracles were recorded in a book by P. Emerich a
St Stephano, published in German in 1736 and in
Czech in 1749.

In 1641, an altar was built for the Infant Jesus
in the church, and in 1644 a chapel was built, but
was not completed until 1654. Many nobles of the
time had greatly supported the Infant Jesus, among
them were Lady Polyxena, King Ferdinard (Czech),
King Charles Gustav(Sweden), and Bernard Ignatius
of the Lords of Martinic. It is interesting to note
that the crown over the Divine Infant's head came
from Bernard Ignatius, who presented the Infant
statue with a little gold crown set with precious
stones and jewels on January 14, 1651 during a
procession that carried the Infant Jesus statue
from the Lady of Victory church to other Prague
churches. The Infant Jesus was solemnly coronated
on April 4, 1655 by the Archbishop Josef Corta
acting for Cardinal Harrach III who was sick.

After that period, Prague went through more
wars and unrest but the church and the Infant
Jesus chapel was miraculously protected. In 1776
the altar was rebuilt using marble and two huge
sculptures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St.
Joseph were placed to the left and right sides
of the altar. The Holy Infant was kept in a glass
case standing on a pedestal engraved with crystals,
and surrounding the Infant were twenty angels in gold.

Since then copies of the Infant Jesus were made
and distributed throughout European churches. The
Spanish colonial efforts later brought the Infant
Jesus to the Philippines and to central America.
And since then, the devotion has kept spreading
to all parts of the world.

INFANT OF PRAGUE NOVENA PRAYER

O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request) O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request) O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I fee/ confident that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request)

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Divine Infant Jesus, I know You love me and would never leave me. I thank You for Your close Presence in my life.

Miraculous Infant, I believe in Your promise of peace, blessings, and freedom from want. I place every need and care in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, may I always trust in Your generous mercy and love. I want to honor and praise You, now and forever. Amen.

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