The Infant of Prague is a popular and powerful devotion in the Catholic Church.
The lovely statue is of the child Jesus holding a globe with a cross on top, representing Christ’s dominion over the whole world.
This original wax-coated statue is located in the Discalced Carmelite Church of Our Lady Victorious in Mala’ Strana, Prague, Czech Republic.
Catholics believe that the statue once belonged to Saint Teresa of Avila. In 1628 it was donated to the Carmelitea by Princess Polyxena of Lobkowicz.
Pope Leo XII and Pope Pius X approved the devotion, making it both a sodality and then the Confraternity of the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Pope Pius XI crowned it on September 27th, 1924, and then Pope Benedict SVI did the same thing during his Apostolic visit to the Czech Republic on September 26, 2009.
Those devoted to the Infant of Prague follow the traditional promise that is given: “The more you will honour me, the more I will bless you.”
The child Jesus’ right hand is giving a blessing with his first two fingers representing the two natures of Christ and his folded thumb and last two fingers touching to represent the unity of the Holy Trinity. This is a similar symbolism as is found in many Eastern Christian icons.
The Novena to the Infant of Prague consists of the following prayers, to be said on nine separate occasions during the course of one day or over the course of nine days.
Traditional Dates: January 5 to January 14.
The Infant of Prague Feast Day is January 14.
PRAYER
O Jesus, who has said ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you, through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek and I ask that my prayer may be granted.
(Share your request with the Lord….)
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 Thy Name, that my prayer be granted.
(Repeat your request to the Lord…)
O Jesus, who has said, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass,” through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I place my confidence in You that my prayer will be granted.
(Repeat your request to the Lord…)
Infant of Prague have mercy on us.
hugs n’ blessings for all those who stand at the door knocking. May you be granted the same grace, as I have, when I have trustingly asked and faithfully received.
By God’s grace just like today….
hugsnblessings 