THE HISTORY OF THE DEVOTION
Written by Charito Yeh
 

After the victory of the Counter-Reformation in the Czech lands, Emperor Ferninand II handed the church over to the Order of the Descalced Carmelites. It is consecrated to our Lady Victorious and originally also to St. Anthony of Padua.

The rectory was relocated to the opposite side and a new early Baroque front was built. This reconstruction had meant the introduction of early Baroque in Prague church architecture.

For many years this statue has been enshrined on a side altar of the church. Here the religious sought relief in their bitter need from Him who for love of humankind had become poor. And the prediction of Lady Polyxena was verified. As long as the Divine Infant Jesus was venerated, God showed Himself a kind helper though his Son and the community prospered both spiritually and temporally.

One particular devotee was Father Cyrillus who was most devoted to the Infant Jesus and found sudden relief from interior trials through this devotion.

The 30 years war - Baroque Era

However, the devotion to the Divine Infant was short-lived. During the Thirty-years war, the Saxons and the Swedes took turns to invade Prague and pillaged both the church and the monastery; the special devotion held before the image was gradually neglected; the prosperity of the community. declined and need and distress was felt; the Carmelites, the other novices, and the most fervent worshipper of the Infant Jesus of Prague had departed; and the veneration to the Holy Child totally and completely ceased.

With the Carmelite Monastery plundered, the image of the Infant Jesus of Prague was thrown upon a heap of rubbish behind the high altar. Both hands were broken off by the fall, but though made of wax, it was otherwise undamaged. Here the Divine Infant lay, stayed and forgotten by all for several years.

After that period, Prague experienced 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 left in a glass case standing in a pedestal engraved with crystals and surrounding the Infant were twenty angels in gold.

During the Pentecost holidays in 1637, Father Cyrillus returned to Prague from Munich and lived there until his death in 1675. And after a prolonged search, he found the broken, abandoned, long-last treasure almost buried in dust. Full of joy and gratitude, he kissed the disfigured statue and placed it on an altar in the oratory.

The long forgotten devotion were now revived with renewed vigor. One day, while praying before the statue, he distinctly heard these words, "Have pity on me, and I will have pity on you. Give me my hands, and I will give you peace. The more you honour me, the more I will bless you." After great efforts and much hardships, he had the Infant Jesus hands repaired.

The "Little Prague Baby" again became an object of worship of believers and many extraordinary events were attributed to it. And ever since the statue was fixed, a number of miracles had occurred and the word began to spread, resulting in a large number of veneration to the Holy Infant.

In thanksgiving for the numerous graces and cures received, the consecrating Bishop of Prague solemnly crowned the Holy Infant on April 14, 1655 on a Sunday after Easter as a sign emphasizing the royal and divine dignity of God who has become a child.

And the anniversary of this coronation has been celebrated ever since with a festive mass on the Ascension holiday which is the culmination of the Easter mystery considered by the New Testament to be the real coronation in the glory and the fulfillment of God's Incarnation.

Conclusion

Devotion to the royal Christ Child under the title of the Infant Jesus of Prague is one of the more powerful and beloved devotions in the church.

This devotion has grown proportion and has continued to spread throughout the world. Many favours and graces were received which brought thousands of people to his statue.

The Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague is adorned by believers not only in Europe, but also in India, in the Philippines, in Australia and especially Latin American countries. A testimony to this veneration are the many sanctuaries all over the world further spreading the fame of this little statue and the reverence for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God.

Some Helpful Resources

Learn about Saints & Angels
A great resource to learn more about St. Anthony of Padua , St. Teresa of Avila or St. Therese of the Child Jesus is the Great Saints website located at: Catholic Online Saints and Angels.

http://saints.catholic.org/stsindex.html

Catholic Traditions Q&A
The "definitive" site to visit for all your Catholic needs is the Catholic Pages at http://www.catholic-pages.com