HISTORY FOR THE DEVOTION TO THE INFANT OF PRAGUE
Devotion to the Infant Jesus is as old as
Christianity itself. It ever tends to keep the great mystery of our Lord’s
birth vividly before us.
A special devotion to the Divine Child
originated with the Carmelites in the city of Prague, Bohemia, in the beginning
of the seventeenth century. Princess Polyxenia of Lobkowitz had received as a
wedding gift from her mother – a statue of the Divine Child, previously brought
from Spain. After the death of her husband the princess devoted herself to
works of charity and was particularly helpful to the Carmelites in Prague. When
in 1628 the Carmelite Monastery had been reduced to poverty, owing to the
ravages of war, the princess gave her precious statue to the Carmelites,
saying:
“I GIVE YOU WHAT I PRIZE MOST HIGHLY IN THE
WORLD; HONOUR AND RESPECT THE CHILD JESUS AND YOU SHALL NEVER BE IN WANT.”
Her gift was placed in the Carmelite oratory.
The words of the princess proved prophetic for as long as the Carmelites kept
up their devotion to the Infant of Prague everything prospered with them. The
Carmelites were later forced to flee from the city and in the confusion of the
war they were unable to take with them their miraculous statue. The invaders
seized it and threw it into a pile of rubbish.
In
1635, peace came to Prague and Carmelites returned. One of them, Father Cyril,
who had previously received great spiritual help through his devotion to the
Infant of Prague, sought the statue and found it amidst the rubbish. Overjoyed,
he placed the statue again in the oratory. As Father Cyril was one day praying
devotedly before the statue, he heard a voice saying. “HAVE MERCY ON ME AND I
WILL HAVE MERCY ON YOU. RETURN MY HANDS TO ME AND I SHALL GIVE YOU PEACE, THE
MORE YOU HONOUR ME, THE MORE I SHALL BLESS YOU”. Startled by these words,
Father Cyril examined the statue and upon drawing aside the mantle covering it,
he found that both hands were broken off. The hands were restored to the statue
through the generosity of a devotee of the Divine Child. Once more peace and
prosperity returned to the Carmelites.
Devotion
to the Divine Child had always been practiced by the Carmelites for through
their Mother, Mary, this Divine Child had come to the world. St. Theresa of
Jesus practiced particular devotion to the Divine Child. St. Theresa, the
Little Flower, was also a most fervent venerator.
Prayers
O
merciful Infant Jesus, I know of Your miraculous deeds for the sick. In view of
Your innumerable graces and the cures granted through veneration of Your Holy
Infancy, particularly in the statue of Prague, I exclaim with the greatest
assurance: O most loving Infant Jesus, You can cure me if You will! Extend Your
holy hand and by Your power take away all pain and infirmity!
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