The Story of the Infant of Prague

The original Infant of Prague is a statue of Jesus Christ as a child. It is 18 ½ inches tall (47 cm) and is made of wax on a wooden core. It is kept at the Church of Our Lady Victorious at Mala Strana, Prague, in the Czech Republic.

The statue has its origins in the early 17th century in Spain. Maria Manrique de Lara, a Spanish princess, was going to far-away Prague to be married to Czech nobleman Vojtech of Pernstejn. Maria's mother, Isabella, gave her daughter the statue as a wedding gift. Later, Maria gave it to her own daughter Polyxena as a wedding gift. The statue was later given as a gift to a convent of the Discalced Carmelites near the church in Prague where the statue is now kept.

In 1631 the Protestant Swedes sacked the city of Prague and the Infant of Prague statue was taken from its place of honor and thrown onto a rubbish heap behind the altar, its hands broken off. It was forgotten for seven years before Father Cyril a Matre Dei found it and raised money to repair it. The statue became associated with a number of miracles, and also with the protection of Prague from the Swedes.

The Infant of Prague statue has historically been kept dressed in vestments marking the status of Jesus as a Priest and King. Grateful petitioners to the Child Jesus have given the statue many sets of lovely and elaborate gowns. Currently there are 70 gowns for the statue.

Why does the statue depict the Child Jesus? Devotion to the Childhood of Jesus began very early in church history. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is not just a good teacher or a Son of God in the sense that we are all sons and daughters of God, but that Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Imagine God Almighty choosing to take on the limitations of becoming a man, laying down His power and becoming one of us. Imagine still further the humility involved in not only being a man, but being a child, an infant, a fetus, an embryo. All of this is what Jesus did for us. Devotion to the Child Jesus is a way to remind the Christian of this fact.

Devotion to the Infant of Prague in particular has spread largely due to word of miraculous events associated to prayers addressed to Jesus as the Infant of Prague. Other statues of the Infant of Prague grace churches and chapels around the world, and are often found in private homes. There is a shrine and church dedicated to the Infant of Prague in Bangalore, India, for example.

The story of the Infant of Prague is a story of faith--- the faith of simple peasants and sophisticated, educated nobles--- in Jesus Christ. This story of faith continues and will continue as long as any are left who believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

References:

The Infant Jesus of Prague - http://www.karmel.at/prag-jesu/english/firsten.htm

Infant Jesus of Prague - Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_Jesus_of_Prague

The Miraculous Infant of Prague - http://www.catholichomeandgarden.com/the_miraculous_infant_of_prague.htm

Infant Jesus Shrine, Bangalore, India - http://www.infantjesusshrine.com/