Infant of prague questions

[rasbat]

I have looked in the archives but nothing really answered my question. I am a convert from protestantism so sometimes I have shocking moments of ignorance such as this. I found this statue and have heard about it before. there is one in my home church, the devotion is very popular. I don’t want to miss out anymore. Why exactly are devotions directed toward the infant Jesus of prague specifically? I am intrigued but I have never quite gotten this point. why this particular representation rather than just the infant Jesus in general? I perhaps do not understand some aspects of the devotion and cannot find a clear answer. The words spoken “the more you honor me the more I will bless you” are these from an apparition of Jesus speaking through the statue in the original miracle? are our prayers directed toward Jesus under this apparition or how does this whole thing work? Is this just similar to adressing Mary as our Lady of Guadaloupe or lourdes etc.? or more like a very high class relic? I understand the idea of praying to the infant Jesus I just would like to understand a bit more about the miraculous nature of this particular statue and how reverence toward it is best directed as well as understood. I can’t believe I don’t know this stuff but please bear with me.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi rasbat,

This is another devotion to our Lord that the church has. Miracles have been attributed to it.

You are correct–that Jesus spoke through the statue, and yes, our prayers are directed to Jesus.

Please don’t feel bad not knowing about it. There are many devotions out there in the Catholic faith, and it takes time to learn about them.

Here is a link to an Infant of Prague shrine website, that has more information about it:

infantprague.org/

 

[JamalChristophr]

Yes, it’s essentially just devotion to Christ. I myself am a big fan of El Divino Nino…alter ego to Infant of Prague.

Mother Angelica loves him, too. He comes from Bogota and also has been noted for miracles.

**"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
**

catholictradition.org/Christmas/divino.htm

 

[Miserissima]

The story of the Infant of Prague was when a statue of the Infant Jesus was found in the rubble, and a miraculous voice was heard. That church, and indeed, that country, had to have childlike confidence that Christ had as a child in order to rebuild. (I think you know that part. )

The original statue that was found was just another run-of-the-mill Infant Jesus, until there were miracles directly attributed to worshipping Christ under His title of Infant Jesus, and venerating the statue and what it represents to us. That’s when the title of the Infant of Prague developed – after “things started to happen,” not before.

Maybe these threads may help:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=877834

The example of the Christ Child is the mystery of Incarnation.

Christ was not only fully human, but a dependent child. To come to us as a child demonstrates humility, confidence, and innocence that we would do well to imitate. We are subject to earthly things, the need for shelter, etc. but not at the expense of our soul. We are subject to our institutions; the Church, the state, the family.

We venerate the statue as the Magi worshiped the Christ child: with t the finest we can bring. There is a twofold reason: first, to venerate Christ and his childhood among us. Second, that we may see and honor Christ in others and always present our best to our bretheren [sic].

I could go on and on. The lessons of the Incarnation teach perfect trust without naivety. I have a special devotion to the Precious Lil’ Guy.

…and here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=915257