Yet Another Infant of Prague Tragedy

Another reader writes in:

“It has to be over 20 years since I even thought of the Infant of Prague and a gal at work yesterday mentioned something and all of a sudden my memory clicked.

“We have had our statue for at least 40 years.

“When my daughter was very small she played with it as a doll. I called her on the phone yesterday and asked about it, asked her if she remembered and at first she didn’t. I called her back again today and asked the same question. She does remember and told me it’s in her attic with her other dolls. I told her, ‘Baby Jesus’ is in the attic and we need to bring him out!

“She told me that his head was broken off so when she and her husband bring it down we need to try and fix him. I can’t believe we put that blessed baby in the attic.

“Just wanted to share with you all.”

Tragedy Befalls Another Holy Infant Statue

A reader recently sent along this note:

“On our Native reservation we sometimes have mass in the senior building.

“There is a statue of the Infant of Prague there. Just before the blackout [that hit the Northeast/Midwest] they moved the piano and the statue fell.

“It didn’t appear to be damaged, but the next day when we picked it up, both hands had broken off!

“This happened to another person’s statue also, so it must be an omen.”

Omen or not, that’s certainly disturbing, and it’s always a shame a tragedy such as this leaves the Infant handless or headless.

Our Lady of Sorrows

Today the Church celebrates the memorial known as Our Lady of Sorrows.

As a Marian feast, many Catholics today are making certain to pray to rosary, alone or with others.

And some will also pray what is known as the Rosary, or Chaplet, of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

This rosary, or chaplet, consists of seven groups of seven beads, with three additional beads, and a crucifix. On each of the seven beads of the seven groups is prayed the Hail Mary in remembrance of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

Begin by the making the sign of the cross while holding the crucifix. Then skip to the first group of seven beads. While praying the Hail Mary seven times, one for each bead of each of the seven groups, meditate on each of the following sorrows, in this order:

1. The Prophecy of Simon.
2. The Flight into Egypt.
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
4. Meeting Jesus Carrying the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion.
6. Receiving the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
7. Placing the Body of Jesus in the Tomb.

Then on the remaining three beads pray three additional Hail Marys in remembrance of the many tears Mary shed on behalf of the sufferings of her Divine Son, this in order that we may obtain true sorrow for our sins.

Conclude with the following prayers:

V. Pray for us, O most sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Lord Jesus, we now implore, both for the present and for the hour of our death, the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose holy soul was pierced at the time of Thy passion by a sword of grief. Grant us this favor, O Savoir of the world, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Infant of Prague Tragedy

One of my most treasured – and the largest – of my Infant of Prague statues recently experienced a minor tragedy.

In the dark of night, he apparently fell over, or was knocked over, or experienced some kind of natural or supernatural experience, and, get this: His hands broke off!

Just like the damage that befell the real Infant of Prague!

Isn’t that weird?

I wonder if it’s an omen of some kind. A message from the Infant. A foreboding of bad things to come. A directive for me to recite the Infant of Prague chaplet more often than I have been lately.

Or perhaps it was just an accident.

Regardless, I’m not sure what to do now. Do I wait for a miracle to fix his hands, as occurred with the true Infant of Prauge? Or do I just go out an buy some Krazy Glue and fix it myself?

“Living Devotion”

“Living Devotion: The Infant of Prague,” a short, independent film directed by Greg Tarin, can be viewed at Hollywood.com.

A summary of the film, from Hollywood.com: “This intimate portrait follows one woman’s path of devotion and service. Far from the halls of academia, she exhibits in her personal reflections an attitude towards images remarkable for its clarity and sophistication.”

The Providence Journal Takes Notice

“There is nothing that can’t be blogged,” says the Providence Journal. “This one’s devoted to the devotional statue.”

Tell me about it!

Another Shrine to Visit

There is a shrine to the Holy Infant Jesus in, of all places, Bangalore, India.

Construction of the Bangalore shrine began in 1977 and the church was blessed and opened in 1979.


Infant Jesus Shrine
Bangalore, India

The Holy Infant intervened several times in the construction of the church, as is relayed in the history of the site.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving to the Holy Infant of Prague

Divine Infant Jesus, I know you love me and would never leave me.
I thank you for your close presence in my life.

Miraculous Infant, I believe in your promise of peace, blessings, and freedom from want.
I place every need and care in your hands.

Lord Jesus, may I always trust in your generous mercy and love.
I want to honour and praise you now and forever.

Amen.

A Blogger’s Reminiscence

Blogger Kieran Healy, who is Irish and therefore refers to the Infant of Prague as the Child of Prague, offers a reminiscence from childhood:

“The thing about Child of Pragues was that the statue was so cheaply made that the head would inevitably break off, the neck being the weak point in the design. . . . Irish kitchen drawers and garages are full of decapitated zombie Child of Pragues.”

Kind of creepy, but precious nonetheless. (And what about the Infant of Prague isn’t precious?)

Church of Our Lady of the Victory

The Infant of Prague can be visited at his home on the web at a site maintained for the Church of Our Lady of the Victory.

They even have photographs of the Carmelite Sisters changing his dress!

eBay the the Infant of Prague

If you didn’t already know, there are always plenty of great Infant of Prague devotional items up for auction at eBay. To see the latest selections, click here.

Infant of Prague Novena Prayer

O Child Jesus, I have recourse to you by your holy mother; I implore you to assist me in this necessity, for I firmly believe your Divinity can assist me. I confidently hope to obtain your holy grace. I love you with my whole heart and my whole soul. I am heartily sorry for my sins, and entreat you, O Good Jesus, to give me strength to overcome them.

I am firmly resolved never to offend you again and to suffer everything rather than displease you. Henceforth, I wish to serve you faithfully. For love of you, O Divine Child, I will love my neighbor as myself. O Jesus, Omnipotent Child, I entreat you again to come to my assistance in this necessity: (remember your petitions)

O Divine Child, and still the great, omnipotent God, I implore you through your most holy Mother's most powerful intercession and through the boundless mercy of your omnipotence as God, for a favorable answer to the intention I so earnestly ask for in this novena.

Grant me the grace of possessing you eternally with Mary and Joseph, and of adoring you with your holy angels and saints.

O Divine Infant of Prague

Hear my prayer and grant my petition

Let us pray:

[From the Shrine of the Infant of Prague, New Haven, Conn.]

Infant of Prague Shrine

Did you know there is a wonderful shrine to the Infant of Prague in New Haven, Conn., maintained by the Dominican Friars?

The shrine’s web site may be visited here, though I should mention that the site is not particularly advanced.