Overview
The statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague
The statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague in the church of Our Lady Victorious in Mala Strana receives visitors from all over the world every day. Its value is not derived from its exceptional artistic merit but from its spiritual beauty and impact.
Description of the Statue
The statue is 47 cm tall and is made of wood with a moulded and coloured wax surface. Canvas shows though the wax. The statue represents Jesus at the age of 4 – 5 years. The face has a unique expression that can not be captured by any copy. Moorish features can be seen in the face and in the hair, which was originally darker. This reflects the Spanish origin of the statue.
The Infant Jesus is dressed in a long under-robe beneath which we can see his bare feet. He blesses with his right hand and his left is holding the symbol of his rule over the world – an imperial orb ended with a cross.
His palm has a slot for attaching the orb. The statue is dressed in royal robes. In the past, the robes were decorated with precious jewels that came as gifts from worshippers. The most valuable jewel (since lost) was a copy of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
The small crown that currently adorns the Infant Jesus is a gift from Pope Benedict XVI, who crowed the Infant Jesus during his visit to Prague in 2009. The small crown in not placed directly on the statue, instead it is attached separately just above the Infant Jesus.
Dressing the Infant Jesus of Prague
People know the Infant Jesus of Prague mainly wearing his royal robes. Dressing the Infant Jesus emphasizes his real humanity – as mother dresses her child, so the Carmelite Sisters dress the small Jesus.
The actual robes, however indicate his Heavenly origin, his priestly, and royal majesty.The Infant Jesus, like the priests at the altar, is dressed in robes in the color of a current liturgical season according to the church calendar. Generally, four basic colors are used:
- White at Christmas and Easter
- Red at Pentecost and the Feast of the Holy Cross
- Violet at period of Advent and Lent
- Green during liturgical year (most common color)
Prayer of the Pope Benedict XVI to the Infant Jesus of Prague he uttered during his visit at the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Prague on the 26th September 2009.
O my Lord Jesus,we gaze on You as a child
and believe that You are the Son of God,
who became Man through the working of the Holy Spirit
in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
Just as in Bethlehem, we too, adore You, with Mary, Joseph,
the angels and the shepherds,
and acknowledge You as our only Savior.
You became poor to enrich us with Your poverty.
Grant that we may never forget the poor and all those who suffer.
Protect our families, bless all the children of the world
and grant that the love You have brought us
may always reign amongst us and lead us to a happier life.
Grant, O Jesus, that all may recognize the truth of Your birth,
so that all may know that You have come to bring
to the whole human family light, joy and peace.
You are God, who live and reign with God the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
The Infant Jesus of Prague – Coronation Celebration
The coronation of the Infant Jesus of Prague expresses the faith that the Child Jesus is the gracious King of the whole world. The coronation celebration of the gracious statue of the Child Jesus is celebrated every year on the first Sunday in May.
The infant Jesus is displayed in the presbytery during the Saturday and Sunday so that believers can meet him in closer proximity. On the Sunday evening after a mass, there is a procession with a copy of the gracious statue. The main pilgrimage mass with the coronation of the of statue of the Child Jesus is celebrated on Sunday at 10 o’clock.
The Infant Jesus of Prague is dressed in a long under-robe beneath which we can see his bare feet. He blesses with his right hand and his left is holding the symbol of his rule over the world – an imperial orb ended with a cross.
His palm has a slot for attaching the orb. The statue is dressed in royal robes. In the past, the robes were decorated with precious jewels that came as gifts from worshippers. The most valuable jewel (since lost) was a copy of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Top 15 Catholic shrines around the world.
Church of Our Lady Victorious Prague mass times
| Mass: Weekdays | 9.00 Czech mass 17.00 English mass – only Thursday 18.00 Czech mass |
| Mass: Saturday | 9.00 Czech mass 17.00 Spanish mass 18.00 Czech mass |
| Mass: Sunday | 10.00 Czech mass 12.00 English mass 17.00 French mass 18.00 Italian mass 19.00 Czech mass |
| Adoration | Every Friday after evening mass |
| Confessions | Monday to Saturday 8.30-8.55 and 17.00-17.50 |
See other Czech catholic shrines.
The small crown that currently adorns the Infant Jesus of Prague is a gift from Pope Benedict XVI, who crowed the Infant Jesus during his visit to Prague in 2009. The small crown in not placed directly on the statue, instead it is attached separately just above the Infant Jesus.
The church of Our Lady Victorious and of the Infant Jesus of Prague has an extraordinary significance not only for its architecture and artistic decoration but mainly for the fact that the famous statue of the Prague Infant Jesus is kept and venerated within.
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
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Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Prague Airport
Václav Havel Airport Prague, (IATA: PRG). There are three terminals; Terminal 1 for non-Schengen flights and Terminal 2 for Schengen flights are connected whilst Terminal 3 for private jets is two stops away by bus. Located 20 km (12 mi) northwest of the city center, it generally takes about 30 min to reach the city center by car. The airport is served by a number of airlines.
To travel between the airport and the city center
Public buses offer connections to several metro stations, from which you can travel to the city center in a total travel time of 45 minutes.
Door-to-door shuttles are operated by various companies with stands in the arrivals hall. Door-to-door private transfers are offered by many companies for fixed prices.
Rental cars are useful for exploring the Czech Republic beyond the city of Prague.
By train
Prague is very well connected with the rest of the European rail network, and trains run daily between Prague and most major European cities. Trains in the Czech Republic are operated by České dráhy (Czech Railways), RegioJet, and Leo Express. The high-speed SuperCity train is a great option for exploring the major cities in the Czech Republic. It connects Prague to the eastern city of Ostrava and also Austria and Slovakia in the south.
By bus
The main bus station for international buses in Prague is Florenc, in Praha 8 (metro lines B and C). It is located east of the city center not far from the City Centre. In June 2009 a new terminal building was opened. It is about a 10-minute walk from the Masarykovo train station
The second largest bus station is Na Knížecí, located next to Vltava river at west bank, south of city center. It is connected to Anděl metro station (line B). It is used mostly by regional buses.
By car
Prague has highway connections from all around. Highways, expressways (very similar to highways and having the same speed limit) and first-class roads in the Czech Republic meet European standards and are well marked, with many gas stations alongside. Other roads are usually uneven and poorly marked.
When traveling on highways and expressways, you must have a vignette (except for small in-town sections which are exempt and marked so). You can buy ten days, monthly or annual vignettes at gas stations, post offices or border crossings
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
| Mass: Weekdays | 9.00 Czech mass 17.00 English mass – only thursday 18.00 Czech mass |
| Mass: Saturday | 9.00 Czech mass 17.00 Spanish mass 18.00 Czech mass |
| Mass: Sunday | 10.00 Czech mass 12.00 English mass 17.00 French mass 18.00 Italian mass 19.00 Czech mass |
| Adoration | Every Friday after evening mass |
| Confessions | Monday to Saturday 8.30-8.55 and 17.00-17.50 |
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Confession chapel is at the church entrance on the right side as follows:
8.30-8.55 and 17.00-17.50
9.30-9.55 and 18.00-18.50
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Every Friday after evening mass there is a short Eucharistic adoration
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
Let us remain close in the same prayer! May the Lord bless you abundantly!
The History and Veneration of the Infant Jesus of Prague
For more than 400 years the Infant Jesus of Prague has been an object of veneration by worshippers. It has also witnessed a decline in faith and hope. Its history is similar to a human life, in which joy and sorrow alternate.
Initially, veneration was spread by the Carmelite order. A copy of the gracious statue has traveled to almost every monastery. From the middle 18th century the veneration of the Prague Infant Jesus spread to all the countries of the former Austrian empire. The second wave of veneration occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th century when veneration miraculously spread all over the world.
This spread of veneration also has its strongest roots in Spain, from where the Infant Jesus originates. Spanish and Portuguese traveled with pictures and statues of the Infant Jesus across the Atlantic Ocean to the colonial countries in South America. Thanks to missionaries, colonizers, and European immigrants, the Infant Jesus is known in India, China, the Philippines, and in North America. Today it is venerated most in Spanish-speaking countries. News of prayers being miraculous answered comes from all over the world.