The Infant Jesus of Prague is a small statue of the Child Jesus, crowned and robed as a king, that has been venerated in the Carmelite church of Our Lady of Victory in Prague since 1628. Devotion to the Infant spread around the world with the words remembered by a Carmelite priest: “The more you honor me, the more I will bless you.” Catholics pray a novena to the Infant of Prague in every kind of need, either over nine days or, in an urgent necessity, every hour for nine hours.
This page explains both forms, gives a novena prayer and a short Scripture for each day, and tells the story of the statue.
The novena prayer to the Infant Jesus
Written for this page:
O Infant Jesus, King of heaven and earth,
you became a little child for love of us
and promised to bless those who honor you.
I come to you with confidence and bring you my need: (name your intention).
You said, “Ask, and it shall be given you.”
Look on me with mercy, and if it is for my good, grant my request.
Above all, give me a childlike heart that trusts you completely. Amen.
Divine Infant Jesus, I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you.
The nine-day novena
Each day, make the Sign of the Cross, read the Scripture for the day, pray the novena prayer above, and then an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.
Day 1:
For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
Day 2:
And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him.
Day 3:
And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
Day 4:
Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.
For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Day 5:
Therefore I say unto you, all things, whatsoever you ask when ye pray, believe that you shall receive; and they shall come unto you.
Day 6:
Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.
Day 7:
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he will save the humble of spirit.
Day 8: Read the Christmas Gospel, Luke 2:1–14, and adore the Child in the manger. See Catholic Christmas prayers.
Day 9: Thank the Infant Jesus for every grace received, whatever the answer to your prayer, and promise to honor him by kindness to children and the poor.
The nine-hour novena (for urgent needs)
In a serious and urgent need, many Catholics pray the novena prayer and an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be every hour for nine consecutive hours in a single day. If you miss an hour, simply continue. The urgency of this form expresses the confidence of a child who runs to his father; it is not a formula that obliges God, but persevering prayer.
The story of the Infant of Prague
The statue, about nineteen inches tall, was carved in Spain in the sixteenth century. It was given as a wedding present to a Spanish noblewoman who married a Bohemian nobleman, and in 1628 her daughter, Princess Polyxena of Lobkowicz, gave it to the Discalced Carmelites of Prague, saying: “As long as you honor this image, you will not be in want.”
During the Thirty Years’ War the Swedish army sacked Prague in 1631 and the statue was thrown aside and its hands were broken. In 1637 Fr. Cyril of the Mother of God, a Carmelite, found it in the rubble. As he prayed before it, he heard the words: “Have pity on me and I will have pity on you. Give me my hands and I will give you peace. The more you honor me, the more I will bless you.” The statue was repaired, many graces were reported, and devotion spread throughout Europe and later the world.
The statue wears a crown and royal robes, changed by the Carmelite sisters according to the colors of the liturgical seasons. The Child raises two fingers of his right hand in blessing and holds a globe topped by a cross in his left, showing that the whole world is in the hands of the Christ Child.
Feast days and customs
- Many devotees honor the Infant of Prague on the 25th of each month, recalling the birth of Christ on December 25.
- In Prague, the statue’s coronation is celebrated on the first Sunday of May.
- The devotion fits naturally with the Christmas season and the Solemnity of the Holy Name.
- Families often keep a small statue of the Infant in the home and place their intentions before it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Infant of Prague novena for?
For any need, especially health, family, work, money and urgent situations. People also pray it in thanksgiving.
What is the nine-hour novena?
The novena prayer, said every hour for nine consecutive hours on a single day, for a very urgent request.
Why is the Infant of Prague dressed as a king?
To show that the Child born in Bethlehem is the King of kings, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Is it superstitious to put money under the Infant of Prague statue?
There is an old folk custom of placing a coin under the statue for prosperity. The Church does not teach that the statue has power of its own; what matters is trust in Christ and generosity to the poor.
More novenas
- Chaplet of the Infant of Prague
- Santo Niño novena
- Novenas: how to pray a novena
- The Sacred Heart novena
- The St. Jude novena
- The St. Andrew Christmas Novena
- Catholic prayer for children
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Isaias 9:6; Luke 2:40; Matthew 18:3–4; Matthew 7:7–8; Mark 11:24; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 33:19, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- History: the tradition of the Discalced Carmelites of Our Lady of Victory, Prague, and the account of Fr. Cyril of the Mother of God.
- The novena prayer was written for this page.