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Friday, July 14, 2023

Church of Our Lady Victorious

An early baroque building from 1611, rebuilt by the Carmelite order in 1634 – 1669. The church is world-famous thanks to the Prague Bambino – Infant Jesus wax figure (of Spanish origin), which was presented to the church by Polyxena of Lobkowicz (1628).

Infant Jesus of PragueInfant Jesus of Prague (Pražské Jezulátko)

It is a famous statue of infant Jesus in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in Lesser Town. Its history started at the beginning of the 17th century when a statue of the Infant Jesus was brought into Bohemia by a Spanish Princess. This princess had been given the statue as a wedding gift by her mother, Maria Manriquez de Lara of Spain. The statue eventually was given to the Discalced Carmelites in Prague. The statue was set up in the monastery’s oratory, and twice a day, special devotions to Jesus were performed before it.

Disturbances in Bohemia due to the Thirty Years War brought an end to the special devotions. On November 15, 1631, the army of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden took possession of Bohemia’s churches. The Lutheran Protestant Swedish plundered the Carmelite friary, and the image of the Infant of Prague was thrown into a pile of rubbish behind the altar. Here it lay forgotten for seven years until it was found again in 1637. Since then, the statue has remained in Prague and has drawn many devotees worldwide to honour the Holy Child. Claims of blessings, favours and miraculous healings have been made by many who petitioned before the Infant Jesus.

The Infant Jesus of Prague as it appears during the Lenten season in Our Lady of Victory Church. The exact origin of the Infant Jesus statue was not truly known, but historical sources point to a small 28cm high sculpture of the Holy Child with a bird in his right hand carved in around the year 1340. Famous masters also carved many other Infant Jesus sculptures throughout Europe in the Middle Ages.

Today, thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Infant of Prague each year. The tradition of the Infant Jesus procession and the coronation continues to this day. On May 27, 1995, a solemn procession of the Infant Jesus took place in the streets of Prague, with Cardinal Sin of Manila (Philippines) and Cardinal Vlk of Prague leading the procession. This ceremony was the closing highlight of the annual Feast of the Infant Jesus in Prague.

Address: Karmelitská 9, 118 00 Praha 1 – Lesser Town
Phone: +420 257 533 646, web: www.pragjesu.cz
Opening hours: Mon. – Sat. 8.30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sun. 8.30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Opening hours: All the year-round daily, the sightseeing possible outside the times of the divine services, the museum Mondays – Saturdays 9:30 – 17:30, Sundays 13:00 – 18:00

Museum – Wardrobe of the Infant

Jesus of Prague, devotional items, and a video of the changing of the dress of the Infant Jesus statue; sale of religious art and souvenirs in the shop inside the monastery, open Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 1 pm-6 pm.

Other names:

– CHURCH OF OUR LADY VICTORIOUS
– KOSTEL PANNY MARIE VÍTĚZNÉ
– INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE (Pražské Jezulátko)

Church of Our Lady Victorious

Jesus of Prague

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Revd and dear Fathers
    I would like to send a bouquet of flowers and a donation in thanks giving to the infant Jesus for answering my prayers. Please can you advice me as to how I could do this. If I can transfer the money. That would be good too at the present moment due to the pandemic.
    Thank you
    Christine.

  2. March 30,2019

    Dear Sirs,

    I went on a pilgrimage to your church in September 2018. I have a firm belief that the Infant Jesus of Prague granted my petition. I wish to send a monetarial donation in thanksgiving, Please advice me on how to do this.

    I pray and hope to hear from you.

    Thank you…

    In Carmel,
    Marietta B. Castillo

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