Jul 17 2008
Infant Jesus of Prague
Infant Jesus of Prague
Prague’s Little Jesus, or Bambino di Praga, is a sacred statue made of wax by Spanish Master of the 16th century and donated to the Order of Carmellites. The 17 inch statue currently resides at the Church of Victorious Virgin Mary on Karmelitska Street, Mala Strana, the first Baroque building in Prague built in 1611-13. The infant Jesus is worshipped in Spain and his cult is practiced in Italy and South America as well. The statue originated at the time of the breakup of a monastery between Sevilla and Cordoba. The monk Joseph was known for his special worship of Infant Jesus and the Holly Family of Nazareth: a child appeared before him with an invitation to prey then disappeared, what remained was a longing to see the child’s face again and thus the creation of the statue. The Little Jesus is an example of Spanish influences in Prague under the Habsburg dynasty coming after French and Italian influences of the Luxembourgian times. The clothes of Jesus are ceremonially changed several times a year.