On September 26, 2009, during his apostolic journey to the Czech Republic, Pope Benedict XVI visited the celebrated image of the Infant Jesus of Prague. There, in the Church of Our Lady of Victories in the nation’s capital, he solemnly crowned this world-famous image, and pronounced the following prayer:
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.
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The image of the Infant Jesus of Prague is believed to have been a gift from St. Teresa of Avila to a Spanish noblewoman. The noblewoman then gave it as a wedding gift to her daughter, who brought it to Prague in 1556. From 1628 onwards, the image has been kept in the Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories in the historic Mala Strana district of Prague.