NOVENA TO THE INFANT OF PRAGUE
1 st day: THE NATIVITY
Scripture Reading:
While they were there, the days of her confinement were completed.
She gave birth to her first born Son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes
and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place
where travelers lodged.
There were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping night
watch by turns over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them: "You have nothing to fear!
I come to proclaim good news to you, tidings of great joy to be shared by
the whole people. This day in David's city a Saviour has been born to you,
the Messiah and Lord. Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find
an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes." [Luke 2:6-12.]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant, my companion, confidant and friend,
I come eagerly and often to unite myself closely to You.
Your church shall be my Bethlehem, the altar, the crib;
bread and wine, the swaddling clothes by which I can recognize You as my God.
I take You into my arms as Mary,
Joseph and the shepherds did in adoration to You,
my Saviour and Messiah.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
2 nd day: THE PRESENTATION
Scripture Reading:
There lived in Jerusalem at the time a certain man named Simeon.
He was just and pious, and awaited the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was revealed to him by the
Holy Spirit that he would not experience death until he had seen
the Anointed of the Lord. He came to the temple now, inspired
by the Spirit; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform for Him the customary ritual of the law, he took Him
in his arms and blessed God in these words: "Now, Master, you
can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word.
For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all
the peoples to see; a revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory
of your people Israel." [Luke 2:25-32]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant,
Your presentation in the temple was Your first external consecration
to your priestly mission.
This mission continues today at Daily Mass in the hands of all Your priests.
Through frequent Holy Communion,
make me more like You,
that my whole life may be a holy sacrifice pleasing to God.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
3 rd day: THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE
Scripture Reading:
The parents of Jesus used to go every year to Jerusalem for the
feast of the Passover, and when Jesus was twelve they went up for
the celebration as was their custom. As they were returning at the
end of the feast, unknown to His parents, the child Jesus remained
behind. Thinking He was in the party, they continued their journey
for a day, looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of Him. On
the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst
of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All
who heard Him were amazed at His intelligence and His answers.
When His parents saw Him they were astonished, and His mother said
to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? You see that Your father
and I have been searching for You in sorrow." He said to them, "Why
did you search for Me? Did you not known I would be in My Father's
house?" But they did not grasp what He said to them. [Luke 2:41-50]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant, Mary and Joseph searched for three days to find You.
How often we, too, search for answers to life's complex problems.
In our impatience we become frustrated and angry and lose our way.
Instill in us a supreme faith in God's love.
Through the prayers of Your dear mother an father,
teach us to abandon ourselves completely in Your Divine plan.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
4 th day: THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN
Scripture Reading:
Jesus went out and made His way, as was His custom, to the Mount of
Olives; His disciples accompanied Him. On reaching the place He said
to them, "Pray that you may not be put to the test." He withdrew from
them about a stone's throw, then went down on His knees and prayed in
these words: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; let
not My will but Yours be done." An angel then appeared to Him from
heaven to strengthen Him. In His anguish He prayed with all the greater
intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the
ground. Then He rose from prayer and came to His disciples, only to
find them asleep, exhausted with grief. He said to them, "Why are you
sleeping? Wake up, and pray that you may not be subject to the trial."
[Luke 2:39-46]
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
5 th day: CARRYING THE CROSS
Scripture Reading:
Jesus was led away, and carrying the cross by Himself, went out to what
is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they
crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on each side, with Jesus
in the middle. Pilate had an inscription placed on the cross which read,
JESUS THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS. This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin
and Greek, was read by many of the Jews, sine the place where Jesus was
crucified was near the city. The chief priests of the Jews tried to tell
Pilate, "You should not have written, 'The King of the Jews.'Write
instead, 'This man claimed to be king of the Jews.'Pilate answered,
"What I have written, I have written." [John 19:16-22]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant,
You and the cross are at last together
and Your heart is already nailed to it.
Teach me to bear my pains and disappointments
patiently in atonement for my sins.
Make my cross of life Your own,
and help me to love my sufferings
as You loved Your cross.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
6 th day: THE CRUCIFIXION
Scripture Reading:
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother's sister, Mary the
wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Seeing His mother there with the
disciple whom He loved, Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, there is your
son." In turn He said to the disciple, "There is your mother." From that
hour onward, the disciple took her into his care.
After that, Jesus, realizing that everything was now finished, said to
fulfill the Scripture, "I am thirsty." There was a jar there, full of
common wine. They stuck a sponge soaked in this wine on some hyssop and
raised it to His lips. When Jesus took the wine, He said, "Now it is
finished." Then He bowed His head, and delivered over His spirit.
[John 19:25-30]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant,
at last Calvary is reached.
The soldiers seized You roughly
and strip the garments from Your torn body.
Strip me of all sinfulness
and clothe my poor soul with Your own purity and holiness.
I thank You for Your love for me.
May I always live for love of You.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
7 th day: THE RESURRECTION
Scripture Reading:
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and
Salome bought perfumed oils with which they intended to anoint Jesus. Very
early, just after sunrise on the first day of the week they came to the
tomb. They were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the stone for
us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked, they found that the
huge boulder had been rolled back. On entering the tomb they saw a young
man sitting at the right, dressed in a white robe. This frightened them
thoroughly, but he reassured them: "You need not be frightened! You are
looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified. He has been
raised up/ He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. Go now
and tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee,
where you will see Him just as He told you."'[Mark 16:1-7]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant,
after Your burial Your enemies sealed the opening of Your tomb
and rejoiced that they had conquered You at last.
Through Your glorious resurrection
I hope that you will make my body like Your own in glory,
and permit me to dwell with you in heaven.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
8 th day: THE ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN
Scripture Reading:
Jesus said to His disciples, "Thus it is written that the Messiah must
suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. In His name, penance for
the remission of sins is to be preached to the nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. You are witnesses of this. See, I send down upon you the promise
of My Father. Remain here in the city until you are clothed with power from
on high."
He then led them out near Bethany, and with hands upraised, blessed them.
As He blessed, He left them, and was taken up to heaven. They fell down to
worship Him, then returned to heaven. They fell down to worship Him, then
returned to Jerusalem filled with joy. There they were to be found in the
temple constantly, speaking the praise of God. [Luke 24:46-53]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant,
on this fortieth day after Your resurrection,
standing on the Mount of Olives
You prepare to ascend on high to where the glories of heaven await You.
When the struggle of this life is over,
give me the grace to share Your joy and triumph
in heaven for all eternity.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
9 th day: THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Scripture Reading:
When the day of Pentecost came it found them gathered in one place. Suddenly
from up in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind which was
heard all through the house where they were seated. Tongues as of fire
appeared which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with
the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make
bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them.
Staying in Jerusalem at the time were devout Jews of every nation under heaven.
They heard the sound, and assembled in a large crowd. They were very confused
because each one heard these men speaking his own language. The whole
occurrence astonished them. [Acts 2:1-7]
Prayer:
Jesus, Divine Infant, You have fulfilled Your promise
"I will ask the Father and He will give you another paraclete,
to be with you always."
Being filled with Your Divine grace,
may we go forth fearlessly to preach Jesus Christ in both word and deed.
Pause for personal meditation…
Hail Mary...
O Jesus Divine Infant, have mercy on us.
