Prayers to the Child Jesus
Many prayers to the Child Jesus have arisen due to the various devotions around the world. Here, we include some of the most familiar ones. If you should know of any particular prayer that is not listed here, please contact us so that we can add it to our list. Thank you.
Memorare to the Child Jesus
Remember, O Holy Child Jesus, that You have said to Venerable Sister Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament these words so full of consolation for our poor, burdened and suffering humanity: “Draw from this Divine Heart. Ask all that you desire through the merits of My Holy Childhood. Nothing will be refused to you.” Full of confidence in You O Jesus, Who are Truth itself, we come to make known all our misery to You. Help us to lead a Holy life in order to attain a Blessed Eternity. Grant us through the Merits of Your Incarnation and of Your Childhood, the graces of which we are most in need. No, we shall not be deceived in our hope. We abandon ourselves to You, O Omnipotent God, in virtue of Your Divine Promise, You will favorably receive and deign to grant our prayer.. Amen
Potent Novena in Time of Distress to the Divine Infant of Prague
The following prayers are to be recited at the same hour every hour for nine consecutive hours:
O Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus,
You Who so lovingly said: “Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and you shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened to you,”
have mercy on me now and
through the intercession of our most holy Mother,
I humbly ask You to grant me the grace I need.
Name your petition.
O Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus,
You Who so compassionately taught:
“If you believe,
all things are possible to him who believes,”
have pity on me now, I do believe;
help me. Increase my weak faith
and through the Blessed Mother’s intercession,
I humbly ask You to answer my request.
Name your petition.
O Divine Infant of Prague, dearest Jesus,
You Who once benignly said to the apostles:
“If you have faith even like a mustard seed,
You will say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’,
And it will obey you”,
hear my suppliant prayer,
I humbly beseech You,
And through the intercession of Mary most holy,
I feel certain that my prayer will be answered.
Name your petition.
Chaplet to the Infant Jesus
Jesus, Himself, revealed this chaplet to the Venerable Margaret of the Sacred Heart, a Discalced Carmelite nun who died on May 26, 1648, in the Carmel of Beaune, France. The Lord asked her to make it known to the faithful and promised special favors to all who recite it in memory of the mysteries of the Divine Infancy. The version that is posted here is taken from the Infant of Prague website in Czechoslovakia.
It is prayed in this way:
Recite: “And the Word was made flesh”.
Response: Recite the “Our Father…”
The above prayers are said three times.
Recite once : “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”.
Response: Recite twelve“Hail Mary…”.
At the end, recite one “Glory Be to the Father, etc”
Note: The three Our Fathers are in honor of the three members of the Holy Family. The twelve Hail Mary’s are in memory of the Childhood of Our Lord.
The Stations of the Infant Jesus: The Way of Bethlehem
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
(See Acknowledgements on Source for this Prayer)
V. Incline unto my aid, O God.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory Be to the Father, etc.
Station I: The Son of God Becomes and Infant
O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Son of God, the Infinite Majesty, the Creator of the world, and Who has need of no one, became incarnate to save lost man by His sufferings, and was for nine months enclosed as a little Infant in the most chaste womb of Mary.
Affections: O most amiable Infant Jesus, God and Man, it was Thy burning love for me which urged Thee to do all this. I give Thee thanks; and I beseech Thee, by Thy Incarnation, to give me the grace to correspond to such goodness.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire to be always faithful I Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus.
Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
O Jesus, ever sweetest Lord, And ever loving still; From this dear crib sweet drops of love into my heart distil.
Station II: Jesus is Born an Infant
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that Jesus at His birth has not even a wretched cabin, such as the poorest have; but is born in a cold cavern, and is laid in a manger upon straw.
Affections: O most holy Infant Jesus, I thank Thee for this; and I beseech Thee, by Thy most poor and bitter birth, grant that I may reap the fruits of Thy coming on this earth.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire to be always faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to the Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be to the Father, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
O Jesus, ever sweetest Lord, And ever loving still; From this dear crib sweet drops of love into my heart distil.
Station III: Jesus is Suckled
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that God, Majesty itself, Who gives food to men and beasts, is born an Infant, and has recourse to Mary for His food; and He, through Whom not a sparrow hungers, is fed with a little milk.
Affections: O most lovely Infant, Thou takest milk, to be changed into that flesh which one day is to be bruised and torn for me. I thank Thee for this goodness; and I beseech Thee by this purest milk, grant me grace to act always with a pure intention of pleasing Thee, even as Thou didst ever act with the sole aim of obtaining my eternal happiness.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire to be always faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to the Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be to the Father, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
O Jesus, ever sweetest Lord, And ever loving still; From this dear crib sweet drops of love into my heart distil.
Station IV: Jesus is Wrapped in Swaddling-Clothes
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Infinite God, Whom the heavens cannot contain, made an Infant for us, vouchsafed to be wrapped by Mary in swaddling-clothes, and covered with poor rags. And thus the hands and feet of God by swathing bands are tied.
Affections: O gentlest Infant, Thou art tied in swathing-bands to deliver my soul from the chains of sin and hell. I thank Thee; grant by Thy holy humility, that, casting away every other bond, I may ever live bound and united to Thee.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
O Jesus, ever sweetest Lord, And ever loving still; From this dear crib sweet drops of love into my heart distil.
Station V: Jesus is Circumcised
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Infant Jesus, eight days after His birth, showed Himself to be even then our Savior, by shedding for us His Divine Blood in the Circumcision.
Affections: O most merciful Infant God, I give Thee thanks; and I beseech The, by the pain which Thou didst feel, and by the Blood which Thou didst shed in Thy Circumcision, grant me grace and power to pluck out of my heart and to cast from it all earthly affections.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station VI: Jesus is Adored by the Magi
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Infant God is visited and adored by the Magi, who, though Gentiles, were enlightened by faith to acknowledge this Man-God for their Savior, and offered Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Affections: Most adorable Redeemer, I too have received from Thee this great gift of faith. I thank Thee for it; and I beseech Thee, by the glory of this Thy manifestation, grant that, like the Magi, I may correspond and be faithful to thy grace.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station VII: Jesus is Presented in the Temple
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Virgin Mary, forty days after the birth of the Infant Jesus, carries Him in Her arms to the Temple, and, offering Him to God for us, consents that by His Passion and death He should become our Redeemer.
Affections: O most loving Infant, for this one end didst Thou deliver thyself up to death to bestow on me eternal life. I give Thee thanks, and pray Thee, by this offering of thyself, to make me constantly ready to mortify and die to myself for the love of Thee.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station VIII: Jesus Flees into Egypt
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that Herod, fearing that Jesus would deprive him of his kingdom, plans His death; and therefore orders all the children of Bethlehem to be murdered. The most blessed Virgin, warned by an angel, takes the infant Jesus into Egypt.
Affections: O dearest Infant, what sufferings didst Thou not endure during this journey of a whole month and even longer, and that too in the depth of winter! How often wert Thou drenched with rain and stiffened with the cold! How many nights didst Thou pass in the open air! I thank Thee; and beseech Thee by Thy flight to give me strength to avoid all the dangers of eternal death.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station IX: Jesus with His Hands Freed from the Swaddling Clothes
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the infant Jesus, some months after His birth, is still swathed by the Blessed Virgin, though His hands are freed from the swaddling clothes.
Affections: Most tender Infant, I imagine to myself that first moment when Thou didst join Thy little hands, and lifting Thy divine eyes to Heaven, didst intercede with the Eternal Father in my behalf. I give Thee thanks; and beseech The, to grant by the merits of Thy prayer that my prayers may be always pleasing and acceptable in Thy sight.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station X: Jesus Begins to Walk
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Infant Jesus, now a little older, begins to walk, and plans out in His mind the journeys He would make in the surrounding country of Judea to preach by His most holy words the way of salvation; and at the same time figures to Himself the road to Calvary, which He would tread in going to die for us.
Affections: O most loving Infant, I thank Thee, and beseech Thee by Thy first steps, grant me grace always to walk in the way which Thou has pointed out to me.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station XI: Jesus Sleeps
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider that the Infant Jesus lies in a poor cradle in the little house of His Mother Mary, and takes His rest; and oftentimes, the bare ground serves Him as a bed.
Affections: O most amiable Infant, even while sleeping Thy Heart watches, and Thou wert loving me, and thinking upon me; and Thy Heart was consoled with the good which Thou hast bestowed, and would bestow upon me. I thank Thee; and pray Thee, by Thy loving slumbers, to give me grace to live forever in loving Thee, Who art the most loving God.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Station XII: Jesus in the Form of a Fisher
O Jesus, born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to Thee,
Praise to the Father, infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Consideration: Consider to your yourself the Infant Jesus represented in the form of a fisher, holding in His hands a rod, to which is attached the hook wherewith He will catch the hearts of men. When we think on His beauty, and on the love with which He seeks us, and on all that He has done to allure us to His love, we must needs consecrate our hearts to His service.
Affections: O Divine Infant, I give Thee thanks; and pray Thee by the zeal which Thou hast shown in endeavoring to draw my heart to Thee, give me the grace never to leave Thee more, and grant that, having continual recourse to Thee, I may become one with Thee and never separate me from Thee again.
O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended Thee. I desire always to be faithful in Thy service: enkindle in me Thy love; make me chaste and holy.
O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to thee and to thy Son Jesus. Hail Mary, etc.. Glory Be, etc..
V. Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Concluding Prayer
I offer and present to Thee, O most sweet Infant Jesus, the steps which I have made to venerate the mysteries of Thy Infancy, and the homage which I have paid Thee. I pray Thee graciously to accept it, and to reward me with the virtues of childhood, chastity, humility and simplicity.
It is a joy and consolation to me when I behold Thee on the altar surrounded with so many lovely flowers. I ardently desire and wish to see my heart in like manner adorned with the flowers of all holy virtues, that Thou mayest find thy pleasure, and dwell in it; and may it be my lot to live in this world ever united to Thee, that, one with Thee, I may dwell in Thy presence in Heaven for all eternity. Amen.
