THE COLETTINE INFANT JESUS NOVENA

The Miraculous Statue
in St. Joseph’s Church in Cracow

Introduction

In the centre of Cracow, in Poselska street there is a baroque church of the Bernardine Sisters of St. Claire. On one of the side altars we can find a late gothic statue of Infant Jesus, called the “Colettine”.
We don’t know the origin of the statue, nor its early history. The oldest and only document on the subject was written at the beginning of the XVIII century ordered by Father Bonawentura Świerkliński, the provincial of the Bernardine Fathers. This document is reliable, because its authoress, one of the Colettine sisters, was a witness to some of the events she describes, and others were reported to her by her older sisters, among them by Sister Druzjanna, the only Colettine Sister who survived the epidemic which spread in Cracow around 1630.
From the beginning, when the Colettine Sisters found the statue, until today, all who ask Infant Jesus for help with faith, receive many graces and often miraculous cures.
That is why for a long time the faithful have prayed the novena to Colettine Infant Jesus. It includes, besides the prayers, parts of the story described in the mentioned documents, and also some miracles and graces. Praying the novena frequently, you may leave out the historical outline and description of miracles.

Prayer to Colettine Infant Jesus

Lord Jesus Christ, coming into this world, You hid your divine glory, and became a little child to bring us closer to You, to kindle Your holy love and save us. I adore You, I believe in You and I trust that one day I will participate in Your eternal glory.
Colettine Infant Jesus, I give Thee thanks that You favoured this little statue depicting You as an Infant and remarkably placed it first in the Colettine Sisters’ monastery and now in St. Joseph’s church, Your earthly Guardian, and that You kindly answer requests and prayers of numerous people. I give Thee thanks for the countless graces that You grant through this statue to all who come to You. Amen.

NOVENA TO COLETTINE INFANT JESUS

Prayer for every day
Colettine Infant Jesus, may You be glorified for the miracles and graces that you generously bestow upon all who, with faith and trust, come to You. You, o Jesus, are not unfamiliar with suffering, pain and sadness. And because You are Love and Mercy, You comfort all in distress, crestfallen and suffering, generously granting them Your graces. Therefore I trustfully beg You to help me in my need… Do not look at my unworthiness and sins, but in your great mercy, hear me. O Sacred Infant Jesus, I worship you with my whole heart and love you above everything. Be with me and bless me. Holy Virgin Mary, you who first of all humans adored the Child of God, teach us how to honour and love your Divine Son. And as you were the best of mothers to Divine Child, be our Mother and lead us to Jesus. Amen.

First day

The 60 cm high statue of Infant Jesus is made of wood. Little Jesus is clothed in royal attire: a robe and a mantle. He has a crown on his head. His right hand is raised in blessing, in his left hand he holds an orb surmounted by a cross – a symbol of his royal authority. The statue came to Cracow drifting in the Vistula river and nobody knew where it came from. It came to rest at a riverbank near the convent of the Colettine Sisters of Poor Clares in Cracow. The sisters rescued the statue from the water, brought to their convent and put it on the little altar in the refectory. From that moment many miracles began to take place, especially miraculous cures from various illnesses. Everybody who asked for graces received them, the sisters experienced special protection from the miraculous statue, so it was held in great veneration and love. The sisters confessed with simplicity: “We are delighted to have Him, and we believe that none of the convents is as rich as ours, because all property, treasure and riches are nothing in comparison to the Providence of the Lord. We did all our profession and took our veils before Him… We and our mothers and all the people who with great trust have come to this statue have their prayers answered.”

May also in you enliven trust and hope that the favour you are going to ask for in this novena will be certainly answered if God sees benefits for your soul. However, if this is not according to His holy will you will receive a different grace which you need for your salvation.

Adorations

Divine Child, promised Redeemer of fallen humanity – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, longed-for Saviour of the world – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, Incarnate Son of God – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, born in a poor stable in Bethlehem – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, make the peace from heaven fill the world.
Colettine Infant Jesus, give me the spirit of a child of God and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Offerings
Divine Child, I offer You my soul, heart and body. I offer you all my actions, thoughts, feelings and desires, all that I am and all that I have. I offer my whole self to You. Remember, O Jesus, that I am yours, guard me as you would guard your own eye and grant that I may be yours forever. Amen.

Second day

When the Swedes attacked Cracow (1655-1657) they destroyed churches and plundered the city. The convent of the Colletine Sisters was also burned; only the walls and the little altar with the statue of Infant Jesus was spared. The Swedes were astonished by this and didn’t dare make a stable there for their horses. They ordered one of the soldiers to take the statue and throw it into the river. He tried several times, but couldn’t do it as the statue clung to his hand. As he was trying to get rid of the statue, a Jewish man, a glazier who was passing by, recognized the statue, as he had done work at the convent many times. He asked the soldier to sell him the statue. The soldier readily sold him the statue for five silver coins. The Jew took the statue home and told his wife: “hide it, it will bring us money when the peace returns to Cracow”. After the Swedes had left, the Jew took the statue to the convent of St. Joseph, where the Bernardine Sisters with great joy bought the statue for 50 zlotys. Their joy was short-lived. The Colettine Sisters learned about the sale and required that Divine Child was returned to them. Despite requires and insisting of the Colettine Sisters, the Bernardine Sisters didn’t want to be separated from the Divine Child Statue. Then one night Jesus came in a dream simultaneously to Mother Superior, Sister Vicaress and four sisters from the council of the convent and said: “My daughters, if you do not return Me back to the place which I took a liking for, you will all become gravely sick and die.” Immediately all the sisters to whom Jesus appeared in a dream, fell sick. In the morning, without waiting for further consequences they dressed the statue ceremonially and in a formal procession took it to the convent of the Colettine Sisters. Then all the sick Bernardine Nuns were cured. May this example teach us not to desire goods that belong to others, either spiritual or material, but to accept with gratitude everything that God gives us. For He gives every person as many graces as one needs for salvation. He is especially generous to those who do not waste the graces they receive.

Adorations

Divine Child, the greatest Lover of people – we adore You and we love You.
Divine Child, the immaculate Lamb slain for the sins of the world – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, the most beautiful of the sons of man – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may ardently seek your glory in all things.
Colettine Infant Jesus, give me a spirit of simplicity and humility and grant me the grace that I ask of You in this novena.

Third day

When Jesus returned to the place he had chosen for himself, to the convent of Colettine Sisters, He began again to bestow many graces and miracles. One of the Colettine Sisters wrote that thanks to the statue of Infant Jesus “everyday God’s graces are being spread more and more, and the greatest of all is that God is providing food and care for us, His poor servants, and has protected us from pestilence”. One man called Anczerowicz also received a miraculous grace. He lived in the quarter of Cracow called Kazimierz and had suffered pain in his legs for many years . He was brought to the convent, where after he ardently prayed and promised to give silver legs and candles as votive offering, he went home permanently cured.
Also today Infant Jesus grants many similar graces.
For example in 1946 Mr. S. from Krzyżów in Regained Lands had his leg broken by a horse. He was taken to a hospital but the surgeon was sick so he could not have an operation immediately but only after a few days. After six weeks the plaster was removed and it turned out that not only the leg was not healed, but the bone had penetrated the skin. Nevertheless the doctor did not want to operate a second time and sent the patient home. When he was put to bed, his foot collapsed to one side. His neighbours advised him to go to a bigger hospital, but the lack of money did not allow him. The sick man, trusting in God’s help, asked his neighbours to straighten his leg and to bandage it, while he started to ardently pray the novena to Colettine Infant Jesus, which he prayed several times. After one month the leg healed and he could walk. Even though we can pray for healing from a disability or suffering, we should always accept God’s will, whether He chooses to answer our plea or not. Jesus himself gives us an example by praying in the Getshemane: “not My will, but Thine be done”.

Adorations

Divine Child, for whom all the nations waited – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, longed for Mediator of the people – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, true Teacher of holiness – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, first adored by Your Virgin Mother and Saint Joseph – have mercy on us.
O Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may desire to please You in everything.
Colettine Infant Jesus, grant me the gift of good prayer and give me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Fourth Day

Many women who wanted to have a child, who asked for health for their children or asked for help in raising children, came to Infant Jesus and none of them was left without receiving consolation. For example, Mrs. Franciszkowa Zacharlina from Cracow was suffering greatly, as all of her 13 children died one after another in infancy. Only the last daughter survived, after she was consecrated to Divine Child Jesus. In 1987 Mrs G from Brzesko area, was taken to Cracow because of complications during childbirth. After the delivery, she was dying from liver damage and kidney failure. The doctors were helpless, they predicted she would only live for six hours. When medicine failed, her mother and her husband went to Colettine Infant Jesus. They requested a holy Mass for the sick woman and asked the sisters to pray. They took the water in which the statue of Infant Jesus had been submerged and gave a few drops to the unconscious woman, who then regained consciousness. The next day they participated in the Holy Mass. The sick woman still lived, to the amazement of doctors. On the third day the husband, already full of hope as his wife’s condition had remarkably improved and her kidney had started to function again, asked for one more Holy Mass to be offered. After a week, Mrs. G. almost completely healed went home with her baby.
Infant Jesus gives many kinds of graces, but He especially blesses children and pregnant mothers. He also blesses families, giving children to childless married couple, obviously when they ask Him with great faith and trust.

Adorations

Divine Child, friend of those who are poor and lowly – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, Giver of all blessings – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, love and joy of the faithful – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, who was first greeted by the humble shepherds – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may always trust in You with a childlike simplicity.
Colettine Infant Jesus, I implore You, grant me the spirit of gentleness and patience, and give me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Fifth day

People thanked Jesus for the graces received by giving votive offerings, often very costly, candles, beautiful robes for the statue of Infant Jesus, money and so on. The votive offerings, at least partially, are evidence of how many graces were received. In the handwritten document, apart from miraculous cures, we also find a description of other graces. For example, it happened that jewellery and other precious objects had been stolen from a lady-in-waiting to the wife of the castellan Kamieniecki. After some time when the lady-in-waiting visited Cracow, she asked Infant Jesus to help and console her in her sorrow. When she got home the same day the stolen things were brought to her for sale. This way she regained her possessions. The Mother Superior of the Colettine Sisters and Sister Jadwiga had witnessed a miracle and later related the story to the younger sisters. In 1683 on the day of the funeral of Sister Kunegunda Falówna, among other people, the woman possessed by an evil spirit came to the refectory. She approached the statue of Infant Jesus and prostrated herself on the floor, screaming and lamenting. When the nuns and people who were present started to pray, the devil left her. The happy woman heartily thanked Jesus for healing her soul and left the convent. Today also, Infant Jesus heals people from addiction to alcohol, nicotine and other addictions if they ask for it. Family members may and should pray for them, so they may be healed from the addiction. If they themselves do not desire to be healed, it helps if a piece of cloth which was touched to the statue is sewn to their clothes.

Adorations

Divine Child, You are nourishment from heaven, though You yourself suffered hunger – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the living spring, though You yourself suffered thirst – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the fire of love, though You yourself suffered from cold – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, whom the Three Wise Men offered gifts as to the Saviour – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may benefit from Your goodness in our everyday needs.
Colettine Infant Jesus, help me to overcome the temptations of this world and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Sixth Day

One Colettine sister described an event which she had found especially worthy of recording. Mrs. Kmitowa who had been married for 12 years, didn’t have any children. Therefore she went to Child Jesus, gave a votive offering and a gift for the sisters and asked Jesus for offspring, promising to consecrate the child to God. Her plea was answered – she became a mother of two daughters. Mr. and Mrs Kmitowie gave the older daughter Teresa to the convent of the Holy Trinity, which she had chosen for herself, against her mother’s promise to send her to the congregation of the Colettine Sisters of St. Clare. When she was still a postulant, she had a vision: Jesus came to her and said: “My daughter, you were given to me as a gift to this convent (Colettine Sisters) before you came into this world”. Shocked and moved by the vision she left Holy Trinity convent and entered the Colettine Sisters of St. Clare. She was a saintly nun, an example for others and happy in her vocation. When later she became Mother Superior, she often told the sisters the story of this grace with tears in her eyes. Her cousin Salomea following her example, also entered the convent. We learn from this example how blessed and holy are the fruits of listening to God’s voice and faithfully following His will. If Sister Teresa had disregarded God’s admonition, she would probably have been very unhappy all her life. Let us consider if we always follow inspirations of the Holy Spirit, if we willingly listen to God’s word preached by priests for the benefit of our souls?

Adorations

Divine Child, You are eternal joy while You yourself saddened – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the light of the world while You appeared in secret – we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the highest Ruler while You let men rule over You – we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, offered to God for the life of the world – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may always serve You with humble and pure heart.
Colettine Infant Jesus, help me to follow You and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Seventh Day

The miraculous cure, which will be described here, happened in the 18th century. Mr. and Mrs. Walewski had a daughter who was born mute. With the years, this cross became even heavier for the parents when they looked at their invalid child. Having heard about the graces received from Divine Child, they came to the convent of the Colettine Sisters with their 12-year-old daughter and with heartfelt prayer commended her to Divine Child. She also lay prostrate on the floor during the holy Mass and trustingly prayed. Suddenly, she stood up and said without any difficulty: “O my Jesus, from now on I will never abandon You.” She fulfilled this promise by entering the convent of the Colettine Sisters of St. Clare. She took the name of Sister Nepomucena. She lived a long and saintly life showing special love for Infant Jesus. She is buried in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Church, where she was transferred after the Colettine Sisters’ convent was closed. Sister Nepomucena gave Lord Jesus love in response to His love, and in that she is an example for us all. We also receive many graces which are proof of God’s love for us, but what do we give Him in return? Do we try to give him proof of our love by living a good Christian life? If we haven’t done it, let us begin a new better life for the love of Jesus Christ, who loved us first, while we were still sinners; He gave his life for our sins and He opened the gates of heaven to us.

Adorations

Divine Child, You are eternal freedom while You yourself were obedient to men – for this we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the joy of angels while You yourself cried – for this we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are everlasting power while You came to Earth as a helpless Child – for this we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, who had to seek shelter in a foreign land from Herod’s persecution, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that strong in faith we may always declare You as our God.
Colettine Infant Jesus, help me to fulfil Your will in all my life and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Eighth Day

As a result of difficult circumstances, the monastery of the Colettine Sisters of St. Clare was closed in 1823. The last two sisters were transferred to the Bernardine Sisters’ monastery of St. Joseph. They took with them the miraculous statue as a valuable treasure and a precious relic. Since then Infant Jesus has been living in the house of his earthly Guardian, just as He did in Nazareth. He could have shown this way how pleased He was with the welcome full of worship and love shown by Bernardine Sisters when they had bought Him from the Jewish hands. At St. Joseph’s church the cult of Infant Jesus was growing, and since then the statue was called Colettine Infant Jesus. Still the suffering, the sick and those needing spiritual or material help were coming to Him and found help and consolation. An example of this was a miraculous cure that happened in 1894. The only daughter of a woman who worked at the monastery bringing provisions got sick, and her life was in danger. Seeing that the mother was desperate, one of the sisters gave her a dress, that was worn by the statue of Infant Jesus, to put on the sick girl. When the woman returned home and did as she was told, the girl opened her eyes and joyfully started to play. The symptoms of sickness disappeared completely. Later, the robes of Infant Jesus were used in this way many times and were very effective, but in the end the sisters ran short of His robes. From then on they rubbed the statue with pieces of cloth, which, when used with strong faith, had the same miraculous power.

Adorations

Divine Child, You are inexhaustible wealth while You came to Earth in poverty – for this we adore You and love You .
Divine Child, You are the infinite wisdom while as a child You were silent – for this we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the King of glory and majesty while You humbled yourself – for this we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, who in Nazareth grew in years, wisdom and favour with God and man – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we find model life in You
Colettine Infant Jesus, make my heart meek and humble and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Ninth Day

Many votive offerings and letters of thanks reflect how generous Infant Jesus is in granting graces, even though they represent only a small fraction of the graces received – the majority of recipients do not leave any visible sign that their pleas were heard.
Here are a few more examples of miraculous cures. In 1977 lime got into the eyes of 10-year-old Jack from Pławnica near Kłodzko which caused chemical burns. The doctors at hospital decided that one eye could probably be saved. His broken-hearted grandmother started to pray the novena to Infant Jesus. On the third day of the novena the boy’s eyes began to heal, on the seventh day Jack regained vision in both eyes.
Monika Krajewska was born in 1984 in Tarnów with myelomeningocele, the type of spina bifida. The doctors said the baby would never be able to walk or would walk with great difficulty. When Monika was one year old, she could not stand on her feet. Then her family turned with trust to Colettine Infant Jesus fervently praying for help. Their prayer was answered. When the letter of thanks was being written Monika was three years old and running around like other healthy children.
In 1980 Maria G. from Wołomin fell over in the street and hit her head on the curb. She had a concussion and lay unconscious all day. When she regained consciousness she remembered that she had “Infant Jesus’ water”. With great faith she poured it on her head and felt that she was immediately healed. The so-called “Infant Jesus’ water” has been used often with miraculous effects by worshippers of Infant Jesus for a long time. It is made by submerging the statue of Infant Jesus in regular water.
Let these examples encourage us to trust in Infant Jesus’ help, who through this statue gives so many graces. We can receive everything we ask for with great faith and trust, and if it is in accordance with God’s will.

Adorations

Divine Child, You are the Son of eternal God and out of love for us You became the Son of Man – for this we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You are the Word of Almighty God while for us you became flesh and established your dwelling in our midst– for this we adore You and love You.
Divine Child, You came into the world for our salvation – for this we adore You and love You.

Petitions

Divine Child, coming into this world You brought us peace and love – have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Child, grant that we may love You wholeheartedly now and always.
Colettine Infant Jesus, teach me to always choose what is pleasing to God and grant me the grace I ask of You in this novena.

Prayer at the end of each day
Almighty eternal God, who loved us so much that You sent your only begotten Son to the Earth, grant that we may with great reverence adore holy mysteries of Infant Jesus and follow in his footsteps, so that we may always please You and obtain eternal life. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

NOVENA TO INFANT JESUS
before Christmas (16-24 December) or during the Christmas season

Introductory prayer for every day of the novena
Almighty eternal God, Lord of heaven and earth, who reveal Yourself to little people, grant that with appropriate praise adoring holy mysteries of Infant Jesus, Your Son, and faithfully following in his footsteps we may reach the kingdom of heaven, which is promised to little people. You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen

Day 1
16 of December

Let us adore the Heart of Infant Jesus, and worship this love that was burning for the Eternal Father and for us, poor sinners. Let us offer our hearts to the Divine Child, so that He may purify them and teach them holy simplicity, so that the offering of our hearts was pleasing to Him.

Prayer
The Sweetest Child Jesus, we adore Your Divine Heart, which from the very first moment of the Incarnation was burning with love and worship of God the Father. You offered Yourself to suffer the Passion for our salvation. May You be glorified forever.
We are giving You our poor hearts asking that You accept them and make them Yours. Clear them from all sin and inflame them with Your love. Teach us simplicity, humility and tranquillity. Reign over us and don’t let us be attached to earthly things and sinful pleasures. Let our hearts be a pleasing dwelling for You here on earth, and in heaven, let them joy in You forever. Amen.

Day 2
17 December

Looking at little legs of Infant Jesus, let us reflect on how many steps they will have to take for our salvation. They will show us the way of justice and truth, and they will mark it with traces of blood. Let us ask the Divine Child with fervent prayer that we may always know how to follow in His steps.

Prayer
O little Jesus, shivering from cold on rough hay, what terrible suffering awaits You! How weary you will become walking around the whole world seeking the lost sheep – the poor soul of the sinner. May Your hardship not be in vain. O sweet Jesus, let our hearts rest close to Your holy feet. Grant that drenching them with tears of contrition, we may obtain the grace of imitating You, and following in Your footsteps, arrive where You reign with Your saints forever. Amen.

Day 3
18 December

Let us adore the holy hands of the Divine Infant, which will so heavily toil for our salvation, and through that will give great glory to the Heavenly Father. From those little hands of Baby Jesus, streams of graces flow for the enrichment of our souls and to strengthen us in doing good. Let us surrender wholly into these Divine Hands, so little, but so powerful. Let ask Infant Jesus to bless our hands, that all our actions may always be holy and pleasing to God.

Prayer
O Divine Child, with the greatest reverence we kiss your almighty little hands, which broke the chains of our slavery and opened the gates of Heaven. They hold all the world, and they seem so trembling and powerless in the manger. O sweetest Child, into Your little hands we commend our hearts. Accept them, and we surrender wholly to You. Raise Your little Hands above us and bless us. Bless our thoughts, our feelings, our affairs, bless our crosses and sufferings, which You send us, so that working and suffering only for You one day we would receive from Your hands a crown of eternal glory. Amen.

Day 4
19 December

The divine lips of Infant Jesus possess the words of life, truth and eternal wisdom; they give perfect glory to God our Father and mercifully proclaim forgiveness to sinners. They will one day proclaim the blessing to the chosen and the eternal damnation to the rejected. Divine Child, You announce through angels “peace to people of good will” but our lips sometimes find it hard to pronounce the words of forgiveness and so often spread anxiety and perhaps cause pain.

Prayer
O Blessed Infant, purify our lips with the fire of Your love. Teach them to speak only to proclaim Your glory and for the good of our neighbours. Do not let them be profaned by sinful words. Grant that from our lips there may come words of adoration and petition that we may someday be worthy to hear from Your Divine Lips the call to the eternal feast with You. Amen

Day 5
20 December

How great is the love expressed in the eyes of Infant Jesus when He looks at us. His eyes are filled with joy looking at the good they can see in our lives and shed bitter tears looking at our sins. Let us commend our eyes to Infant Jesus, that we never offend Him with our eyes, but always look at things that raise our hearts to God.

Prayer
O Divine Child, look at us. May the merciful look of your eyes inflame the love for You in us. We offer You our eyes. Grant us the grace to recognize your work in all the things You have created, to give thanks to You and use them according to Your will for the good of our souls. Give us the grace to often look upon You and reflect on Your love for us. Grant that we may reject everything that leads us to evil and that we may morn over our sins. Grant that we may become worthy of Your gracious look at the last moment of our life and look upon Your divine glory in heaven. Amen.

Day 6
21 December

The ears of the Divine Child graciously listen to the prayers of humble and poor in spirit people. Let us commend to Him our ears, especially the internal hearing of our heart, that by rejecting the treacherous promptings of the world, the flesh and the evil spirit, we may be able to hear the inspirations of grace. Let us respect the voice of God in our heart and listen to his commands.

Prayer
O Divine Child, hear our prayers and supplications. Graciously receive our adoration and thanksgiving, taking no account of our unworthiness. We commend to You our hearing and ask You to make us diligent in hearing Your Word, so that by receiving it with a willing heart and doing it with love we may become worthy of hearing heavenly music, unheard by human ears. Amen.

Day 7
22 December

The little head of the Divine Child is resting on hay, yet it is the Head of the Mystical Body – the Church, which we are members of. From this holy Head flows the life-giving dew of grace into our souls. Let us strive to live in union with this Divine Head, trying to imitate Jesus Christ with all our strength, so that we can be likened to Him.

Prayer
Jesus, Divine Child, You are the brightest Sun lighting the roads of our life, so often full of dangers. Guide us and protect us from all evil, especially from eternal damnation. Help us to lead a holy life, and thus increase the holiness of the Church – the Mystical Body, of which You are the Head. Grant that by faithfully imitating You, we may fulfill your commandment: “Be holy, because I am holy” and thus achieve eternal happiness. Amen.

Day 8
23 December

Let us adore the holy soul of Infant Jesus shining with immaculate purity and richness of all grace and virtue. It gives perfect glory and adoration to God the Father. Let us commend our soul and all its powers to the Divine Child and ask Him to purify and enrich it with His graces and adorn it with His virtues, so that we may become a dwelling worthy of Him.

Prayer
O Divine Child, with the deepest humility, we adore and bless the Holy Trinity, who submitted into Your Soul the whole treasure of perfection and grace and united it with the Eternal Word, so that it is in perfect communion with God. Sweetest Infant Jesus, we beg You to accept our sinful soul, purify and enrich it with supernatural gifts. May its powers, renewed by Your grace, be filled with Your life, so that we may cry out with the Apostle: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”. O Jesus, our Life on earth, become also our eternal life in heaven. Amen.

Day 9
24 December

The Holy Trinity gave Infant Jesus the highest royal authority, but He wants to reign over us by His innocence, humility, meekness and love. This way He announces to all creation the highest will of the Father. Let us prepare ourselves to welcome our King. Let Him rule over us and let us strive to fulfill His will in everything, so that Infant Jesus can make of us a pure and pleasing offering to the Holy Trinity.

Prayer
King of eternal glory, who reigns over heaven and earth, come to your people. Though a manger is Your throne, a stable Your palace, swaddling clothes Your royal mantle and shepherds Your courtiers, we profess that in this submissiveness You are our King. To You, our King, we give our hearts, souls and bodies, everything that we have, and that we may have. Reign in our hearts by humility, meekness and love. Teach us to fulfill the will of the Father, as You did. We wish to serve You faithfully and love You with all our strength on earth and at the gates of eternity greet You as our King and with You enter into Your kingdom. Amen.

Prayer for the end of each day
Oh, Divine Child, we implore You, grant that every day we may more perfectly belong to You and serve You better. We wish to love You in our neighbours and spread Your Kingdom wherever we find ourselves. Amen.

*****

PRAYERS TO INFANT JESUS

Jesus, Divine Child, be praised forever for humbling Yourself out of love for us. You came from heaven to guide us to heaven. You emaciated yourself to enrich us, and we are so often ungrateful. Grant, o Divine Infant, that we may love You with all our hearts and never sadden You by leading a bad life. Let us participate in Your divine blessings now and in eternity. Amen

Our most beloved Lord Jesus Christ, You became an Infant for us, you chose a cave for your birth place to liberate us from the darkness of sin, to bring us closer to You and inflame in us your holy love. We adore You as our Creator and Saviour, we acknowledge You as our King and Lord. We bring You as our offering all emotions of our poor hearts and we wish You ruled and reigned over us. Dearest Jesus, our Lord and God , deign to accept our offering and let it be pleasing to Your Heart. In your mercy, forgive us all our trespasses, enlighten us and inflame in our hearts the holy fire of your love that You brought with You into the world. Let our souls become the altars where we will offer the sacrifices of our mortifications. O Jesus, grant that here on Earth we may always seek your glory and later we could rejoice in Your eternal, inexpressible beauty in heaven. Amen.

Most Holy Infant Jesus, sanctify looks of our eyes, words of our mouth, works of our hands and steps of our feet. Most Holy Infant Jesus, sanctify also thoughts of our spirit, resolves of our will, desires of our hearts. Most Holy Infant Jesus, let us see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing, do nothing, think nothing, desire nothing, wish nothing and demand nothing that could in the slightest way offend your simplicity, purity and innocence. Most holy Infant Jesus, make us rich in Your poverty, great in Your humility, wise in Your simplicity and happy in Your suffering. Amen

Prayer to Infant Jesus in a manger
Baby placed in a manger, Son of living God, Son of Virgin Mary, bless me and help me to be little in my own judgement, so I may please you. Make me as small as a drop of water, so that I may be lost in the ocean of Your love. Bless my heart, that it may become pure and love only You, and everything else in You and for You. Bless my mind, that it may easily accept the truths of the holy faith. Bless my will that it may desire and seek only You. I surrender You my heart for your dwelling. Take it and make it yours – let it always belong to You in life and in death. Amen.

The Sun went down behind the mountains,
The earth is nestled by the night
Baby Jesus with the Angels
I sing to you good night.

The stars shine in blue sky
Oh, how great is Your might!
Look, Jesus, at Your child
And give me a good night.

At the altar silent lamp
Burns for You all night
And the Angels sing softly
Baby Jesus, goodnight.

The world is in deep slumber
All is held by Your might
Me and all my loved ones
Give O Jesus, a good night.

I will praise you tomorrow anew
When I wake up from my dream.
Though I say goodbye to You,
My heart remains here.

BERNARDINE SISTERS
of the Third Order of St. Francis

The Sisters lead a life of prayers following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, constantly adoring the Triune God – the Eternal Love by meditating on the mysteries of Jesus Christ, especially the mysteries of the Manger, the Cross and the Eucharist; practicing penance in seclusion and silence, and begging God for forgiveness and graces for their brothers and sisters in the world.
The sisters bring their union with the Lord obtained through prayer to the hardships of daily work they do to obtain their livelihood. They make the liturgical vestments and church paraments, they fulfil various duties in the church, in the convent and in the garden.
Maybe you too want to follow the Lord, so – following the example of St. Francis – you may adore Him in seclusion and silence, in poverty, in humility, in simplicity and joy of a child of God.

Contact us
Siostry Bernardynki
31-002 Kraków, ul. Poselska 21
POLAND
tel. +48 12 422-22-46
www.bernardynki.com