Dear Friends,
Many saints had a special devotion to the Infant Jesus. A one of my favorites is Padre Pio who was a Franciscan Capuchin. This is my personal favorite photo of him. It is written that at Christmas when beholding an image of the Infant Jesus, his face would change and he would look transformed as in ecstasy. Here, in the photo, we get a little taste of what he might have been experiencing.
St Padre Pio wrote in his notebook:
"So plentiful, O Christians, are the lessons that shine forth from the grotto of Bethlehem! Oh how our hearts should be on fire with love for the One who with such tenderness was made flesh for our sakes! Oh how we should burn with desire to lead the whole world to this lowly cave, refuge of the King of kings, greater than any worldly palace, because it is the throne and dwelling place of God! Let us ask this Divine child to clothe us with humility, because only by means of this virtue can we taste the fullness of this mystery of Divine tenderness.
Nothing can be heard except the sobs and whimpers of the infant God. And by means of His crying and weeping He offers to the Divine Justice the first ransom for our redemption."
For more info on Padre Pio and Christmas:
https://www.worksbyfaith.org/st-padre-pio-and-the-apparitions-of-the-baby-jesus/
Another is St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face who became a Carmelite.
She wrote about her vision of the Infant Jesus on Christmas of 1888 as such:
"On that blessed night the sweet infant Jesus, scarcely an hour old, filled the darkness of my soul with floods of light. By becoming weak and little for love of me, He made me strong and brave: He put His own weapons into my hands so that I went on from strength to strength, beginning, if I may say so, 'to run as a giant."
Here is a prayer that St Therese composed to the Infant Jesus:
"O Little Infant Jesus, my only treasure, I abandon myself to Your every wish. I seek no other joy than that of calling forth Your sweet smile. Grant me the graces and the virtues of Your Holy Childhood, so that on the day of my birth into Heaven the angels and saints may recognize me as Your little spouse."
For more info on St Therese and Infant Jesus
https://aleteia.org/2018/12/18/prayer-of-st-therese-of-lisieux-to-the-divine-child-jesus/
But there are 2 other "saints" not yet canonized that had a love for the Christ Child.
One was our own Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres who was a cloistered Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception in Quito Ecuador.
She, too, beheld the Infant Jesus in Our Lady's arms and held him. She wrote about Advent and Christmas to her dear fellow sisters:
“Let us take advantage of these days….to prepare our hearts to receive the Infant Jesus. Already we know that (we) must get dressed in our best garments to celebrate the Birth of the Lord, adorning the manger of Bethlehem with the light of virtues, with the beauty and gentleness of good example, with the straw of mortification, with the delicate purity of the angels, with the joy of the shepherds and with the delight of Mary and Joseph--- each one of us, in humility, desiring to improve ourselves through the faithful fulfillment of the Divine Will.”(Words of Mother Mariana to her community during Advent of her last Christmas, 1634)
For more information on Mother Mariana
The other was Carmelite, Sr. Marie of St Peter who was given the mission by Christ to spread devotion to His Holy Face.
She wrote this holy prayer of immolation and victimhood offering herself to the Infant Jesus:
“O most holy and most loving Child Jesus, the day I have so longed for has finally arrived, when,
without fear of failing in obedience, I can freely offer myself entirely to you, according to the
extent of your power and your will over my soul, for the fulfillment of your designs. I am truly
unworthy to make this offering to you; but, O divine Child, since it seems to me that you desire
it, please purify your victim with the tears of your holy Childhood and with your precious Blood.
Prostrate at your feet before the manger, on this night forever memorable for your august birth,
yes, my divine Spouse, with complete freedom, I offer myself entirely to you... There, I make to
you the complete abandonment of myself for the fulfillment of your designs for the glory of the
Holy Name of God.”
O Most Holy Child, God and man, I renounce all that I am and give myself to all that you are. Do
with me and in me as you will, for the fulfillment of your designs; I am your possession, possess
me sovereignly. Yes, divine Child, willingly, for love of you, I divest myself of everything forever.
Deign then, in your great mercy, to clothe me in the robe of your sacred merits, which is
perfumed with the sweet fragrance of your virtues, so that on the day of my judgment I may
receive the blessing of your heavenly Father. Amen."
She also composed the Litany of the Holy Face. I have copied the beginning of the to help us to meditate on and venerate the Holy Face in Bethlehem:
Litany of the Holy Face of Jesus
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Holy Virgin Mary, pray for us.
(After each of the following phrases, say “have mercy on us”)
O adorable Face, which was adored with profound respect by Mary and Joseph when they saw Thee for the first time, have mercy on us.
O adorable Face, which in the Stable of Bethlehem didst ravish with joy the angels, the shepherds and the Magi,
O adorable Face, which in the Temple didst transpierce with a dart of love the saintly old man Simeon and the prophetess Anna,
O adorable Face, which was bathed in tears in Thy holy infancy,
O adorable Face, which, when Thou didst appear in the Temple at twelve years of age, didst fill with admiration the Doctors of the law,
O adorable Face, white with purity and ruddy with charity,
O adorable Face, more beautiful than the sun, more lovely than the moon, more brilliant than the stars,
O adorable Face, fresher than the roses of spring,
O adorable Face, more precious than gold, silver, and diamonds
O adorable Face, whose charms are so ravishing, and whose grace is so attractive,
O adorable Face, whose every feature is characterized by nobility,
O adorable Face, contemplated by angels,
O adorable Face, sweet delectation of the Saints,
O adorable Face, masterpiece of the Holy Ghost, in which the Eternal Father is well pleased.
O adorable Face, delight of Mary and Joseph,...
For more info on the Devotion to the Holy Face and Sr. Marie St. Peter
https://www.ourladyofgoodsuccess.com/blogs/news/i-seek-veronicas-our-lord-to-sr-marie-st-peter-1?_pos=1&_sid=46264a8e4&_ss=r
CommentsComentarios
PostedEnviado December 22 2025 at 01:42PM bypor Patricia Marris
Thank you for all the work that you do and all the inspired articles.
PostedEnviado December 26 2025 at 12:22AM bypor Mary Kretschmann
Thank U.
Hoping I can visit Our LADY of Quito one day.
May GODS’ Will be done.
Remember me, LORD.
🕊🙏