font in the Church of the Infant Jesus
cloak worn by the Infant Jesus
Strictly speaking Carmelite Church of Our Lady Victorious in Malá Strana but commonly known as Church of the Infant Jesus for the little infant Jesus wearing a cloak.
The infant Jesus is 16th century. Legend has it that the statue once belonged to Saint Teresa of Avila.
Up a spiral stone staircase, a museum of various cloaks.
When I visited, I was struck by a girl in her twenties, her face was lit up with joy as she looked at the statue.
I caught up with her as she left. She told me she was a student in Prague.
When Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho was unknown, he had yet to write, he travelled Europe. He asked the Infant Jesus to help make his dream come true to become a writer. He noticed the Infant Jesus was wearing a shabby cloak. He promised, that if he became a writer, he would return with a cloak.
Paulo Coelho marks St Joseph’s day with his friends. This year it was at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle. During the morning he visited the church and presented the Infant Jesus with a new cloak.
The Infant Jesus is credited with miracles. Hence the pilgrims.
I was appalled at the disrespect shown by the hordes of visitors to the church. Two women having a very noisy conversation on the stairs leading up to the museum, the noise echoing up and down the staircase. Two women walking down the aisle having a loud conversation. Then bang, crash, a tourist group erupted through the doors, their tour guide, Italian, laughing and shouting. I wish I gone after her and took a picture of her as she left, as she was unfit to be a tour guide. Then it got worse and worse.
I walked out in disgust.
Why do they not bar tour groups?
A shop near the church entrance, but closed when I left.
Across the road, shops selling tourist tat, images, replicas of the Infant Jesus.
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