Stations of the Infant Jesus

The Way of Bethlehem or The Stations of the Infant Jesus

adapted from a traditional practice attributed to St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Stations of the Infant Jesus

The Son of God Becomes an Infant

Jesus is Born an Infant

Jesus Takes Milk from His Mother

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Jesus is Wrapped in Swaddling-Clothes

Jesus is Circumcised

Jesus is Adored by the Magi

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Jesus is Presented in the Temple

Jesus Flees into Egypt

Jesus with His Hands Freed from the Swaddling Clothes

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Jesus Begins to Walk

Jesus Sleeps

Jesus in the Form of a Fisher

Opening Prayer

V. Incline unto my aid, O God. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory Be to the Father, etc.

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The Son of God Becomes an Infant

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30-33

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 adorable Infant Jesus, God and Man, it was Your burning love for me which urged You to do all this. I give You thanks; and I beg You, by Your Incarnation, to give me the grace to respond worthily to such goodness. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your 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 is she who nursed Christ Our Lord. O Jesus, ever sweetest Lord, And ever loving still; From this dear crib sweet drops of love Into my heart distill.

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Jesus is Born an Infant

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:3-7

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 You for this; and I beg You, by Your most poor and bitter birth: grant that I may reap the fruits of Your coming on this earth. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus Takes Milk from His Mother

III

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

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, You take milk, to be changed into that flesh which one day is to be bruised and torn for me. I thank You for this goodness; and I beg You by this purest milk, grant me grace to act always with a pure intention of pleasing You, just as You always acted with the sole aim of obtaining my eternal happiness. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus is Wrapped in Swaddling-Clothes

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Luke 2:10-12

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, You are tied in swathing-bands to deliver my soul from the chains of sin and hell. I thank You; grant by Your holy humility, that, casting away every other bond, I may ever live bound and united to You. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus is Circumcised

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21

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 You thanks; and I beg You, by the pain which You felt, and by the Blood which You shed in Your Circumcision, grant me grace and power to pluck out of my heart and to cast from it all earthly cares. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus is Adored by the Magi

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

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 You this great gift of faith. I thank You for it; and I beg You, by the glory of this Your manifestation, grant that, like the Magi, I may respond worthily and be faithful to Your grace. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus is Presented in the Temple

VII

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

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 You delivered Yourself up to death to bestow on me eternal life. I give You thanks, and pray that You, by this offering of Yourself, would make me constantly ready to humble and die to myself for the love of You. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus Flees into Egypt

VIII

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14

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, You endured so much suffering during this journey of a whole month or longer in the depth of winter! You were so often drenched with rain and stiffened with the cold! You surely passed many nights in the open air! I thank You; and beg You by Your flight to give me strength to avoid all the dangers of eternal death. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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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 Spirit eternally.”

For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:5

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, in my mind I imagine that first moment when You joined Your little hands, and lifting Your divine eyes to Heaven, interceded with the Eternal Father in my behalf. I give You thanks; and beg You to grant by the merits of Your prayer that my prayers may be always pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus Begins to Walk

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13

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 You, and beg You by Your first steps, grant me grace always to walk in the way which You has pointed out to me. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus Sleeps

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. Matthew 11:28-30

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 Your Heart watches, and You were loving me, and thinking upon me; and Your Heart was consoled with the good which You bestowed, and would bestow upon me. I thank You; and pray You, by Your loving slumbers, would give me grace to live forever in loving You, who are the most loving God. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

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Jesus in the Form of a Fisher

XII

“O Jesus, born of Virgin Bright, Immortal glory be to Thee, Praise to the Father, infinite, And Holy Spirit eternally.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18

Consideration: Consider to 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 You thanks; and pray You, by the zeal which You have shown in seeking to draw my heart to You, would give me the grace never to leave You. Grant that, always depending on You, I may become one with You and never separate me from You again. O my sweetest love, I am sorry that I have offended You. I desire to be always faithful in Your service: enkindle in me Your love; make me chaste and holy. O Mary, grant that I may belong entirely to You and to Your Son Jesus. (Hail Mary, etc. Glory Be, etc.)

Closing Prayer

I offer and present to You, O most sweet Infant Jesus, the steps which I have made to venerate the mysteries of Your Infancy, and the homage which I have paid You. I pray You 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 You 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 You may find Your pleasure, and dwell in it; and may it be my lot to live in this world ever united to You, that, one with You, I may dwell in Your presence in Heaven for all eternity. Amen.

Table of Contents

Stations of the Infant Jesus

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Stations of the Infant Jesus

The Way of Bethlehem or The Stations of the Infant Jesus

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Stations of the Infant Jesus

Opening Prayer

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Closing Prayer