Infant birthdays are celebrated only by infants, or for infants, while adults celebrate their current age. But the celebration of the Infant Jesus holds great significance for us as the followers of Christ.

First and foremost, Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born by the Virgin Mary, which makes him an exceptional child. The birth of Jesus is the source of His incarnation, His First Advent, for the specific purpose of rescuing humanity from eternal damnation.

So, the birth of Jesus signifies hope, the hope of the salvation of mankind, which finds ultimate fulfilment in his death and resurrection. His birth marked the beginning of a process, without which the desired significant ending could not have been attained. It is not only His birth, but the entire gamut of Jesus’ thirty-three years on earth, that is of significance to humanity.

Devotion to the Infant Jesus is widespread, and many miracles have been associated with it. But, in Western culture, the devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague is the most prominent. As noted by an Internet source, “Devotion to the Infant Jesus is devotion to the Child Jesus. It is veneration of the Son of God, who in the form of an infant chose a stable for a palace, a manger for a cradle, and shepherds for worshippers.

Our Saviour grants special graces to all who venerate His sacred infancy.” This is in reference to the humble circumstances of the birth of Jesus. In Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, “the Infant Jesus began to bless the monastery, the local people, and also the entire city of Prague. He was credited with miraculous healing and also, amongst other things, with saving Prague during the Swedish siege in 1639” (Internet Source).

In general terms, activities of the Infant Jesus Society include visits to the Motherless Babies homes, orphanages, hospitals, and prisons to bring succour to those in need, particularly abandoned babies. The birth of the infant Jesus led to the making of the first set of martyrs. When Herod the Great, King of Judea, learnt of the birth of the mysterious child, he felt his position threatened and planned to destroy him so as to forestall the prophecy surrounding him. “Then Herod, quietly calling the Magi, diligently learned from them the time when the star appeared to them. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, 'Go and diligently ask questions about the boy. And when you have found him, report back to me, so that I, too, may come and adore him” (Matthew 2:7-8). But, having been warned in a dream, the three Magi refused to return to Herod, who became infuriated by the deception and became determined to kill the baby Jesus. But an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying, "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13).

True to the speculation, Herod ordered the genocide of all the baby boys that were two years and below in Bethlehem and surrounding cities, so that the Baby Jesus could be destroyed in the process. There was great wailing in all the affected cities, and the agony of the unfortunate mothers was indescribable. According to Boccaccio, no less than 144,000 children were gruesomely murdered by Herod’s soldiers (Internet source). They became the first set of martyrs to die for Christ, and they are known today as the Holy Innocents. Their feast day is December 28, just three days after the commemoration of the birth of Christ.

Egypt thus played a crucial role in the life of Christ by offering safe asylum to the First Holy Family, where they remained until the death of Herod. When the coast was clear, an angel appeared again to Joseph, saying, "Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For those who were seeking the life of the boy have passed away” (Matthew 2:20). Joseph thus took his family to Israel and settled them safely in Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. Thus, the Infant Jesus had a remarkable and eventful childhood.

The Infant Jesus is significant in Christian life, not only for the hope of salvation he offers mankind but also by drawing attention to the importance of the infancy stage in our lives. As patrons of the baby in the womb, the Holy Innocents stand against abortion and all manner of child abuse, compelling us as parents to take adequate care of our children as Joseph and Mary did in the life of Christ. Children are the precious gifts of God, and we should train them and bring them up without any form of discrimination, teaching them to know Christ early in life.