An Afro-Spanish religion uses the Czech statue to represent one of its key figures
One statue, two religions. The Infant of Prague is of course a world-famous Roman Catholic icon, and the original can be seen in Prague’s Church of Our Lady Victorious.
But Santo Niño Jesús de Praga has also worked its way into the Afro-Spanish religions of Santeria and the closely related Santerismo, where Catholic statues and images are used to take the place of African-based spiritual beings called Orishas. Practitioners of Santeria and Santerismo would seem to be devout Christians to outside observers, as they had shrines to popular saints in their homes. But these shrines served a hidden purpose known only to the initiates.
The Infant of Prague is one of several Catholic images that can be used to stand in for Ellegua, the Orisha of roads. All ceremonies done in Santeria must first have approval by Ellegua before progressing. He holds the keys to the past, present and future. Ellegua is seen as an old man and conversely a young boy; likewise he can be a positive and negative force. In Haitian Voodoo, the corresponding spirit is Papa Legba.
According to one popular interpretation, Ellegua is one of the Seven African Powers, each of which has an analogous Catholic statue. Ellegua — also called Elegua, Elewa or Elegba — is the most important of the Orishas, and controls all doorways and roads as well as crossroads. He allows all of the aches in the world to flow, and can change fate. He facilitates communication with other spirits, even to the highest ones, and divination.
Believers can give offerings to the statue. He likes any food except pigeon. His favorites are goat, rooster, bushrat and smoked fish. The younger version of Eleggua can be offered wrapped candies and toys, while the older version likes hard candies, toasted corn or popcorn.
Scholars make a distinction between the pure form of Santeria as a religion with strict rules and initiation rites as opposed to Santerismo and related folk traditions that are open to personal interpretation and individualized practices.
A popular image of the Seven African Powers using the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and saints originated in Puerto Rico and spread to the US when citizens of Puerto Rico were allowed to move to the mainland United States in the 1950s. Santeria scholars say this image, which can be found on candles and all sorts of items in botanicas, is not an authentic interpretation of Santeria, and it instead belongs to Santerismo. This image uses San Simon as Ellegua.
The same set of Catholic statues are used for Ellegua and the other Orishas, regardless of whether they are the same as the Seven African Powers.
Background
The original wax statue in Prague, called Pražské Jezulátko in Czech, also has its share of legends. The 47 cm tall statue of a 4- or 5-year-old Jesus is made of wood with a molded and colored wax covering. Canvas shows though the wax. The infant blesses with his right hand and his left holds an imperial orb topped with a cross. The statue is dressed in embroidered royal robes in a variety of colors to reflect the religious season or other events.
The Infant is particularly popular in the Philippines as well as South America. The reason for this is that it came to Prague from Spain. The statue was originally much darker, with Moorish features, but centuries of repairs to the wax have left it lighter in tone.
The statue was brought to Prague by Duchess Marie Manrique de Lara y Mendoza, who married Vratislav II. z Pernštejna in 1556. Later she gave the statue to her daughter Polyxena z Pernštejna as a wedding gift when she married into the Lobkowicz family and became Polyxena z Lobkovic.
In 1631, the Saxons seized Prague and the Carmelites fled. The monastery was plundered and the damaged statue was discarded as junk.
The monks returned to Prague in 1637. Father Cyril of the Mother of God, originally from Luxembourg, found the statue among old junk. Both its arms had been broken off. During prayer he heard the Infant Jesus say: “Have mercy on me and I will have mercy on you. Give me my arms and I will give you my peace. I will bless you as much as you will venerate me!”
From this time forward, the statue is credited with curing many illnesses and with saving Prague during the Swedish siege in 1639.
Empress Maria Theresa donated an embroidered robe to the statue in 1754. The veneration of the Infant of Prague then spread across the Austrian empire. Her son, Joseph II, however, took a dim view of such populist religious superstitions. The monastery was abolished and the shrine went into decay. The altar was restored in 1879 due to contributions from convents. Reports of new miracles began again, and word of the miraculous statue began to spread worldwide especially into Spanish-speaking countries.
Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2009. He said the Infant of Prague showed God’s love through his childlike tenderness. The pope gave a new crown as a present, and the crown is the one used now above the statue.
There are also some tunnels under the church with the mummified remains of more than 300 people, but this is almost never open to the public due to the delicate state of the bodies.
An article by Baba Studio with Raymond Johnston. Copyright Baba Studio, all rights reserved. Please contact us if you would like to syndicate or otherwise use this article.