This story began long before our feet touched the cobblestones in Prague.  In fact my earnest prayers to the Infant, many years ago, were some of the first for which I recall receiving distinct and immediate answers.  Still it was many years before I really understood the whole concept of contemplating our Lord as a mere babe. Maybe I am still uncovering more layers to this mystery and its application to my life, which is also vulnerable and fragile and every bit as dependent on Providence and mercy as was the Infant in the manger.  

This is the ultimate paradox – the Saviour became weak, helpless.  He entered the world swaddled immobile and left it bound securely to a tree and later swathed tightly in linen again.  This is not the sort of hero people were expecting.  It still isn't.   

"my power is made perfect in weakness…" 2 Cor 12:9

This is something we do well to consider.  

"…Let us then also follow the magi, let us separate ourselves from our barbarian customs, and make our distance therefrom great, that we may see Christ, since they too, had they not been far from their own country, would have missed seeing Him. Let us depart from the things of earth. For so the wise men, while they were in Persia, saw but the star, but after they had departed from Persia, they beheld the Sun of Righteousness. Or rather, they would not have seen so much as the star, unless they had readily risen up from thence.

Let us then also rise up; though all men be troubled, let us run to the house of the young Child;

though kings, though nations, though tyrants interrupt this our path, let not our desire pass away. For so shall we thoroughly repel all the dangers that beset us. Since these too, except they had seen the young Child, would not have escaped their danger from the king. Before seeing the young Child, fears and dangers and troubles pressed upon them from every side; but after the adoration, it is calm and security; and no longer a star but an angel receives them, having become priests from the act of adoration; for we see that they offered gifts also. Do thou therefore likewise leave the Jewish people, the troubled city, the blood-thirsty tyrant, the pomp of the world, and hasten to Bethlehem, where is the house of the spiritual Bread. For though thou be a shepherd, and come hither, thou wilt behold the young Child in an inn: though thou be a king, and approach not here, thy purple robe will profit thee nothing; though thou be one of the wise men, this will be no hindrance to thee; only let thy coming be to honor and adore, not to spurn the Son of God; only do this with trembling and joy…" –  St. John Chrysostom (ca. A.D. 347-407)

Our desire, likewise, did not pass away and our first stop in Prague was to the Church of Our Lady of Victory to kneel and pray "with trembling and joy."  

So very much has happened in the weeks since our pilgrimage I haven't really known where to begin to explain it all. Life is changing very quickly once again, though I have come to expect that.  When God acts in my life it is decisive and dramatic very often. So it has been.  

Symbolic of the change has been the final closing of the sale of the ranch last month. It all happened during these weeks before and after our trip.  I say it is symbolic because my life 'before' was so tied to that place that even this blog and my photography work bear its name.  Truly a new chapter has begun.   

I can't do justice to all have carried in my heart so I will just leave you to the pictures.

 

 

 

 Of course, she was here.  Of course. My ever present companion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I am happy here I really am.  But a big puffy, sniffly, pour-your-whole-heart-out mess by then)

 

 

A Story of the Infant Jesus of Prague

Infant of Prague prayers and history