Lethal Dose

When I was moving to LA, driving through Oklahoma, I spotted a sign: “Infant of Prague Shrine.” Now, you know I immediately made a (brief - the pup being in the car, but it was February) detour and dashed inside. The ex-hub, to his credit, did have a sense of humor, which is why I married him … thought I wouldn’t recommend marrying anyone because their favorite Stooge is also Shemp. In fact, he (the ex, not Shemp Howard) even called me after we divorced as he was driving x-country again to tell me, “I just passed that Infant of Prague Shrine again!” But I digress. An IOP shrine in Prague, OK - huh? When I told the woman behind the counter that I was from Boston (holy of holies! second only to the Vatican!) she said, “There’s not many of us here.” I’m sure. I gotta join “The Association of the Infant Jesus of Prague.” I want a throne of gold! The IOP is such a queen.

National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague

At the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague, thanksgiving and honor are given to Jesus Christ in his humanity.

The history of the devotion to the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague dates back more than four hundred years when a statue of The Holy Infant in the guise of a king* was brought to Prague, Czech Republic. It was a precious souvenir of Maria Manriquez de Lara, a Czech nobleman, in 1556. Because of the many miracles that occurred when people prayed to the Infant Jesus, a great devotion arose and has spread throughout the world. Statues of the Infant Jesus of Prague are found in churches and homes everywhere.

Devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague were brought to Prague, Oklahoma, by Rev. George Johnson in 1947. Father Johnson credited the construction of the new church to the intercession of the Infant Jesus of Prague. Keeping his promise that he would establish a shrine to the Infant Jesus of Prague in the new church upon its completion, Father Johnson set a statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague “on a throne of gold” back of the main altar.statue

As the Iron Curtain fell around the communist countries of Eastern Europe, the faithful were unable to communicate with the Shrine in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Responding to the requests of the people, the Shrine in Prague, Oklahoma, was designated “The National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague.” Since this time, people from around the world have been accepted into The Association of The Infant Jesus of Prague, and public devotions to the Infant Jesus have been offered. Each month a Novena of prayers are offered on the nine days from the seventeenth to the twenty-fifth. The Sunday that falls between the 17th and the 25th is designated “Pilgrimage Sunday”, and the public is invited to come to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus for additional Prayers and benediction.

The Shrine is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Self-guided tours are available during opening hours - Special group tours, by appointment.

A Gift Shop is open Monday- Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. which offers an array of religious items.

The National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague
4th and Broadway, Box 488
Prague, OK 74864

*they obviously meant “queen”