Santo Bambino from Aracoeli
Prayer to the Santo Bambino of Aracoeli
Loving Jesus, who became a child for us
and were born in a stable,
to redeem us from sin.
We recognise you as our God and King.
We offer you all our affection as a gift of honour,
of our heart.
Dear Jesus, honour yourself with this gift.
But so that it may be pleasing to you, we ask you to us
with the fire of Your divine love.
In this way, let our soul become an altar,
on which we offer you the sacrifice of our hardships.
Bring it about that we here on earth always
Seek your greater honour, that we may one day
to share in your eternal glory in heaven. Amen.
THE CHILD JESUS OF ARACOELI
The image was carved from olive wood from the Garden of Gethsemane by a pious Franciscan friar in Jerusalem towards the end of the 15th century. According to tradition, the good friar did not have the necessary colour to finish the work, so it is said to have been miraculously completed by the hand of an angel. During the sea voyage, the friar had to throw the casket containing the precious treasure into the water because of a terrible storm, but it floated behind the ship and reached the harbour of Livorno alone.
The reputation of these unique events preceded the picture; it was received with great rejoicing in the Eternal City and honoured with extraordinary devotion. One day - it was Christmas time - a noble lady stole the image from the nativity scene where it was kept and carefully hid it in her house. She then fell seriously ill and her confessor ordered her to return the picture. According to popular tradition, the image returned to the Capitol by itself in the middle of the night and the bells of the basilica began to ring miraculously.
The precious gifts of gold and precious stones that adorn it bear witness to the gratitude of the faithful for the countless favours. It was lavishly endowed with such gifts every time it was robbed by thieving hands. In 1798, a noble Roman by the name of Serafino Petrarca rescued the painting from the destructive fury of Napoleon's troops in exchange for a large sum of money.
The Chapel of the Infant Jesus is often full of visitors from all over the world. Before giving birth to a child, mothers go up to Aracoeli to receive a special blessing; they also bring their children there to consecrate them to the divine child. Since time immemorial, the image has been carried to the bedside of the sick on request. It used to happen that you could see a long line of vehicles waiting their turn in the Capitol Square.
The ever-growing fame of the marvellous image prompted Pope Leo XIII and the Vatican Chapter to crown the image. This took place in a solemn ceremony on 2 May 1897, and the countless letters of petition and thanksgiving that the divine child receives every day from thousands of pious people from all over the world bear witness to this reputation. The little ones and the grown-ups write to him as their best friend. During the Christmas season, the children of Rome flock to the magnificent cot to make their little speeches and recite hymns of praise to the newborn Saviour. On Epiphany, the whole city rushes to the Capitol to receive the blessing of their little, great king. In truth, the sun never sets on his kingdom.
