Novena Prayer to Maria Bambina – Catholic Novena Prayer

Maria Bambina means “Baby Mary” or “Child Mary.” Devotion to Our Lady as an infant began in the early 1000s in Milan. This devotion led to the solemn celebration of Mary’s birthday as a feast in the Church.

Many miracles have been attributed to devotion to Maria Bambina. You can use this novena to seek intercession from Maria Bambina in many aspects of your life.

About Maria Bambina

In 1007, the Church began to venerate Mary’s nativity in an official way by dedicating the Church of Santa Maria Fulcorina to the mystery of the nativity of Mary.

In 1251, this devotion was continued by Pope Innocent IV granting a perpetual plenary indulgence on the feast of Mary’s Nativity to all who made a visit to the Cathedral of Milan, which is dedicated to the Nativity of Mary. After this, Mary’s Nativity began to be celebrated solemnly in the Church each year on September 8th.

Over the following centuries, the Cathedral of Milan was renovated and made more beautiful. In 1572, the cathedral’s dome was officially dedicated to the Nativity of Mary.

Later, the center of devotion to the infancy of Mary moved from the Cathedral of Milan to the Milan motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. A wax image of the Infant Mary is venerated in their chapel. This image was made by a Poor Clare sister named Isabella Chiara Formari in 1735.

This Maria Bambina image eventually came into possession of the Bishop of Milan. From there, the image passed into possession of the bishop’s brother. He then gave the image to a group of Capuchin sisters.

When Emperor Joseph II and Napoleon suppressed convents in the years that followed, a former Capuchin sister came to possess the image. When she died, the pastor of St. Marco Church received the image. He then gave the Maria Bambina image to the Sisters of Charity.

From 1884 onward, miracles began to be attributed to veneration of the image. Several members of the Sisters of Charity were miraculously healed from severe health problems. The image itself was miraculously brightened and restored from its previous dullness and wear.

The Sisters of Charity gave the Maria Bambina image new clothing and a new crib, transferring it to their convent’s chapel in 1884. In 1885, they transferred the image in a solemn procession to the Motherhouse Chapel so that pilgrims could venerate the image and seek Maria Bambina’s intercession.

Later, a confraternity to the Infant Mary was formed. It was called the League of the Innocent. The Maria Bambina image was solemnly crowned in 1904. Soon, a custom began to give an image of Maria Bambina to newly married couples as a wedding gift.

Devotion to Our Lady under the title of Maria Bambina continues to flourish in Milan and throughout all of Italy.

Maria Bambina’s Feast Day: September 8th

Why Pray the Maria Bambina Novena?

Though there is no official patronage for Maria Bambina, you can pray the Maria Bambina Novena for many intentions.

You can pray the Maria Bambina Novena to help you prepare to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Mary. You can use this novena to seek intercession from the Infant Mary in a particular way if you are seeking to grow in devotion to Infant Mary. Or you can pray the Maria Bambina Novena for someone you know who is seeking to grow in devotion to her.

You can also pray the Maria Bambina Novena if you are in need of a closer relationship with the Blessed Mother in your life or if you are trying to work on imitating her innocence and simplicity in your life.

Novena Prayer to Maria Bambina Prayers

Novena to Maria Bambina is a nine-day prayer experience designed to deepen your faith, strengthen your relationship with God, and seek the powerful intercession of Maria Bambina.

You can pray the Maria Bambina Novena for any intention!

Novena to Maria Bambina Day 1

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the angels, Mother of grace and love, I greet you with all my heart. Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during all the days of my life. Obtain for me, too, a great devotion to you, who are the first creature of God’s love.

Hail Mary, full of grace……………. O heavenly Child Mary, who like a pure dove was born immaculate and beautiful, true prodigy of the wisdom of God, my soul rejoices in you. Oh! Do help me to preserve the angelic virtue of purity at the cost of any sacrifice.

Hail Mary, full of grace……………. Hail, lovely and holy Child, spiritual garden of delight, where, on the day of the Incarnation, the tree of life was planted, assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity and pleasures of the world. Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts, feelings, and virtues of your divine Son.

Hail Mary, full of grace……………. Hail, admirable Child Mary, Mystical Rose, closed garden, open only to the heavenly Spouse. O Lily of paradise, make me love the humble and hidden life; let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart always open to the loving calls of His graces and inspiration.

Hail Mary, full of grace……………. Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn, gate of heaven, you are my trust and hope.O powerful advocate, from your cradle stretch out your hand, Support me on the path of life. Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death and so reach an eternity with you. Hail Mary, full of grace…………….

Prayer
Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother, by the heavenly graces you lavish upon us, mercifully listen to my supplications. In the needs which press upon me from every side and especially in my present tribulation, I place all my trust in you. O holy Child, by the privileges granted to you alone and by the merits which you have acquired, show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits which you dispense are inexhaustible, because your power with the Heart of God is unlimited. Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High has enriched you from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception, grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of your Immaculate Heart.