Devotion to the Infant Virgin Mary

The New Testament is silent on Mary’s birth and childhood. Mary is first mentioned in the Gospel of Luke as a thirteen-year old girl betrothed to Joseph. But early Christians soon began to write extra-biblical accounts of Mary’s early life.

In Milan, Italy, the beautiful image or statue of the Infant Mary is referred to as “Maria Bambinella”. A Franciscan nun made that statue out of wax sometime before 1730. In 1876 the Sisters of Charity in Lovere, Italy brought the statue to their mother house in Milan which has already become worn and gray.

It so happened that a very devout novice was in the infirmary suffering from a serious condition that restricted her movement. When the image of Maria Bambinella was brought to her bed, the nun took it in her arms and fervently pleaded with Mary to ask God to heal her. Miraculously, Guilia Macaro, the nun was healed immediately. The image was also suddenly transformed from old gray color to the color of living flesh, until this day. Another nun, Sister Josephine was also ultimately cured through her devotion to Maria Bambinella. Because of these and many other miracles, God has worked for those who venerate the statue, the Sisters of Charity in Milan are commonly called the “Sisters of Maria Bambinella”.

The Catholic world is only beginning to tap the potential of this old-yet-new devotion. Perhaps one day all Catholics, and the whole world as well, will experience and benefit from the graces which fall from the tiny hands of Maria Bambinella. (Photos by Weng Nuera and Fr. Jose Junar Dela Victoria)

Source: https://maryimmaculate.tripod.com/infant.html