Holy Infant of Good Health facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Holy Infant of Good Health"Santo Niño de la Salud" |
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| Location | Morelia, Mexico |
| Type | Christ statue |
| Shrine | Holy Infant of Good Health Shrine, Mississippi |
| Patronage | Sick people, protection from disease |
| Attributes | Statue of the Child Jesus, white robe, red embroidered ermine mantle, coronation crown, gold scepter |
The Holy Infant of Good Health (also known as Santo Niño de la Salud) is a special statue of the Christ Child. Many people believe it can bring about miracles. This small statue, which is about eleven inches tall, was found in 1939 in Morelia, Michoacán State, Mexico. Since it was found, many people have said they were healed after praying to the Child Jesus through this statue.
Contents
The Story of the Holy Infant
How Devotion Began
The story of the Holy Infant of Good Health started in 1939. A girl named Rosa María Guadalupe Calderón, often called Lupita, received the statue. Her godmother, María de Jesús Magana, gave it to her. María de Jesús had a small shop in Morelia, Mexico. Soon after Lupita received the statue, people began to say that cures were happening because of the Holy Child.
Official Blessing and Spread
On April 21, 1942, the statue of the Holy Infant was placed in St. Augustine Church in Morelia. It was officially blessed and given its special name: “Santo Niño de la Salud” (Holy Infant of Good Health). Many people learned about the Holy Infant under this name. The devotion quickly spread across Mexico. People from places like Laredo, Texas, and other parts of the United States also heard about this special statue. On December 15, 1957, the statue was moved to the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Reaching the Pope
In January 1959, a copy of the Holy Infant statue was given to Pope John XXIII. This showed how important the devotion had become. Later, on September 9, 1966, a group of religious sisters was founded in Morelia. They are called the Missionaries of the Holy Infant of Good Health.
What the Statue Looks Like
The little statue is dressed in special clothes. These clothes show the power of Christ. It wears a royal robe with soft ermine fur trim. In its left hand, it holds a golden scepter. Its right hand is raised, giving a blessing. On its head, it wears a beautiful crown decorated with precious stones. The special day to celebrate the Holy Infant of Good Health is April 21. This date marks the anniversary of when the statue received its official title.
