St Theresa tells a story where she came upon a beautiful child on a stairway. The little child asked, what us your name?’ St Theresa answered, ‘I am Theresa of Jesus.’

Then she asked the little child his name and he replied, ‘I am Jesus of Theresa.’

Jesus says ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 18:3)

St Anthony is often shown holding the baby Jesus.

St Faustina’s vision ‘ I saw the Infant Jesus near my kneeler. He appeared to be about one year old, and he asked me to take Him in my arms. When I did take Him in my arms, He cuddled up close to my bosom and said, ‘It is good for me to be close to your heart… Because I want to teach you spiritual childhood. I want you to be very little, because when you are little, I carry you close to my Heart, just as you are holding me close to your heart right now.’

In the life of St Anthony we read this story ‘He saw Anthony kneeling, as if in ecstasy, and full of wonder, admiring and caressing a loving child of rare beauty, who was tenderly embracing the saint.’

Come let us with Mary and Joseph adore the Baby Jesus in the manger.