Maria Bambina Novena
Contents
Show HideMaria 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.
You can pray the Maria Bambina Novena for any intention!
Maria Bambina Novena Prayers
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, Jesus gave you to us as a mother and wants us to look to you for a holy example. Through your prayers, you can help us to become more perfect servants of your son. As we consider the perfect innocence and holiness of your childhood, we ask you to help us through your prayers.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to bless and assist all children.
Pray for us, that we may always imitate your innocence and holiness. Pray that we may grow to a deeper love for your Son each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, we know that you are truly our mother because your Son gave you to us to be our mother. In your motherly love toward each one of us, you offer powerful prayers on our behalf and do all you can to help us on the journey toward heaven.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to bless and assist all mothers.
Pray for us, that we may imitate your perfectly charitable love toward all people out of love for your Son. Pray that we may grow in all the virtues we need for holiness.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, your Son calls us to turn to you in trust for all of our needs. We do not always do all we can to grow in our relationship with you or to rely on you as our mother. As we consider your holy infancy and childhood, we should try to grow closer to you and truly turn to you as our mother.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to help us grow closer to you.
Pray for us, that we may always make use of all the help God gives us for our salvation. Pray that we may do all we can to live saintly lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, it is not always easy for us to understand how your Son wishes us to grow in holiness. It can be difficult for us to grasp the importance of a relationship with you as our mother. As we consider your infancy and childhood, we can strive to relate to you as your Son wishes.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to help all who struggle to relate to you in their lives.
Pray for us, that we may grow in true holiness and virtue at every opportunity. Pray that we may serve your Son more devotedly each day.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, we know that your Son wishes all people to turn to you as our mother. But many people in our fallen world today do not have a proper respect or love for you. Many people in our society today even ignore or disdain you.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to bring all people to a proper respect for you.
Pray for us, that we may grow in holiness and virtue at every opportunity God gives to us. Pray that we may always do all we can to serve your Son worthily.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, God gave you to us as a perfect example of holiness and virtue. As we consider your holy infancy and childhood, we can see that you are an example of perfect innocence that we ourselves should always try to imitate in our lives.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to help us grow in holy innocence.
Pray for us, that we may make growth in virtue and holiness our top priority in life. Pray that we may do all we can to carry out your Son’s will in our lives each day.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, you lived a life of perfect virtue and holiness. Even from your earliest days, we know that you submitted perfectly to God’s will in all things. As we strive to trust God more deeply in our lives, we can look to the holy example you set from the time of your infancy and childhood.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to help us grow in trust in Him.
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to grow closer to your Son each day. Pray that we may strive to become saints at every opportunity we encounter.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 8
Today, let’s pray for a deeper friendship with Jesus in our lives. Through the intercession of Maria Bambina, let’s ask God to help us grow in our relationship with Jesus.
Day’s Prayers:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, God chose you particularly for the mission of being His mother when He came to the world as a Man. Like no other person on earth, you had the privilege of a close and intimate friendship with Jesus. Even before you were His mother, you had close friendship with God.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to help us grow to a deeper relationship with Him.
Pray for us, that we may always take every opportunity God gives us to advance in holiness. Pray that we may make our relationship with your Son our top priority in life.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Maria Bambina Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Your mother to be our mother also. Please hear the prayers of the infant Mary on our behalf.
Maria Bambina, you willingly accepted the mission of becoming Christ’s mother when the angel Gabriel told you what God was asking of you. Your role as Jesus’ mother made you our mother also and gave you a very special place in your Son’s Church.
Please bring our prayers before the throne of your Son, and we particularly ask today that you ask your Son to bless and strengthen His Church on earth.
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to carry out God’s will in our lives each day. Pray that we may grow in devotion to your Son each day of our lives.
And we especially pray in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Maria Bambina, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.