The early childhood of Jesus Christ

In my office at the Operation Brotherhood Montessori headquarters in Greenhills is a mystical statue of four-year-old blonde and blue-eyed Jesus Christ wearing the Montessori work smock and a golden crown with a visor. He sits on a bronze chair holding a few books including a kindergarten book I authored. We call him “Nino Bonito.”

God’s covenant

From the beginning, God created heaven and earth and all the life within them. This was offered to Adam and Eve, mankind’s parents. When they disobeyed the Father, they were banished from paradise, consequently losing the gifts of immortality and full knowledge. But God’s covenant continued. He promised a Savior. As His children, we are meant to observe the Golden Rule: “Do unto others what you wish done unto you.”

The need for discriminating true from false messages

The esoteric teachings point out that the spirit world has positive and negative forces. The negative spirits are usually pretenders who enjoy stirring up the gullibility of people. They enter a lovely statue of Our Lady, Our Lord or Santo Niño and give familiar messages, usually threatening and fearsome warnings.

It will be wise for one, therefore, to watch out for Santo Niños who are gibberish and childish, who their mentors claim “ask for toys and goodies to eat.” They also make false claims about their power. The real Santo Niño would encourage people to do their part – by praying.

jesus could speak as an infant to Mary

These excerpts are taken from the book, The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics, compiled by Raphael Brown from the visions and private revelations of St. Elizabeth of Schoenau (1127-1164), St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373), Ven. Mother Mary of Agreda (1602-1665), and Sister Anna Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824).

The Divine Child spoke only when alone with His mother until he reached the age of one year. Then, He decided to break His silence and spoke to His foster father. One day, when Mary and Joseph were talking together with deep reverence about the marvelous goodness of God, the Child Jesus resting in His Mother’s arms said to St. Joseph in a clear voice: “My father.” Upon hearing the infant God call him “father,” Joseph, his heart thrilling with new love, gratitude and joy, fell on his knees before Jesus.

Then Jesus continued: “I have come from Heaven upon this earth in order to be the Light of the world and in order to rescue it from the darkness of sin; to seek and to know My sheep, as a good shepherd, to give them the nourishment of eternal life to teach them the way to Heaven, and to open its gates, which had been closed by their sins. And I desire that you both be children of the Light, which you have so close to you.”

Jesus’ tunic and footwear

“Clothe Me, My Mother, in a tunic of a lowly and ordinary color. This alone will I wear, and it shall grow with Me. Over this garment they shall cast lots at My Death… Men shall see that I was born and wish to live poor and destitute of visible things, which being earthly, oppress and darken the heart of man.”

But, Mary replied: “My Son and My Lord, Thy Mother has not the heart to allow Thee to go barefoot at this tender age. Permit me, my Love to provide some kind of covering to protect Thy feet. I also fear that the rough garment which Thou asked of me will wound Thy tender body if Thou wearest no linen beneath.”

“My Mother, I will permit a slight and ordinary covering for My feet until the time of My public preaching for I must do that barefoot. But I do not wish to wear linen.”

Mary therefore set about at once preparing her Son’s robe. She obtained some natural and uncolored wool and spinning it very finely with her own hands, she wove it on a small loom into a one-piece garment without any seam. At her request its color was changed to a unique mixture of brown and silver-gray. She also made a half-tunic as undergarment and a pair of strong sandals. Although Mary had taken no measurement beforehand, the robe fitted Him perfectly, covering His feet without hindering Him in walking and the sleeves extended to the middle of His hands.

Jesus’ first steps on this earth

Then, Mary gently placed the Infant God on His feet for the first time and He took His first steps on this earth. He was by far the most beautiful Child who has ever lived. Upon seeing Him standing there in His plain and humble robe, the angels marveled while Mary and Joseph were filled with new love and joy.

Now that the Child Jesus could walk, he began to retire and spend certain hours in prayer in His Mother’s room. As she silently wondered whether she should stay with Him at such times, He said to her: “My Mother, remain with me always in order to imitate Me in My actions, for I have chosen you as the vessel and model of all.”

The Holy Family fled to Egypt warned by God that King Herod is seeking to kill the Child. They lived in Heliopolis until King Herod died. Jesus was four years old when they returned to Nazareth.

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