The Story of the Holy Infant of Atocha

The devotion to the Santo Niño de Atocha orginated in Spain; it is said to be related to Our Lady of Atocha, who is mentioned in the "Cantigas" of King Alphonse the Wise in the 13th Century. During the Middle Ages, the Moors held sway over vast regions of Spain and battles between Catholics and Moors were common. The latter invaded the town of Atocha and were victorious keeping many Catholics captive and even prevented the villagers from bringing food and water to the captives. Fearing for the lives of the prisoners, their families prayed incessantly to God for relief. One day a child appeared, dressed as a pilgrim of that period, carrying a basket of food and a gourd of water. The Moors allowed Him to bring food and water every day. All the time the captives were fed, the basket and gourd remained full. The child was not known to anyone, so the people concluded the child Jesus, disguised as a pilgrim, had come to their rescue. In artwork, the Holy Child often wears a brimmed hat with a plume and a cloak or cape ornate with the St. James shell; during the Crusades, scallop shells were the symbol of holy pilgrimages and one European variety is still referred to as "the pilgrim" or "St. James shell." In His left hand, He carries a pilgrim´s staff fastened to the gourd, a pair of shackles, and a few spikes of wheat. In His right hand, he holds a basket which generally contains bread or flowers or sometimes it appears empty even though it isn't. Then the flowers are depicted as outside of the basket, adorning the image to one side. El Nino de Atocha either wears sandals or is barefoot and tradition says that He roams the hills and valleys, particularly at night, bringing aid and comfort to the needy, and thereby wearing out His shoes. Thus, some images of Him have His feet not showing at all, with the image stopping at His hemline. He is usually shown seated. The original statue of the Holy Child of Atocha is imported from Spain, and now resides in the little town of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. The Santo Niño de Atocha is the patron of those unjustly imprisoned. He also protects travelers and rescues people in danger.

In Mexico city, 1996, a girl went to an eye clinic for grave eye problems. The Holy Infant of Atocha appeared to her when she was 17, assuring her that she would not feel any pain, that she would be healed, which happened to the amazement of the doctors there. There are parishes and shrines named after Him both in Mexico and in the United States, as well as Spain. Pilgrimages to Spain to honor Him are still common.



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