Paper short abstract:

In my presentation I will analyse the worship of the Jesus Child, as practiced by consecrated and non-consecrated women associated with the Carmelite Order in Poland. I will describe it as a self-embraced development strategy combining a 'fulfilled' maternal identity with a religious one.

Paper long abstract:

My presentation will consist of an anthropological analysis of the specific nature of the worship of the Jesus Child (Baby Jesus), as practiced by consecrated and non-consecrated women associated with the Carmelite Order in Poland. Based on an analysis of existing data and biographical interviews with the women I try to answer the question why the women choose to worship God as a Child, and how their choice is connected with their spiritual path. What kind of figures do they embrace as spiritual role models, and why? What is it about the worship of the Jesus Child that they find attractive, and how do they maintain and contribute to that form of worship? I will connect those aspects of the worship to the women's strong need for maternity, treating it as a self-embraced development strategy combining a 'fulfilled' maternal identity with a religious life as worshippers of Christ.