May 28th: United States - Our Lady of La Leche

Feast Day: October 11th (Feast of the Motherhood of Mary)

Picture: Our Lady of La Leche Shrine

Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida, dedicated to Nuestra Senora de la Leche, whose full title is "Our Lady, the Nursing Mother of Happy Delivery." It dates from 1565, when St. Augustine was founded by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who was accompanied by four diocesan priests. The shrine is part of America's oldest mission, Nombre de Dios, where the first Mass was celebrated. Central to the shrine is an image of the Madonna about to nurse her Child. The original image, from Madrid, and first chapel have been destroyed. But the new statue, in the present chapel built in 1915, is an exact replica of the original one. (Fr. John A. Hardon)

The full title of Our Lady of La Leche is Nuestra Senora de la Leche y buen parto (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery).

The Our Lady of La Leche shrine allows you to pay a virtual visit.

A statue of Our Lady of Leche recently inspired the formation of the Our Lady of La Leche Movement in the Philippines, which runs an outreach ministry taking a pilgrim statue to maternity hospitals, homes of unwed mothers and private homes. There is a little more about the movement here. The La Leche League, formed to promote and support breastfeeding mothers takes its name from Our Lady of La Leche.

Prayer for Motherhood

Lovely Lady of La Leche, most loving mother of the Child Jesus, and my mother, listen to my humble prayer. Your motherly heart knows my every wish, my every need. To you only, His spotless Virgin Mother, has your Divine Son given to understand the sentiments which fill my soul. Yours was the sacred privilege of being the Mother of the Savior. Intercede with him now, my loving Mother, that, in accordance with His will, I may become the mother of other children of our heavenly Father. This I ask, O Lady of La Leche, in the Name of your Divine Son, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen.