A very special statue of
the Blessed Mother was recently crowned by the Archbishop of Madrid in the Cathedral
Basilica. The image of Our Lady of
La Leche depicts an intimate
moment as the infant Jesus is cradled by the Virgin Mary and is feeding at her
breast. This was an occasion to recall Mary’s sacrifice,
humility, and faith-filled loyalty. The cardinal stood a few feet in front of
the image and blessed it with incense before bowing in gratitude and respect. The crowning acknowledges that the specific image, while having
local significance, also has universal importance for the Catholic Church as it pertains to Christ’s
salvation through his death and resurrection. The practice
of honoring this statue began in the
17th century but became increasingly popular in the late 1800s. Our Lady of La
Leche holds a special place in the heart of the Diocese of St. Augustine in
North Florida. The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary
breastfeeding the infant Jesus dates back to the 16th century in Madrid, where
she is called Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of the Milk and
Happy Delivery). After learning of miracles associated with the devotion to Our
Lady of La Leche, King Philip III wished to erect a shrine in her honor. While the original was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in
1936, a replica of the original statue is currently housed in the historic
chapel on the grounds that is now a national shrine and is the first U.S.
Marian shrine. Since Mary is so tender, parents
wanting a child have been very attracted to Our Lady of La Leche, and they pray to her when pregnant, raising babies and
of course while nursing their babies with their breast milk.
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