Coronation of Our Lady of La Leche, October 10, Feast day, October 11

New statue of Our of Our Lady of La Leche
before the crowning.

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of La Leche, October 11. It is a feast day on the Diocesan Calendar of St. Augustine, Florida. Since 2011 it has been a feast day in the diocese.  In 2019 the bishops of the United States raised this oldest Marian shrine to a national shrine. Visitors come from around the world to visit and pray to the nursing mother and her Divine Child.

Yesterday the new statue of Our Lady of La Leche was honored by a canonical crowning in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop Metropolitan of Madrid, the representative of Pope Francis. This image of the nursing Madonna and Child's roots go back to Spain. The devotion to the Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of La Leche was brought to Florida in the late 1500s  by Franciscan priests. 

The image of the nursing mother of Jesus has been at the Shrine for over four hundred years. There have been slightly different representations of the image, but all show Mary nursing Jesus. This image has inspired devotion and love in many different people over the centuries, including the Timucuan natives of  northeast Florida. They were impressed with the humanity of God who became a little Child for love of all people.  So powerful did this image speak to them that many became Catholic Christians, and later in their history were martyred by the English for their deep Catholic faith.

Couples over the centuries have visited the Shrine and have turned to Our Lady of La Leche and asked her to intercede with her  Divine Son when faced with the sorrow of infertility. Many prayers were answered resulting in successful pregnancies; others found their answer in adoption; and still others found their answer in Christ's unique plan for them. Mothers sought out Our Lady of La Leche for safe deliveries of their babies and success in nursing a child. The Madonna turned away no one seeking help for family or personal challenges. There are documented miracles of her intercession, but more than that the Shrine is a place of peace and good will. Visitors comment on the peace that they experience when walking the grounds of the first permanent settlement in the United States referred to as the Sacred Acre by President John F. Kennedy. A name which remains with us still today.

I have left a link for you to view some or all the canonical coronation. You can skip to the actual crowning which is after the lengthy Spanish/English homily. The image below is the crowned Lady of La Leche and her Divine Son crowned.  I added my own video of the parade of the crowned statues when they brought Mother and Divine Child from the Cathedral Basilica to the Shrine grounds to place  them permanently in the historic chapel. I have a longer one but I have not been able so far to transfer the link via email. If you have the opportunity, I hope you will come and visit this beautiful shrine and share in the many blessings and graces it has to offer.

This is a picture after the crowned statue was placed in the historic chapel
on the grounds of the Shrine.

                            Short video on the statue on parade

Canonical Crowning of Our Lady of La Leche

Here is a simple, Spanish recipe taken from the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila which in on October 15. I don't think she minds my using it for Our Lady of La Leche since both are Spanish!

Pan de Santa Teresa

                                                                         (St. Teresa's Bread)

This is a perfect breakfast bread for all those who like French toast; it is a cousin of French toast!

INGREDIENTS                                                                        EQUIPMENT

 

2 Cups of milk                                                                            Measuring cups

3 Tbsp. sugar                                                                               Measuring spoons

1 Cinnamon stick                                                                        Bread Knife

1 Lemon peel                                                                               Lemon zester or peeler

1 Loaf of Italian or French bread                                                Small pan

3 Eggs                                                                                          Small bowl

Pinch of sale                                                                                Wire whisk

Olive oil or butter                                                                       Baking dish

Cinnamon sugar                                                                           Frying pan

                                                                                                      Strainer

                                                                                                      Tongs

DIRECTIONS:                                                                            SERVES: 3 - 4

1. Cut the loaf of bread into 12 slices 3/4 inch apiece. You may not use all the bread. Stale bread works well. Set aside.

2. Add milk, sugar, cinnamon stick and lemon peel in small pan and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until the flavors are immersed throughout.

3. Place the slices of bread in a large baking dish and pour the milk through a strainer over the bread. Set aside.

4. Beat the eggs in a bowl with the salt. Be sure the eggs are well-beaten. With the tongs take one slice of bread and dip completely in the egg mixture. Repeat with each slice of bread. If necessary beat another egg(s) if needed to coat all 12 slices. Place in baking dish.

5. Heat frying pan to medium low. Add a few slices of coated bread at a time. Fry until golden brown on one side and then flip and finish cooking on the other side. Repeat until all slices are fried.

6. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, top with maple syrup, or spread your favorite jam. A dollop of whipped cream is always a treat!

Enjoy and Happy Feast of Our Lady of La Leche and St. Teresa of Avila!

                                                                        

Prayer to Our Lady of La Leche

There is no children's book that I am aware of at this time written about Our Lady of La Leche and her Divine Son in English. If I find one I will add it in the future.