America's Oldest Marian Shrine Elevated to a National Shrine

For many years, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine has been a renowned landmark for pilgrims who visit from all over the world. It is America's oldest Marian Shrine, and on Oct. 11, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez made a surprise announcement that Our Lady of La Leche Shrine has been elevated to a National Shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
 
More than 200 people attended the feast day Mass of Our Lady of La Leche including benefactors, members of the recently reinstated Confraternity of Our Lady of La Leche, Knights and Dames of Malta and many others who cherish the devotion to the nursing Mother.
 
In his homily, Bishop Estévez spoke about how Mary exemplifies what it means to have a relationship with God. "Mary recognizes the living God who closes the door to the mighty of this world and raises up the little ones, the poor in spirit, who are blessed by God," he said. "She praises God in his great mercy towards those who obey him and open their hearts to him."
 
In 2019, The Holy See approved the title B.V. Our Lady of La Leche, and a canonical coronation of the statue will occur on Oct. 11, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., as part of the 150th anniversary of the diocese. This will be only the fourth Mary crowned in the United States. 
There are only two other national shrines in Florida: the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (Ermita de la Caridad), in the Archdiocese of Miami; and the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, in the Diocese of Orlando.