Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

St. Augustine, Florida

Hello friends,

A few months ago, on New Year’s Eve, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida. My daughter, Roxanne, and my grandchildren, Hailie and Clayton, and I were staying in St. Augustine to celebrate bringing in the New Year. I had not been to St. Augustine since I was a young girl and not being Catholic then, I had not visited the shrine. I was excited about this trip because this shrine was the oldest Catholic shrine in the USA and I am fascinated by history. I was also excited to spend a spiritual day on my own at the shrine to celebrate bringing in the New Year in my own way.

The town was just stirring as I began the twenty-five-minute walk from our bed and breakfast to the shrine. It was a beautiful walk along the Matanzas River, the weather warm, and white herons standing knee-deep in the water along piles of black rock. There were several sailboats in slips along the docks near the Bridge of Lions and then I passed the historical fortress, Castillo de San Marcos, with its formidable gray walls overlooking the river. Soon after, I could see the National Shrine of Our Lady La Leche with the tall cross behind, towering at 208 feet! It was put there in 1966 to mark the approximate place that the first Christian cross was erected in 1565 in what would later become the United States of America.

I arrived at 9:00, just as the shrine was opening. It was my first time here and I did not know what to expect, so I decided to first walk around to see how I wanted to plan my day. I did not go into the modern-looking church at first, instead, I walked across the wood bridge to where the cross was, passing the Stations of the Cross and a historical plaque. I stopped at the plaque and read that On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed here and holding up the cross said the first Mass on what would later become American soil. I found it interesting that the native Tumucuans, welcomed them and after the Mass, they all shared a thanksgiving dinner together. Whenever I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the Pilgrims and Native Americans at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621- however, this thanksgiving meal took place 56 years before! Of course, at the time, Pedro Menendez was claiming the land for Spain.

By this time, the sun was already getting quite warm and so I continued to walk back toward the modern church, noticing a shaded walkway veering off to the right. I followed the path that led to a very small rock chapel, with a wooden arched door, most of the building covered in Ivy. I seemed to be drawn to it, the cool stone emitting a sense of calm, reminding me of some of the sacred wells and springs that I have made pilgrimages to in Great Britain. As though there was a shimmer of light over the place, a place where healing can happen.

It was early enough yet that I was the only pilgrim in the chapel. It was tiny inside with only a few benches. It was here that I chose to pray the rosary. After which I noticed the historical plaque on the outside of the chapel. I read then that the chapel standing was the fourth building to stand on this spot. The first chapel had been built in 1615. That chapel and the next two chapels had been destroyed by storms, pirates, and war. The chapel seen today was built in 1918.

The paths branching off from the chapel had small areas with benches, inviting one to sit and meditate beneath the cool branches of the trees. Intermingling with these alcoves, were graves, some below ground, while others were stone graves above ground. Many of the graves were nuns who had been part of the Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Augustine. They had come there and set up a convent following the American Civil War.

As I made my way back towards the modern church, The National Shrine of Our Lady La Leche, I realized I was hungry. It was close to the noon hour and the Mass I wanted to attend was at noon, followed by Adoration and the Divine Chaplet at 2:45. I told myself next time I would pack a sack lunch to bring with me.

It is here I would like to talk to you about the Divine Chaplet. Being a fairly new Catholic, I had only in the past year memorized the rosary for the different days of the week. I had heard the Divine Chaplet said, but had not memorized all the prayers. I did know though, that it was very beautiful to listen to, and wanted to learn it.

Those of you who are learning also, or wish to know, the Divine Chaplet is a very intimate prayer between Jesus and oneself, with Prayers to God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit as well. It is about Mercy, poured out from Jesus to us, as ourselves, and onto the whole world. As I listened to the words I asked to learn more and to learn the prayer by heart and thought about him as I walked back to the Bed and Breakfast later that afternoon. Soon, this prayer, this request to learn more, would be answered.

However, being human, my focus that day soon turned from this request, as I became more hungry, and stopped for some fries to tie me over at a small café. All I could think about was dinner that night. What I would have. Roxanne had reserved a table for us at a very nice restaurant, the Columbia Restaurant, in the pedestrian area of St. Augustine near our B&B. It was after all New Years’ Eve.

So we brought in the New Year, and it would not be until now that I am finally settled in my new apartment, this first week of March.

That my request to learn more about the Divine Chaplet was be answered. However, that is for my next letter to you next week.

Have a blessed week. Yours in Christ Light- Jody