On September 8, 1565—fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock—Spanish Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés waded ashore on the Florida coast, kissed a crucifix held out by the chaplain, and claimed the land for God and Spain. That day marked the founding of St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. It also marked the beginning of the oldest Catholic pilgrimage site in America.
Within days, Menéndez and Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales established a mission dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Leche y Buen Parto—Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery—on the spot where that first Mass was celebrated. For over 450 years, mothers and couples hoping to conceive have made pilgrimage to this shrine, making it the oldest Marian devotion in the United States. The original crude wooden chapel has been rebuilt many times, but devotion to Our Lady of La Leche has never ceased.
St. Augustine's Catholic heritage runs through its colonial heart. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, with its Spanish Renaissance façade facing the town plaza, traces its parish origins to 1594. The narrow streets of the old city wind past the former Spanish hospital where the Sisters of St. Joseph established Florida's first Catholic school. At every turn, this city of ancient live oaks and coquina walls reveals layers of Catholic history unmatched anywhere in the nation.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Spanish arrived in Florida seeking gold, a passage to Asia, and the legendary Fountain of Youth. What they established instead was a permanent foothold for Christianity in North America. Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, the chaplain who accompanied Menéndez, celebrated the first parish Mass in what is now the United States on September 8, 1565—the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.
The shrine of Our Lady of La Leche was established at the site of that first Mass, on the grounds of the original mission. The devotion to Mary under this title—depicted nursing the infant Jesus—had deep roots in Spain, where expectant mothers sought her intercession for safe delivery. Spanish settlers brought this devotion to Florida, and it has continued unbroken ever since.
The original Mission Nombre de Dios ("Name of God") served the local Timucuan people until English colonists from Carolina destroyed St. Augustine in 1702. The British period (1763-1783) suppressed Catholic worship, but the Spanish returned in 1783 and re-established the shrine. When Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821, the Diocese of St. Augustine was created—the oldest diocese in the United States after Baltimore.
The present Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine was completed in 1797, rebuilt after an 1887 fire, and elevated to minor basilica status by Pope Paul VI in 1976. It remains the parish church of St. Augustine and hosts thousands of pilgrims annually.
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche was designated a National Shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2019, recognizing its unique status as the nation's oldest Marian pilgrimage site.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in St. Augustine
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios
The oldest Marian shrine in the United States
The shrine grounds encompass the site of the first Mass in 1565. The present chapel, a simple white stucco structure, houses a replica of the 16th-century Spanish statue of Nuestra Señora de la Leche (the original was destroyed by the British in 1702). The Great Cross, a 208-foot stainless steel cross, marks the approximate landing site of Menéndez and is visible for miles.
Pilgrims gather to pray for expectant mothers, those trying to conceive, and the unborn. The peaceful grounds along the Matanzas Bay include the Rustic Altar where the first Mass was celebrated, the Prince of Peace Church (1965), and a museum of mission history.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
The nation's oldest Catholic parish
The parish was established in 1594, making it the oldest in the United States. The present church, a handsome Spanish Renaissance structure completed in 1797 and rebuilt after fire in 1887, faces the Plaza de la Constitución. The interior features beautiful murals by Hugo Ohlms depicting Florida's Catholic history.
Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche Chapel
The intimate chapel at the shrine site provides space for private prayer and small group devotions. The statue of Our Lady of the Milk, depicting Mary nursing the Christ Child, draws mothers and families seeking her intercession.
The Great Cross
This 208-foot stainless steel cross, erected in 1965 for the quadricentennial of St. Augustine's founding, marks the approximate location where Spanish settlers first landed. It serves as a visible symbol of the city's Catholic origins and can be seen from throughout the historic district.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Our Lady of La Leche — October 11
Principal celebration at the National Shrine with outdoor Mass, procession, and blessing of mothers and expectant couples.
Founding Day — September 8
Commemoration of St. Augustine's founding in 1565, coinciding with the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. Mass at the Rustic Altar on the exact site of the first Mass.
Blessing of the Fleet — Palm Sunday Weekend
Traditional blessing of the local shrimping fleet at the shrine's bayfront.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Casa Monica Resort & Spa ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Historic luxury hotel in a Moorish Revival building, walking distance to all sites. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Boutique inn in restored historic homes near the cathedral. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Best Western Bayfront ⭐⭐⭐ — Affordable option with bay views near the shrine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is 50 miles north, approximately 1 hour by car. Daytona Beach International (DAB) is 55 miles south.
By Car: I-95 runs north-south through the region; take exit 311 for St. Augustine. The historic district is compact and walkable.
By Train: Amtrak serves Palatka (30 miles west) on the Silver Service route.
By Bus: Greyhound serves St. Augustine.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Michael Gannon, The Cross in the Sand — Definitive history of Catholic Florida.
Thomas Graham, The Awakening of St. Augustine — The city's history and preservation.
Online Resources:
Diocese of St. Augustine — Diocesan information and resources.
🎥 Recommended Videos
America's First Shrine — Documentary on Our Lady of La Leche.
St. Augustine Catholic History — EWTN pilgrimage feature.
🔗 Useful Links
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche — Hours, Mass schedule, history.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine — Parish information.
Visit St. Augustine — Tourism information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, Orlando (160 km south) — Popular shrine near the theme parks.
Washington, D.C. (950 km north) — National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Here is the beginning of the Americas' devotion to Mary." — Mission Nombre de Dios Historical Marker
