Sharing Experiences

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One of the beautiful ties of this Canonical Coronation is that the entire world comes together to recognize Christ as our King, and Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth. So even though someone may not be able to participate on the Shrine Grounds or in the Cathedral Basilica, a person can be part of the celebration by joining in prayer. We are asking everyone to do a period of preparation with prayer, confession, praying the rosary, and eucharistic adoration so that everyone who participates – whether they are here or in prayer elsewhere – will be in a good state to receive all the blessings that our Lord wants to give us.

 

There is already a tie of friendship and family which extends throughout and beyond our Diocese. From the Rosary Makers Ministry at Holy Family Catholic Church to a family in Columbia South America, we have more than 2,000 rosaries that have been handmade in honor of Our Lady. These rosaries will be given to the pilgrims celebrating at the Shrine Grounds October 9-11, 2021. For the Diocese’s 3rd Annual Rosary Congress September 24th through October 1st, all the rosaries will be offered in honor of Our Lady of La Lech and the Diocese will make a spiritual bouquet gift during the offertory of the Canonical Coronation of the image of Our Lady of La Leche. Even though not everyone can be in the Cathedral, it is important to remember that the blessing of a Canonical Coronation is for the image and the holy site here at the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.

 

The Historic Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche will re-open on Monday, October 11th for public veneration. We are encouraging families to come together to visit Our Lady in her “little house.” The little house here in St Augustine is the fulfillment of the promise of Our Lady of Guadalupe who asked Juan Diego, to ask the Bishop, to build her a small house where she will make her newborn son known to the world. In the Basilica in Mexico, Our Lady is still pregnant but here in St Augustine – the first Marian Shrine in the United States of America – she gives her newborn son Jesus to the world.

         

These beautiful ties even reach through the ages. Father Fransisco was born in St Augustine and attended the seminary here to become a Jesuit Priest. In 1680 Father Fransisco was assigned to the Episcopal See in Mexico and is the priest who was credited with having Rome recognize Our Lady of Guadalupe as an official Marian apparition. With Father Fransisco being born here in St Augustine, this gives us another beautiful tie with Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

 

We invite you to create your own ties with friends and family by joining in the celebrations at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, 101 San Marco Ave, St Augustine, FL 32084:

• Saturday, October 9th – 9:00am-9:00pm for Confession, Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Candle Lighting Activities

• Sunday, October 10th – 12:15pm-5:30pm for Celebrations and the Procession of the Crowned image of Our Lady of La Leche

• Monday, October 11th – 9:00am-7:00pm for the Feast Day of Our Lady of La Leche

  • Noon-1:00pm – Mass in English

  • 1:30pm-2:30pm – Mass in Spanish

  • 6:00pm-7:00pm – Mass of Enthronement