National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, St. Augustine, Florida

Whether you’re religious or not, the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, Florida is at the very least an incredibly peaceful place. It is quiet and relaxing. There are walking trails, benches, and picnic tables to help you enjoy your day or to sit and ponder the meaning of life, if you’re so inclined. It was designated by Casago as America’s Most Peaceful Tourist Spot.

I’d like to share a bit of history about this place. In 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and 800 Spanish settlers landed in St. Augustine, Florida. Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales carried a cross to meet Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, and the soldiers knelt before it. Afterwards, Fr. Lopez held the first documented mass in North America on a rustic alter near the shore. They then held a celebration with the Native Americans and enjoyed a meal together following this Mass of Thanksgiving.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is also the first Marian Shrine in America. According to their website https://missionandshrine.org/ : “This sacred site, designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2019, has been a beacon of prayer, devotion, and miracles for over 450 years. The gleaming silhouette of the Great Cross marks the “sacred acre,” where the first Mass in North America was celebrated on September 8, 1565, a true testament to the enduring faith and thanksgiving of those who stepped ashore.”

My family and I have been to the Shrine on multiple occasions. It’s a place we like to go to enjoy some tranquility. Although we homeschool, our lives can get incredibly busy. Being here helps us to remember to slow down and focus on what’s important.

We always like to start our walk by the alter looking over the water. This alter is in the same place where the first alter was originally built. There’s a beautiful view, and we like to think of how the first mass was celebrated. Throughout the walking paths, statues are interspersed. The grounds are beautifully maintained and flowers are abundant.

Our favorite place to visit is the Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche. Built in 1915, it has a coquina construction and is actually the fourth chapel built on the site. The previous ones were destroyed by weather and war. Inside you’ll find the Stations of the Cross, simple wooden pews, and a stucco interior. There’s also a beautiful statue of Mary nursing baby Jesus.

Video of the inside of the chapel at the shrine:

After we left the chapel, we took a walk through the cemetery. It never fails to move me how young so many of the children were when they passed. We paid our respects along the way and then walked to the 250 ft. cross. The Great Cross was built in 1965 to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the site. It is really amazing to see.

The area near the cross was under construction when we were there last, so it was nice to see the finished design. There is a rosary trail that you can take. Whether you decide to say the rosary prayers while you walk is totally up to you, but it was a beautiful walk along a flower lined path that I thoroughly enjoyed.

So if you’re in St. Augustine and need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, grab yourself a lunch and head on over to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche for some peace and quiet.

This is one of those places that is just amazing to feel and I wanted to share that with you. You really don’t have to be religious to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this place or to appreciate the historical significance.

We hope you are enjoying our travels! We’d love to welcome you to subscribe to our free weekly email list, Facebook page, Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube channels. You can also share it with your friends, if you’d like. We added some videos on our YouTube channel to go along with the post: https://www.youtube.com/@TravelingwiththeTrapps

You can find our Tiktok videos here: tiktok.com/@travelingwiththetrapps

Thanks so much and stay tuned for more Traveling with the Trapps!

Share this: