Historic District in St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Nombre de Dios Mission
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2019
1. Nombre de Dios Mission Marker
By 1615 a chapel was erected to house the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche. A mission church large enough to serve 200 souls was located between the chapel and the present gift shop. Timucuan Indians were singing Sunday Mass in Latin by the 17th century. The rustic altar further along to your right has served pilgrimages, weddings, anniversary celebrations, and even ordinations to the priesthood.
The founders of The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine are buried here. Six Federal soldiers were interred during and after the Civil War. Burials here were only occasional until the closing years of the 19th century, and most graves are those of parishioners who died between 1800-1900.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1615.
Location. 29° 54.273′ N, 81° 18.896′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine,
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Regionally, this marker is in First Coast and in Greater Jacksonville. It is also in the American South and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An Archaeological Discovery (a few steps from this marker); Archaeology at the 17th Century Shrine of Nuestra Seρora de la Leche
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2019
2. Nombre de Dios Mission Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2019
3. Our Lady of La Leche Chapel & Shrine
The present chapel is the fourth building on this foundation. Erected first by 1615 this Shrine of Our Lady fell victim three times — to war, pirates and storms. The last reconstruction began in 1918.
The devotion to Our Lady of La Leche honors the divine motherhood of Mary. The Spanish designation is Nuestra Seρora de la Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery).
This devotion to Mary as patroness of mothers and mothers-to-be was brought to Nombre de Dios from Spain in 1603.
The devotion to Our Lady of La Leche honors the divine motherhood of Mary. The Spanish designation is Nuestra Seρora de la Leche y Buen Parto (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery).
This devotion to Mary as patroness of mothers and mothers-to-be was brought to Nombre de Dios from Spain in 1603.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2019
4. Rustic Altar
This rustic altar calls to mind the Mass of Thanksgiving offered here by Father Francisco Lσpez de Mendoza Grajales, Diocesan Priest and the Fleet Chaplain, on September 8, 1565, the day the City of St. Augustine was founded. Gathered about the altar were Don Pedro Menιndez de Avilιs, Adelantado of Florida and Captain General of the Indies Fleet, with his colonists, soldiers and the Timucuans who lived on these shores before The Lord Jesus was born.
John Gilmary Shea, historian and Christian humanist, reflects on that scene: “Mass was said to hallow the land and draw down the blessing of heaven before the first step was taken to rear a human habitation. The altar was older than the hearth.”
Following Mass, Pedro Menιndez hosted a feast for his companions and their new native friends. Thus began the first permanent Christian settlement in what is now the United States of America.
John Gilmary Shea, historian and Christian humanist, reflects on that scene: “Mass was said to hallow the land and draw down the blessing of heaven before the first step was taken to rear a human habitation. The altar was older than the hearth.”
Following Mass, Pedro Menιndez hosted a feast for his companions and their new native friends. Thus began the first permanent Christian settlement in what is now the United States of America.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 17, 2019
5. Our Lady of La Leche Shrine Gift Shop
Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 12, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
