Canonical Coronation
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has recognized the importance and sanctity of the Our Lady of La Leche devotion by granting a Canonical Coronation that took place on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine. This once-in-a-lifetime and completely unique event is an incredible blessing for the Diocese of St. Augustine and the oldest Marian shrine in the United States! The newly crowned image of Our Lady of La Leche can be venerated in the Historic Chapel, here, on the grounds of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios!
A canonical coronation is a formal act of the pope to crown an image of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Joseph in the name of the Holy Father. The crowning acknowledges that the specific image, while having local significance, also has universal importance for the Catholic church as it pertains to the Salvation Christ won for us by the Paschal Mystery of his death and resurrection. The practice began in the 17th century but became increasingly popular in the late 1800s. Many people are familiar with a May crowning as many parishes and schools annually have one as a sign of their devotion to Mary. A canonical coronation is different in that this will only happen once to this specific image of Our Lady of La Leche.
Did you miss the celebration or want to relive this beautiful moment in history?
