The Shrine of La Leche, St. Augustine. – Swampy’s Florida Sunday Services.
This postcard doesn’t have a date on it.
Well, that is except for the date of September 8th, 1565, which is when it is thought our country’s first mass occurred at this site. That is, if you imagine in 1500s one is noting when and where Catholic masses were occurring throughout the vast disorganized swath of uncategorized land that still had a couple hundred years to becoming the United States. Beware writings of historical instances of “Firsts”. Most are actually never known. Without documentation, how could we know? Even that, at times, becomes suspect.
This little church still stands in St. Augustine. It sits in a gathering of oak trees. This structure is considered the oldest shrine in the United States, that is easier to quantify.
Nevertheless, this tiny hidey-hole of faith is tucked under finely aged oaks, a very small part of a very large chunk of land run by Diocese of St. Augustine. There are other buildings, including a museum, gift shop (With many a nifty item for even non-Catholics), a cross of immense proportions and plenty of space to calm thyself along an alcove of the Matanzas River, a river title hardly calming.
This small church is part of a giant complex in Saint Augustine.
You can visit by clicking here:
https://missionandshrine.org/
This postcard is part of the Swampy’s Florida collection.
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#Florida #Postcards #History #Floridahistory #StAugustine #SaintAugustine #Church #Churches #Catholics #Catholicism
