The novena to Our Lady of La Leche begins on October 2!
Our Lady of La Leche is a title of the Blessed Mother interceding for nursing mothers, a safe and healthy pregnancy, and for couples struggling with infertility.
Although you can pray the novena at any point throughout the year, the novena is traditionally prayed for nine days leading up to the feast day on October 11.
The Diocese of Saint Augustine also suggests,
“It is customary that a novena be prayed for nine consecutive days. It may also be prayed on a specific day of the week for nine consecutive weeks (e.g., on Saturdays) or it may be prayed on a specific day of the month for nine consecutive months (e.g., First Saturdays).”
Our Lady of the Milk (Virgo Lactans) portrays Mary nursing the Child Jesus, a devotion seen as early as the Roman catacombs of Priscilla.
For centuries, mothers have turned to her tender intercession, especially at the Milk Grotto in Bethlehem, where tradition says a drop of Mary’s milk turned the stone white!
Inspired by this image of maternal love, countless artworks and even the first Marian shrine in the United States have been dedicated to Our Lady of La Leche.
Have you ever prayed for the intercession of Our Lady of La Leche before?
Here is the Our Lady of La Leche novena prayer:
Lovely Lady of La Leche, most loving Mother of Jesus, and my mother, listen to my humble prayer. Your motherly heart knows my every wish, my every need. To you only, his spotless Virgin Mother, has your Divine Son given to understand the sentiments which fill my soul. Yours was the sacred privilege of being the Mother of the Savior.
Intercede before him now, my loving mother, that in accordance with his will (mention your request here). This I ask, O Lady of La Leche, in the name of your Divine Son, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
V. O Mary, conceived without sin.
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.
Our Lady of La Leche, pray for us.
Prayer Source: National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
You can also follow up the novena prayer with the powerful litany of Our Lady of La Leche! It’s totally optional, of course.