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Bethlehem’s miraculous sanctuary of the Virgin Mary

Today is Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

We hear in the readings for today’s Mass, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19)

In the heart of Bethlehem, near the Basilica of the Nativity, lies a humble shrine, especially when compared to the Basilica of the Nativity: the Milk Grotto. This sanctuary, marked by the tender memory of the Holy Family’s journey, invites us to reflect on the resilient love and courageous trust embodied by the Virgin Mary. It’s a fitting place for us to recall, especially today on the feast of Mary, the Mother of God.

Tradition holds that as Mary nursed the infant Jesus here, a drop of her milk fell onto the pink rock, turning it white. This miraculous event transformed the grotto into a symbol of Mary’s motherly care and a place of deep devotion. Pilgrims from around the world — remarkably, both Christians and Muslims alike — flock to this site, seeking Mary’s intercession for the gift of a child, safe deliveries and abundant nourishment.

The Milk Grotto recalls the intimate moment of Mary feeding Jesus, a tender image that captures her humanity and her total faith in God’s Providence. Tradition holds the site is the place where Mary and Joseph hid with the baby Jesus during the massacre of the Holy Innocents. As she held the Savior of the world in her arms, Mary demonstrated complete trust in God’s providence, even amid the uncertainty of fleeing Herod’s wrath.

The humility of the Incarnation

This moment of quiet care reminds us of the humility of the Incarnation: God choosing to enter the world through the vulnerable, trusting love of a mother. The whitened stone of the grotto serves as a perpetual sign of Mary’s role as the Mother of God, nourishing her child and nurturing our faith.

Since the fourth century, countless women and families have turned to the Milk Grotto, leaving behind testimonies of miracles and answered prayers. The current church, built by the Franciscans on the site of the ancient church, was completed in 1872. Letters and photos fill the walls of the shrine, offering witness to the graces received through Mary’s intercession. Here, pilgrims experience the deep truth that Mary’s fiat — her “yes” to God — extends its blessings to all who seek her motherly care.

Let us pray,

O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race
the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life,
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.