Our Lady of La Leche No Longer a Mystery
St. Augustine Historical Treasure located in Mexico
By Raphael Cosme
Special to HISTORIC CITY NEWS
At about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th, 2014 a Certificate of Authenticity was issued by historian Raphael Cosme, for the original historical painting of Our Lady of La Leche.
The painting was located by Mr. Cosme in the city of Campeche in Mexico.
It is known from manuscripts and archives that the British took over La Florida and St. Augustine, in 1763. The residents evacuated the town. They took all personal and religious items with them to Havana, Cuba; one of the most revered religious items being the painting of Our Lady of La Leche.
About 40 exiles decided to move from Havana, Cuba to the City of Campeche, Mexico. Cosme, began searching for the painting in September of 2012 and got his first tip on October 14, 2014 from an art researcher in Southern Mexico who confirmed seeing the painting in a photo in an old hacienda.
After looking through the sources of the photo, the painting’s location narrowed to an ancient Chapel in Campeche. Without knowing the legitimacy of this information, Mr. Cosme put together a mission with his wife Perla Cosme who traveled to Mexico.
There, she met Norma Medina who traveled with her to Campeche. Days later, Mrs. Cosme arrived in the city of Merida and traveled three hours to Campeche encountering dozens of obstacles including the bad weather, and a large restoration project underway at the Cathedral.
Later the Bishop of Campeche, Jose F. Gonzalez gave them a warm welcome and he asked the museum’s director Fr. Armando Rosado to give Cosme a private tour whereupon the painting was found. “It was a deep feeling, I had goose bumps when I saw the painting in front of me and at the same time I felt overcome by indescribable happiness”, said Perla Cosme.
“The painting has been restored, preserved and secured and you are welcome to research on it,” said Bishop Gonzalez.
There was no discussion with the Bishop of returning the painting to the citizens of St. Augustine.
According to Mr. Cosme “the painting has been in the city of Campeche in Mexico for more than 200 years and it has been on display at the Chapel of Jesus Nazareno since 2013. The good news is that it has been located and its authenticity has been certified, the image of Our Lady of La Leche is the oldest pictorial witness of the worship of the Virgin Mary in North America”, Said Cosme.
In Mexico, Mrs. Cosme also found an old manuscript that shows an inventory document made by the church in 1855 that mention the painting of Our Lady of La Leche.
Images description “Our Lady of La Leche No Longer a Mystery”
Our Lady of La Leche – Photo by Perla Cosme
Our Lady of La Leche- Photo by Perla Cosme
Our Lady of La Leche- Photo by Perla Cosme
Old manuscript inventory of Our Lady…- Photo by Perla Cosme
Chapel of Jesus Nazareno, Campeche, Mexico- Photo by Perla Cosme
Norma Medina and Perla Cosme, researchers- Photo by Perla Cosme
Cathedral of Campeche, Mexico- Photo by Perla Cosme
Perla Cosme and Bishop Jose F. Gonzalez – Photo by Norma Medina
Perla Cosme pointing the Our Lady of La Leche- Photo by Norma Medina
Raphael Cosme, historian- Photo by Raphael Cosme
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