A place rich in history: this is the Milk Grotto, located near the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
“We know from Matthew’s Gospel that an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take Mary and the child with him and to flee to Egypt because Herod wants to kill them. According to a very ancient tradition, this is one of the places where Mary stopped to take care of the child, to rest and also to nurse him”.
This cave is made of white rock. While Mary was nursing, a drop of milk fell on this rock making it completely white.
The story of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is joined by the story of many families who have obtained a grace here and have left stories of the miracles they have received.
Br LUIS ENRIQUE SEGOVIA, ofm
Guardian of the Basilica of the Nativity
“Miracles are many. People sometimes come when they have difficulty having children. They come to pray to Our Lady, they bring this dust and in a room, we keep their numerous testimonies. Up to now, there are about six thousand testimonies that have arrived by mail”.
A place full of history told from now on through twelve explanatory panels. All this so that pilgrims can get to know one of the places through which the holy family passed.
Br LUIS ENRIQUE SEGOVIA, ofm
Guardian of the Basilica of the Nativity
“The idea is that pilgrims come here and can read the historical sources of the cave. It is above all the sources that we have researched at the Custody of the Holy Land, and it is information that will certainly help the pilgrims who come here a lot”.
RUBEN AGAZZI
Volunteer
“Each panel has its own meaning and an object to which it refers: let us start from the name and history of the Church, from the mentions to the Church found in the apocryphal gospels. The panels are in six languages: the most widespread language is English, then we have Italian, Polish, French and the local language which is Arabic, since we are in Bethlehem and therefore in the land of Palestine”.
An idea that was very much appreciated by this visitor.
GUSTAVO OLIVEIRA
Visitor
“It is a joy to be able to participate in this very special moment that is the opening and inauguration of this exhibition, which tells a little bit of this story, of what the Milk Grotto is and what it represents.”