Discover the deep history of the Catholic faith in America. Journey back to September 8, 1565 — the feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — when Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.

Explore the Mission Nombre de Dios ("Name of God"), where early missionaries arrived as evangelists to establish the nation's first permanent European city and enduring Catholic community. We also visit the sacred Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche to uncover the history of this tender devotion to Mary's motherhood, which has drawn women seeking prayers for fertility and family protection for centuries.

Watch to see how the Cross and the Eucharist were planted on American soil long before the nation's founding documents, establishing a legacy of faith, community, and refuge.

In this new series, "A Marian Route to America," as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we invite you to explore the forgotten spiritual and providential forces from a Marian lens, that helped form the United States of America. Join us as we begin a journey tracing the English, Spanish, and French Catholic stories to discover how America grew not just under God, but under Mary's mantle.