Breastfeeding and Church Tradition
Excerpt from Getting Started with Breastfeeding: For Catholic Mothers (2014)
It may pleasantly surprise you that the Catholic Church has a long-standing tradition in support of breastfeeding. The Church, first of all, follows natural law. What could be more natural and in tune with God’s plan for humans than feeding your baby the milk your own body produces? Ecological breastfeeding, too, follows natural law. You follow your baby’s needs for milk and comfort using the body God gave you as a gift. You are then a gift to your child. The infertility that results is nature’s design and another gift to you.
In terms of support from popes and bishops, Pope Gregory the Great, Pope Benedict XIV, Pope Pius XII, and Saint Pope John Paul II all showed support of breastfeeding. The toe latter popes publicly spoke to mothers about its importance (Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, pp. 32-34). The current pope, Pope Francis, has been especially supportive of breastfeeding moms. On Holy Thursday, he washed the feet of twelve pregnant and nursing moms - one mom was actively nursing her baby during the actual washing of feet! On another occasion, he encouraged mothers to nurse their hungry babies during a baptism ceremony in the Sistine Chapel. At least two bishops also advocated for breastfeeding - Bishop James T. McHugh and Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillo (Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, pps.36-37).As you can see, the Magisterium wholeheartedly supports nursing moms and babies.
Several priests actively promote breastfeeding in their own unique ways. Father Virtue wrote a chapter on breastfeeding in his doctoral dissertation, Mother and Infant. Father Timothy Sauppe created a Madonna chapel and developed a rosary of five mysteries in honor of Mary’s breastfeeding relationship width Jesus which was granted an imprimatur (Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood, pps. 38-40). I am sure there are countless other Catholic leaders who are doing a wonderful job of supporting nursing mothers.
Christian artwork often portrays Mary breastfeeding Jesus. Scripture mentions breastfeeding no less than 12 times, and weaning is often mentioned as taking place at the end of the second or their year of life.
The Catholic Church honors two souls in heaven as patron saints of breastfeeding. St. Giles is one of the official patron saints of breastfeeding mothers. He was a hermit in southern France in the late 600s-early 700s who reportedly sustained himself for several years only on the milk of a hind. His feast day is September 1. In addition, the diocese of St. Augustine, FL celebrates the feast of Our Lady of La Leche on Oct. 11. Our Lady of La Leche is the patron saint of nursing mothers and women who want to become pregnant. There is a shrine in the city of St. Augustine dedicated to Mary in this role, Breastfeeding is so important, it has two patron saints, including the Blessed Mother.
Written by Gina M. Peterson
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