From as early as the fifth century a church dedicated to the Virgin Mother has stood at the site. The first chapel was probably built here by St. Paula, an aristocratic Roman widow who came to live in the Holy Land and helped establish some of its earliest monasteries.
For centuries the soft white stones from the Grotto were exported to the churches of Europe under the name of the Virgin’s Milk. In our own days, nursing mothers of all denominations and of many religions come to the Milk Grotto to pray in the white stone cave. Believing in the cave’s miraculous properties, they often take a piece of the soft rock to grind and add to their drinks.
A short walk from the Milk Grotto, one comes upon the 19th century Franciscan church called the House of St. Joseph. In the present-day chapel one can see evidence of the much earlier church – the lower layer of the apse built out of the virgin rock, and the base of the ancient altar.
It can be understood from the gospels that the Holy Family did remain in Bethlehem for some time. After eight days the child Jesus was circumcised, as is still the Jewish custom today, after forty days Mary presented the child in the Temple in Jerusalem, Luke 2:21-22.
It is reasonable to assume that during such a long stay Joseph would have found a house in which to live. It is also relevant to point to Matthew’s gospel that speaks of the The Three Wise Men “come into the house”, to greet the newborn infant Jesus, Matthew 2:11. This line would seem to strengthen the idea of Joseph having a house in Bethlehem.