The legend tells that when the Bishop of Chalon visited Cîteaux, the young St. Bernard—then just a humble monk named Bernardo—was asked by the abbot to preach. Nervous and uncertain of his oratory skills, he feared disappointing the bishop. That night, he devoted himself to prayer, and in a dream, the Virgin Mary appeared to him. She bestowed upon him the gift of eloquence by placing three drops of milk from her breast into his mouth.
This miraculous moment has been depicted in many paintings throughout history, but my interest in this particular version stems from its presence in Madrid. To begin my research, I consulted a gynecologist, a naval engineer, and my psychologist, each offering a unique perspective on the plausibility of the event.
The gynecologist explained that in the early stages of breastfeeding, a mother’s milk can sometimes spray due to an adjustment in lactation. However, upon examining the painting, it became clear that the "baby Jesus" depicted was far older than a newborn, making such a projection unlikely.
My psychologist introduced the concept of lactophilia, a sexual practice in which adult men express a desire to consume breast milk, adding another layer of interpretation to the imagery.
Finally, the naval engineer approached the scene with scientific rigor, calculating the physical feasibility of the event. In the PDF I provided, which includes the text from the exhibition room, he determined the distance between the Virgin and the monk and conducted mathematical calculations to assess the trajectory. His conclusion? The event, as depicted, defies the laws of physics—confirming that it is, indeed, a true miracle