Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary, approved by Pope Paul III (1546) – 23 January:
Feast in honour of the Blessed Virgin’s Espousal to Saint Joseph. It is certain that a real Matrimony was contracted by Joseph and Mary. Still Mary is called “espoused” to Joseph (“his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph”, Matthew 1:18) because the matrimony was never consummated. The term, ‘spouse’ is applied to married people until their marriage is consummated.
The first definite knowledge of a Feast in honour or the Espousals of Mary dates from 29 August1517, when it was granted by Pope Leo X to the Nuns of the Annunciation. It was celebrated on 22 October. It appears in the Missal of the Franciscans, to whom it was granted on 21 August 1537, for 7 March, while the Servites obtained the Feast for 8 March. Although the Feast of the Espousal has never been extended to the Universal Church ,it is observed in nearly the entire Latin Church on 23 January and in the Spanish-speaking countries on 26 November.
St Marianne Cope TOSF (1838-1918)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/01/23/saint-of-the-day-23-january-st-marianne-cope/
St Abel the Patriarch
St Agathangelus
St Amasius of Teano
St Andreas Chong Hwa-Gyong
St Aquila the Martyr
St Asclas of Antinoe
Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro (1936-1964)
Her Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/01/23/saint-of-the-day-23-january-blessed-benedetta-bianchi-porro-1936-1964/
St Clement of Ancyra
St Colman of Lismore
St Dositheus of Gaza
St Emerentiana
St Eusebius of Mount Coryphe
Blessed Henry Suso OP (1295-1366)
Blessed Henry’s Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/01/23/saint-of-the-day-blessed-henry-suso-op-1295-1366/
St Ildephonsus (506-667)
Biography:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/saint-of-the-day-23-january-st-ildephonsus-607-667/
Bl Joan Font Taulat
St John the Almoner (Died c 620) Bishop of Alexandria
Bl Juan Infante
St Jurmin
St Lufthild
St Maimbod
Bl Margaret of Ravenna
Martyrius of Valeria
St Messalina of Foligno
St Ormond of Mairé
St Parmenas the Deacon
St Severian the Martyr
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