The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph

January 23

The Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Marriage of the Virgin Mary is a Christian feast that is celebrated by certain communities within the Catholic Church, such as the Oblates of Saint Joseph. It was formerly generally observed on January 23, but was removed from many local calendars by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.

In Matthew 1:16, Joseph is described as the husband of Mary. It is probable that Joseph and Mary were betrothed in Nazareth. The term "betrothal" indicates more than an engagement. It was customary in that time and place to celebrate marriage in two stages, the first being the contractual arrangements culminating in consent or "betrothal". After a period of around one year in which the couple were preparing for conjugal living, the second stage of actually conveying the wife to their new home would be accompanied by a great feast such as the Marriage Feast at Cana recounted in the John 2:1-11.

In 1416 Jean Gerson, Chancellor of the University of Paris urged the Council of Constance to establish a feast day honoring the Betrothal of Mary and Joseph, for which he wrote an office. The first definite knowledge of a feast in honor of the espousals of Mary and Joseph dates from August 29, 1517, when with nine other Masses in honor of Mary, it was granted by Leo X to the Nuns of the Annunciation, founded by Saint Jeanne de Valois. In certain particular churches the espousals of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph are honored with an office on January 23. The Oblates of St. Joseph celebrate January 23 as the feast of “The Holy Spouses Mary and Joseph