Formerly a feast celebrated on 23 January, in honor of the Blessed Virgin's espousal to Saint Joseph. It dates from 1517 when it was granted to the nuns of the Annunciation by Leo X with nine other Masses in honor of Our Lady. Adopted by many religious orders and dioceses, it was observed for a time by nearly the whole Church, but is no longer in the Calendar. It is the subject of a famous painting by Raphael and Viterbo.New Catholic Dictionary
