While visiting some new friends, they brought me to an old chapel in the woods (seen above.) On their altar was a Roman Missal published around 1900. As I was thumbing through it, I was amazed at numerous feasts that are now suppressed. I snapped several pictures of these optional feasts.>In writing the below article about them, I am not saying the Holy Spirit has been inactive on earth since the 1950s. But I am saying these beautiful liturgical propers should probably be put back on our Roman calendar by a future Pope, at least granting the priest a possibility of using them as optional propers.>

Above is the Desponsationes or Espousal of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Joseph on 23 January every year. Notice there are two stacked collects, one in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and one in honor of St. Joseph. This feast shows that St. Joseph was not just a “fill-in” as a random foster-father, but that he was chosen from before all time to be the most chaste guardian of the Holy Family. Although not all couples are called to continence like the Holy Family was, all are called to chastity. This feast helps married people see their most supreme example of holiness.

Originally published in Padre Peregrino. Read original article