Organisation

Spirituality

Work

Organisation

CONCILIUM LEGIONIS MARIAE

The supreme governing authority of the Legion, based in Dublin, Ireland.

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SENATUS   

Councils in a city, state, or country report to a senatus.

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REGIA

Curiae and comitia in a large area report to a regia which ranks next in status to a Senatus.

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COMITIUM

A curia may supervise another curia, in which case the former is called a comitium.

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CURIA

Praesidia in nearby church parishes constitute a curia.

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PRAESIDIUM

A group of active and auxiliary legionaries makes up a praesidium, the basic working unit of the Legion of Mary.

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Heading each council is a Spiritual Director, President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Spiritual Director advises and inspires the council’s officers and members in their efforts. The officers set high standards for membership within their councils by their own discipline, holiness, courage, and devotion. And they serve as links with other councils.

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Spirituality
The legionary perspective is spelt out in a 368-page handbook. Check out the online edition.

Mary’s legionaries strive to accomplish their Christian mission to “go preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

“The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation, under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary’s and the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.”

- Handbook, chapter 2, page 11

The Legion’s philosophy envisions a thriving lay apostolate - a community of lay Catholics who take on a personal vocation to work in union with the religious for the welfare of the Church and the salvation of souls.  

“Since lay people, like all Christ’s faithful, are deputed to the apostolate by baptism and confirmation, they are bound by the general obligation, and they have the right, whether as individuals or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world. This obligation is all the more insistent in circumstances in which only through them are people able to hear the Gospel and to know Christ.”

- Code of Canon Law, Can. 225 §1

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Work
Work is the outward manifestation of legionary devotion to serving the Lord in others. Legionaries strive for a lifestyle of active evangelisation. This demands a constant openness to friends and strangers alike, at home, at school or the office, on the street… anytime and anywhere. Legionary work includes personal contact and outreach programs.

Personal contact means lending a listening ear, a helping hand, or a little encouragement or advice as and when there is a need or opportunity to do so. This informal mode of work can and should be performed on a daily  basis.

Outreach programs are group activities with a planned agenda and schedule, such as home and hospital visitations, parish censuses, crowd contact, book barrows, PPCs, and Patrician meetings. These more formal modes of work may be performed weekly, monthly, annually, or adhoc. 

The handbook explains the various forms of legionary work under “Suggestions as to Works,” chapter 37, pages 231-260.

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Prayer
Prayer is the life force of legionary work. The least of every legionary’s prayer duties is the daily recitation of the Catena, in essence the Magnificat. The faithful daily recitation of this prayer by each and every soldier of God unites legionaries across the globe under the leadership of Mary in loving service of God.  

Prayer is the main function of auxiliary legionaries, who support the work of active legionaries by praying daily the TESSERA. Click here for the full prayer.

Legionaries are also encouraged to make an enclosed retreat at least once a year to revive their vision of their personal vocation as members of the lay apostolate.

Legionary spirituality is based on the consecration of the self to Mary in loving and serving God. Mary holds an integral position in the Church: as mother of the God-man Jesus, she is mother of all humankind. St. Louis-Marie de Montfort defined True Marian Devotion as living in total dependence on Mary, trusting her to be the perfect mother who loves each and every one of her children as if she had no other. As the ancient Roman soldiers loyally gave their lives for their King at the command of their general, Mary’s legionaries serenely surrender themselves to her will to glorify God. 

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Major Events

The Acies is an annual gathering of legionaries to renew their consecration to Mary with the heartfelt pledge, “I am all yours, my Queen, my mother, and all that I have is yours.” Every legionary in a curia, active or auxiliary, attends the Acies, which is held some time around March 25. The celebration includes the recitation of the Tessera, a Mass, and the individual and collective acts of consecration.  

The annual general reunion is usually held close to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Legionaries in a curia or senatus unite for a day of food and fun, but not without praying the Tessera. The AGR encourages cross-council interaction and bonding.

The congress is a one-day event held every two to four years, usually at curia level. The program includes a Mass, an address by a Spiritual Director, the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and several discussion sessions on topics concerning the principles of the Legion, such as how to improve the council’s work and spirituality.

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Legionary Heroes

Frank Duff founded the Legion of Mary on Sep 7, 1921. He was born in Dublin, Ireland on Jun 7, 1889 and dedicated his life to guiding the extension of the movement throughout the world.  He died on Nov 7, 1980. He may now be referred to as 'The Servant of God'.

Edel Quinn pioneered the Legion of Mary in East Africa. She was born in Kanturk, Co. Cork, Ireland on Sep 14, 1907 and left to start the Legion of Mary in East Africa in 1936. She died at age 36 in Nairobi, Kenya on May 12, 1944. She has already been declared 'Venerable'.

Alphonsus (Alfie) Lambe established the Legion of Mary in South America 1953-59. He was born in Tullamore, Ireland on Jun 24, 1932 and died due to illness at age 26 in Buenos Aires, Argentine.

MICHAEL STEPHEN EKENG was the founder member and the President of the first Praesidium in the African continent. The Praesidium in Calabar, Nigeria was founded on September 7, 1933. The Legion grew to 18 Councils when he died in 1958.

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Further Information
Visit these sites to find out more about "Legion of Mary, International - a global association of Catholic laity."

www.legion-of-mary.ie

The official Legion of Mary website. Features the history of the Legion, news of Legion work around the world, the Legion handbook online, the Legion prayers in various languages, and Concilium Allocutios.

www.legionofmary.org

Contains detailed information about the Legion of Mary, answers to FAQs, spiritual literature, and checklists for officers.

www.ewtn.com

Explains the origins, organisation, methods, and spirituality of the Legion of Mary.

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