WHAT IS THE LEGION OF MARY?
Drawing its inspiration from the True Devotion to Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, the Legion of Mary is at the disposal of the Bishops and Priests for use in the mission of the Church. While essentially a lay association, legionaries look for spiritual and apostolic formation to priests and religious, who, as Legion Spiritual Directors, hold an honored place in the Legion system. The Legion requires ecclesiastical approval to work in a diocese or parish. Loyalty to the Magisterium and to Ecclesiastical Authority is a basic legionary principle. The Legion aims to bring Mary to the world as the infallible means of winning the world to Jesus, and legionary service is based on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ, so that in their fellow members and in those they serve, legionaries seek to have the Person of our Lord once again seen and served by Mary, his Mother.
The Legion is organized using inspiration from the Roman Legions, the epitome of a disciplined, effective, well-ordered organized body–like the Body of Christ–but whose purpose is spiritual warfare, using the weapons of compassion, service, faith, and evangelization for the Glory of God. Members of the Legio Mariae (Legion of Mary) are called legionaries. The parish-level organization is called the praesidium.
The Legion was founded in 1921 in Dublin, Ireland, as a Catholic Marian movement by Frank Duff (since then elevated to Servant of God). Today between active and auxiliary members there are over 10 million members worldwide making it the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church.
Functions of the active and auxiliary members
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP is open to all Catholic men and women who offer their services to their pastor to aid him in performing spiritual works in the parish. Active members are required to attend a weekly meeting, as well as perform two hours of apostolic work each week.
AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP is open to all Catholics, and is the praying arm of the Legion of Mary. The obligations of this membership consist in the daily recitation of the Tessera (Legion) prayers, as well as daily praying the rosary. As an auxiliary member one shares in the prayers and the works of the Legion.
The Praesidium at St. Anthony of Padua is named “Our Lady of Good Counsel” and they meet every Friday’s from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.
Come learn about the Legion of Mary and the Apostolic work it does for our own sanctification and for the salvation of souls.
Edwin Aldarondo – President (508) 525-6797
