Mary invites you to join her Legion!
“I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours.”
The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces, have formed themselves into a Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion.
The legionaries hope to render themselves worthy of their great heavenly Queen by their loyalty, their virtues, and their courage. The Legion of Mary is therefore organized on the model of an army, principally on that of the army of ancient Rome, and the terminology of which is adopted also. But the army and the arms of legionaries of Mary are not of this world.
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 in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes or in hospitals or nursing homes, and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
Q: What is the Legion of Mary?
A: The Legion of Mary is the largest and most widespread lay organizations of the Catholic Church1. It has both a strong spiritual and apostolic orientation. Its declared purpose is the sanctification of its members through prayer and active cooperation in the work of Mary and the Church to promote the reign of God in this world. The basis for its spirituality is Louis Grignion de Montfort’s treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the reality of the Church as Mystical Body. Founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1921 by Frank Duff and a group of dedicated lay people it puts its resources at the service of the Church’s apostolate and espouses all forms of Catholic Action (except the collection of money). Probably the most typical and also the most effective means of the legionary’s apostolate are the home visits to encourage people to grow at least one step closer to God in whatever way is appropriate for that individual at that time. It has a highly structured organization and reflects patterns of Roman military organization bearing Latin appellations. The smallest local unit is called a praesidium, with several praesidia organized to form a governing council, with the lowest council being a curia. Various praesidia are attached directely to every level of governing council, from the lowest curia as well as regional and national councils called a regia or senatus, all the way to the supreme, world-wide government called the Concilium. According to Duff “the essential idea of the Legion is that of working in union with and in dependence on Mary, its Queen.” Annually, in a personal act made at a religious ceremony called the Acies, the legionary renews his consecration to Mary. In this consecration he/she expresses union with and dependence on Mary. Legionaries are required to faithfully practice their Catholic religion; be active members and attend a weekly meeting for group prayer, planning, reporting, and spiritual guidance, as well as pray daily and give some time each week to a definite apostolic work usually assigned in pairs, of at least two hours a week for members over age eighteen and one hour a week for members under eighteen. Auxiliary members pray five decades of the Rosary and the Legion prayer card daily.
Q: What is the purpose of the Legion of Mary?
A: The purpose of the Legion of Mary is to participate in Mary’s mission through personal dedication, a solid spiritual life and charitable activities. There is a book you should consult: The Official Handbook of the Legion of Mary. You can obtain it from any of the praesidium in any of the local parishes that has a Legion of Mary praesidium. Somebody who says the rosary every day should be well prepared to join the Legion of Mary.
As of October 2011, the Legion of Mary has over ten million lay members, while Opus Dei has about 90,000 lay members and the Knights of Columbus has 1.8 million members (according to the Legion of Mary and Knights of Columbus own websites and the Catholic Hierarchy.org for Opus Dei).
Praesidia:
| Mary, Mother of the Church
St. Andrew Church President – Inactive |
Our Lady of the Assumption
St. Margaret of Cortona Church President – Rose Duer |
Immaculate Heart of Mary
St. Matthew, the Apostle Church President – Manuel Xavier |
| Madonna of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Hearts Church President – Diana Honzo |
Our Lady of Mercy
St. Dominic Church President – Charla Sheppard |
Our Lady of Nazareth
Holy Family Church President – Inactive |
| Korean PraesidiaMary, Seat of Wisdom
Korean Catholic Church President – Jungmin Theresa Lee |
Our Lady of Peace
Korean Catholic Church President – Jinsook Ceilia Kwak |
Our Lady of Holy Cross
Korean Catholic Church President – Kyounga Julia Kim |
| Our Lady of HopeKorean Catholic Church
President – Sungman Thomas Kim |