Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page i THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE LEGION OF MARY PUBLISHED BY CONCILIUM LEGIONIS MARIAE DE MONTFORT HOUSE MORNING STAR AVENUE BRUNSWICK STREET DUBLIN 7, IRELAND Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page ii Revised Edition, 2014 Nihil Obstat: Bede McGregor, O.P., M.A., D.D. Censor Theologicus Deputatus. Imprimi potest: ✠ Diarmuid Martin Archiep. Dublinen. Hiberniae Primas. Dublin, 11th February 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Translation of The Magnificat by kind permission of A. P. Watt Ltd. on behalf of The Grail. Extracts from English translations of documents of the Magisterium by kind permission of the Catholic Truth Society (London) and Veritas (Dublin). Quotation on page 305 by kind permission of Sheed and Ward. The official magazine of the Legion of Mary, Maria Legionis, is published quarterly Presentata House, 263 North Circular Road, Dublin 7, Ireland. © Copyright 2014 Printed in the Republic of Ireland by Mahons, 54 Bolton Street, Dublin 1 Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page iii Contents Page PRELIMINARY NOTE . V PROFILE OF FRANK DUFF . VI PHOTOGRAPHS:FRANK DUFF . facing page VI LEGION ALTAR . facing page 108 VEXILLA . facing page 140 CHAPTER 1. Name and Origin . 9 2. Object . 11 3. Spirit of the Legion . 12 4. Legionary service . 13 5. The Devotional Outlook of the Legion . 17 6. The Duty of Legionaries towards Mary . 25 7. The Legionary and the Holy Trinity . 41 8. The Legionary and the Eucharist . 45 9. The Legionary and the Mystical Body of Christ . 51 10. The Legion Apostolate . 59 11. Scheme of the Legion . 67 12. The External Aims of the Legion . 72 13. Membership . 80 14. The Praesidium . 84 15. The Legionary Promise . 90 16. Additional Grades of Membership . 92 17. The Souls of our Departed Legionaries . 103 18. Order of the Praesidium Meeting . 105 19. The Meeting and the Member . 116 20. The Legion System Invariable . 126 21. The Mystical Home of Nazareth . 128 22. The Prayers of the Legion . 131 23. The Prayers Invariable . 135 24. The Patrons of the Legion . 136 25. The Legion Picture . 145 26. The Tessera . 148 27. Vexillum Legionis . 149 28. Government of the Legion . 152 29. Legionary Loyalty . 171 30. Functions . 173 III Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page iv IV THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK Page 31. Extension and Recruiting . 179 32. Objections which may be anticipated . 183 33. Basic Duties of Legionaries . 191 34. Duties of Officers of Praesidia . 209 35. Funds . 220 36. Praesidia requiring Special Mention . 222 37. Suggestions as to Works . 231 38. The Patricians . 260 39. Cardinal Points of the Legion Apostolate . 273 40. Go Preach the Gospel to the Whole Creation . 307 41. The Greatest of These is Love . 327 Index of Papal References . 330 Appendix 1: Papal Letters and Messages . 331 Abbreviations of Documents of the Magisterium . 339 Index of Documents of the Magisterium . 340 Appendix 2: Extracts from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council . 341 Appendix 3: Extracts from the Code of Canon Law on the Obligations and Rights of the lay members of Christ’s Faithful . 343 Appendix 4: The Roman Legion . 345 Appendix 5: Confraternity of Mary Queen of All Hearts 347 Appendix 6: The Miraculous Medal . 350 Appendix 7: Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary . 352 Appendix 8: The Teaching of Christian Doctrine . 353 Appendix 9: The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart . 354 Appendix 10: Study of the Faith . 355 Appendix 11: A Marian Synthesis . 358 Prayer of St. Bernard . 361 Abbreviations of Books of the Bible . 362 Index of Biblical References . 363 Index of Authors and other Persons of Interest . 365 Index of Subjects . 368 Note references to our Lord . 374 Poem of Joseph Mary Plunkett . 375 Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page v THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK V Preliminary Note The Legion is a system which can be thrown out of balance by sup pres s ing or altering any of its parts. Of it, could the following verse have been written:- “Pluck one thread, and the web ye mar; Break but one Of a thousand keys, and the paining jar Through all will run.” (Whittier) So, if unprepared to work the system exactly as described in these pages, please do not start the Legion at all. In this connection read carefully chapter 20 “The Legion System Invariable”. Without affiliation to the Legion (through one of its approved Councils) there is no Legionary membership. If past experience is an indication, no branch of the Legion which is worked faithfully according to rule will fail. Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page vi VI THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK FRANK DUFF Founder of the Legion of Mary Frank Duff was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 7, 1889. He enter- ed the Civil Service at the age of 18 and had a distinguished career. His free time he at first dedicated to sporting activities, but at the age of 24 he joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul where he was led to a deeper commitment to his Catholic faith and at the same time he acquired a great sensitiv ity to the needs of the poor and underprivileged. Along with a group of Catholic women and Fr. Michael Toher, a priest of the Dublin Archdiocese, he formed the first branch of what was to become the first praesidium of the Legion of Mary on September 7, 1921. From that date until his death, November 7, 1980, he guided the world-wide extension of the Legion with heroic dedication. He attended the Second Vatican Council as a lay observer. He died on the evening of November 7, 1980 aged 91 years. His Cause for Beatification was introduced by His Eminence Desmond Cardinal Connell, the then Archbishop of Dublin, in June 1996. His profound insights into the role of the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the plan of Redemption, and the role of the lay faithful in the mission of the Church, are reflected in this Handbook which is almost entirely his composition. Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God, Frank Duff God our Father, You inspired your servant Frank Duff with a profound insight into the mystery of your Church, the Body of Christ, and of the place of Mary the Mother of Jesus in this mystery. In his immense desire to share this insight with others and in filial dependance on Mary, he formed her Legion to be a sign of her maternal love for the world and a means of enlisting all her children in the Church’s evangelising work. We thank you Father for the graces conferred on him and for the benefits accruing to the Church from his courageous and shining faith. With confidence we beg you that through his intercession, you grant the petition we lay before you ......... We ask too that if it be in accordance with your will, the holiness of his life may be acknowledged by the Church for the glory of your Name. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page vii FRANK DUFF Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page viii Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 9 THE LEGION OF MARY Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array? (Song 6:10) “The Virgin’s name was Mary.” (Lk 1:27) “The Legion of Mary! What a perfectly chosen name!” (Pope Pius XI) 1 NAME AND ORIGIN 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 (who is fair as the moon, bright as the sun, and — to Satan and his legionaries — terrible as an army set in battle array), 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 whole life of men, both individual and social, shows itself to be a struggle, and a dramatic one, between good and evil, between light and darkness.” (GS 13) 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 organised on the model of an army, principally on that of the army of ancient Rome, the terminology of which is adopted also. But the army and the arms of legionaries of Mary are not of this world. This army, now so considerable, had the most humble of begin nings. It was not a thought-out organisation. It sprang up spontane ously. There was no premeditation in regard to rules and practices. A suggestion was simply thrown out. An evening was fixed, and a little group came together, unaware that they were to be the instruments of most loving Providence. 9 Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 10 10 NAME AND ORIGIN CHAPTER 1 To look at that meeting, it was identical with what would be seen to-day were one to attend a Legion meeting anywhere in the world. The table around which they met bore a simple altar, of which the centre was a statue of the Immaculate Conception (of the miraculous medal model).