Legion of Mary

WHO WE ARE

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in over 170 countries of the world. It has been approved by the last eight Popes and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through prayers and service of love.

OBJECTIVES

The Blessed Virgin Mary calls each of us to ” Do as He commands you.” The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual welfare of each individual. Personal sanctification is sought by attempting to imitate Mary in her virtues of Faith, Charity, Love and Humility. The Legion spreads devotion to Mary primarily by encouraging the recitation of the Rosary (Mary’s request at Fatima).

LEGIONARY SERVICE

Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families and the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals, youth formation, catechism class, and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalized is a vital part of the legionary apostolate to glorify God. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.

Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.

The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. Spiritual guidance for Holy Spirit’s praesidium is under Fr. David.

MEMBERSHIP

This ministry welcomes both adults and children. The active Adults/Senior Legionaries meet every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Parish while the children/junior Legionaries (ages 7-18) meet every Thursday at 6:00 p.m., also at Holy Spirit Parish. There are also auxiliary (praying) members.

Active members have an obligatory requirement to attend the weekly meetings and to perform 2 hours of active Legionary work each week, usually done with other members. Each meeting includes praying the Rosary and Catena, spiritual readings and teachings, and sharing of Legionary work accomplished. The Catena is a prayer which consists mainly of the Magnificat.

Other types of membership are Praetorians, Auxiliary Members and Adjutorians. Auxiliary members (open to priests, religious and the laity) are unable or unwilling to assume the duties of active membership, but associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. They are only asked to pray the Tessera each day for the success of all Legionnaire’s work throughout the world.

Is the Holy Spirit and Mary calling you? Come and see as there is a three-month easing in period to see how work and family obligations blend with the tried and proven system of the Legion of Mary. Any Catholic, young, not so young, single, married, or retired who would like to draw closer to Jesus and His Mother Mary is welcome to give it a try.

To learn more, please reach out by phone or email to one of the following:

“Do whatever he tells you.”

John 2:5