Any members of the Legion of Mary still here?

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As I began this thread the sidebar gave me similar threads that seem pretty old – most recent posted around 7 1/2 years ago in July, going back to Dec '04. All are locked now so I’d be interested in present Legion of Mary members sharing some of the beauty they have found in being part of Mary’s Legion.

I joined as a teenager many, many years ago. It was the Spiritual Director of the Legion who introduced us to St. Louis de Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”. I’ve been a member of our parish Adult Legion for about 7 years and so grateful to continue learning more of the beauty of God’s work in this Apostolate.

I’ve heard testimonies of many others who have had the same experience as I’ve had that in joining the Legion we have grown so much in our love for Jesus through Mary and have come to appreciate her far more. I hope to hear from others who either are members or may be thinking of becoming members.

you can also read more on the official website of the Legion of Mary HERE
 
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I’d like to join. I remember my mom going to the Legion prayer meetings. I’m not in one place enough to join anything though. I pray for Frank Duff’'s sainthood cause almost every day.
 
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I really liked this picture when I was little too. Mary looks like an action hero, leading her army against the forces of evil.
 
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Dear Tis_Bearself,

If you visit the website you’ll see the the Legion prayers are online. If you are not in one place long enough to join as an Active Member you can join as an Auxiliary Member. An Auxiliary member is not required to attend meetings their only requirement is praying the daily Rosary and the Legion Prayers.

I’ve encouraged some members of another Forum to join our Praesidium if they did not have a Legion in their parish. The word “Praesidium” is Latin for “Garrison” or “place where soldiers gather”. It is the name given to a local group of Legionaries and each group chooses a title of Our Lady. Our Praesidium is “Queen of Peace”.

Our praesidium has Auxiliary members in Canada, the Philippines, and the UK who could not find a Legion Praesidium in their parish nor one near enough for them to join, so think about it and let me know if you can’t find a Legion Praesidium to join, you can join ours.

I’m happy you pray for the Cause of the founder of the Legion, Servant of God, Frank Duff. I was told one reason it may take a long time is the huge amount of writing he did. His correspondence with Legionaries all over the world was huge as well as articles and pamphlets on Mary and the Legion work. Anyone whose cause is introduced needs to have all their writings examined to be sure they did not write anything contrary to the teachings of the Church.

If you have never read about Venerable Edel Quinn ( sent to Africa to begin the Legion there) and Servant of God Alphonsus Lamb, (sent to Latin America) they too are an inspiration for all. Their stories are on the website also HERE

We have a woman in our Praesidium who joined because her mother had been a Legion Member and she was so impressed by the Legion Members who came to the funeral. Thanks so much for your interest and your reply, Tis_Bearself. Please continue to pray and think over the possibility of becoming an Auxilary Member. Frank Duff called the Auxiliary Members the “Prayer wing” of Mary’s Legion. 🙂
 
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There is a thorough explanation of the picture on the cover of both the Handbook and the Legion Prayer Leaflet (called a “Tessera”) – in Chapter 25 of the Handbook, beginning on page 145. An online version of the Legion Handbook is HERE

Here is how Chapter 25 begins:
  1. This handbook bears a reproduction of the Legion Picture. The original was painted by a brilliant young Dublin artist as an offering to the Legion. As might be expected from work animated by this spirit, the picture is one of extreme beauty and inspiration, which is caught even by the small reproduction.
  2. The picture is a most complete, in fact an astonishing showing forth of the devotional outlook of the Legion…
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It is worth reading. Chapter 26 explains more about the “Tessera” beginning on p. 148 of the Handbook:
A leaflet called the Tessera, containing the Prayers of the Legion and bearing a reproduction of the Legion Picture, shall be issued to every member, active and auxiliary.
In Latin, Tessera had the particular meaning of a tally or token which was divided among friends in order that they or their descendants might always recognise each other. As a military expression, it signified the square tablet upon which the watchword was written and circulated through the Roman Legion.
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The Legion of Mary applies the word Tessera to the leaflet containing its prayers and picture. Here, too, are contained the ideas of universal circulation in the Legion; the setting out of the true watchword of the Legion — its prayers; and a token of unity and fraternity between all legionaries, …
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Final note: in the handbook of the Legion as well as the prayers, I continually find “echoes” of St. Louis de Montfort’s thoughts in True Devotion. The Legion was begun by a small group who met with Frank Duff and their parish priest to pray for guidance in how to live the words of their Total Consecration. They gathered together; and prayed to the Holy Spirit, then prayed the Rosary, and the Legion was “born” at that first meeting, on Sept 7, 1921 the vigil of Mary’s Nativity celebrated on Sept 8.
 
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YES! Northern Ohio here, Cleveland Comitium!!!

www.legionofmarynorthernohio.org

Legion of Mary - Northern Ohio

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. The Legion of...
www.legionofmarynorthernohio.org
 
Great Website. luciavento!

Thanks so much for sharing it! I think the Legion of Mary is far more active up North in the USA than in the South. I became a Junior Legionary in New York and also joined an Adult Legion there, but when I moved down South, there was not one nearby and even when we moved other places I wasn’t able to find a Praesidium until one was begun in our present parish of which I am now an Active member.

How did you come to join the Legion? How have you been blessed personally by Jesus through Mary – having been called to this beautiful Apostolate?
 
Thanks for the encouragement!
There is a Legion in one of the parishes I go to. They leave magazines from the Legion to read outside the chapel of the church. I was happy to see them.

I was a little bit hesitant about contacting the person to join for several reasons. One being that parish is not my registered parish, which is in another state for various reasons. Another being that some have told me the Legion is more of an evangelization organization now - others have said it just does outreach to shut-ins. Honestly, all I remember my mother doing was prayers and a service project for the blind that the ladies did every week or two. Within the next few years our family parish decided to create a Women’s Guild and some of the other organizations merged into that or just went away. My mother continued to be very active in the Women’s Guild and was eventually the president of it for a term or two, but she missed the old groups that were more devotional and I too prefer those.

I already say daily Rosary most days. Some weeks I get a few days behind but I always catch up though it might take me the next week to do.
 
Do you know of any Praesidia in Atlanta? My friend moved there and she wants to stay in the Legion.
 
Dear Tis_Bearself,

The Legion began by visiting the sick in the hospital but the Founder Frank Duff soon discerned that there were many more sick in soul, and so he began to seek out the “lost sheep”. The Legion does many works but always in the Spirit of Mary i.e. the Legion seeks to bring Jesus to others.

True there are some Praesidia more actively engaged in Evangelization efforts but others continue to visit the sick and the homebound. In today’s culture there are may fallen away Catholics who begin to “miss” their Faith when they encounter trials in sickness or old age. There are some true and beautiful stories of Legionaries visiting homes and hospitals and finding “lost sheep” and helping them to come home to the arms of the Good Shepherd,
as well as Legionaries inviting them to return to God by knocking on doors.

There is a Women’s Group in our Parish too and we try to help in some of their activities but we are aware of the unique call God has given us as Legion Members to be devoted to Him in this special Apostolate to bring Jesus to the world through Mary. I’d encourage you to keep praying to know God’s desire for you. Pray to the Holy Spirit especially and read the Handbook. In one of the early chapters there is a quote from Pope St. John XXIII which I love:
“The Legion of Mary presents the true face of the Catholic Church” (Pope John XXIII)
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I believe Mary is the Mother and Model for Church and since the Spirit of the Legion by God’s Grace is striving to present the Spirit of Mary bringing Jesus to all, the Holy Spirit enables the Legion to presents Mary’s face! 🙂
 
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Some info: HERE

Also some HERE

Hope these websites can help your friend. Let me know, please, if they do – if not I’ll see if I can find more help. I’m sure the Lord will provide for your friend through the intercession of our Mother Mary. 🙂
 
Thanks! In response to your question, I had a hard time joining. I had a Legion recruiting pamphlet that a man gave me at a church presentation on the Legion. No one seemed to know where he was from, and the pamphlet had no contact information. It took me about a year to find a Praesidium close to my church - no one seemed to know where the Legion was, even though we have about a dozen in the immediate area. I attended meetings at a nearby parish for about a year or so. My pastor asked me to start a Praesidium at our church, and we just had our 200th meeting!

The Legion helps me focus my day and my week on doing work for our Mother, and helps me focus on my prayer life. I can’t imagine what I would be doing without the structure of the Legion. The Legion system is a blueprint that anyone can follow if they are willing to do something hard for Jesus and Mary. (Well, sometimes it’s hard. Most of the time it’s about consistency!)
 
You would be a terrific auxiliary member. The Tessera prayers can be said separate from the Rosary, and deceased Legionaries are always prayed for in the Tessera prayers (Including your mother 😉 )
 
I’ll make a note to look into it. It’s been in the back of my mind for when I get a bit more organized. I had a death in my immediate family in March and things have been a little nuts lately.
 
Thanks again for another encouraging reply, luciavento!

Wondering if your “username” is derived from Latin words having to do with “The Light coming” 🙂 How true it is that Jesus came to us the first time through Mary and God is consistent! He continues to come to us through Mary who is Mother and Model for the Church.

Somewhere I read that the Church Fathers called the Baptismal Font “The womb of Mary”. How lovely an analogy!

I thank God for your perseverance in searching for the Legion to join. It proves true the words of Jesus: “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened” ( cf Mt 7:7-11). I’ve been trying to begin a Junior Legion Praesidium in our parish as well as a second adult Presidium but we’ve had several pastors since the one who first began the Legion here and none have very much understanding nor inclination toward the Legion, but by God’s grace our small praesidium has persevered for 10 years. God and His Church can move slowly, but God continues to “work ALL things unto Good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose” (cf Rom 8:28). So we continue to pray, and do as He directs us.

We had a Legionary from the Philippines visit us recently and I love the expression they use – tenderly referring to our Mother as “Mama Mary”. It is so tender and loving and sincere – it impressed us all whenever this dear woman spoke those words from her heart.

I hope you will continue to share whatever you think will encouage others to persevere as you did – to find in the Legion a special way to share God’s Gift of Jesus through Mary with the world so much in need of Him!
 
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Dear Tis_Bearself,

Yes prayerfully persevere in asking God’s help. Hope you read about luciavento’s blessings in the Legion of Mary. God is Faithful to His Promises, so as Mary told the servants at Cana: “Do whatever He tells You”. Listen to His Word in Scripture. Mary is Mother and Model for the Church and she pondered in her heart all Jesus said and did.

Hear and keep in your heart His words: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.” (cf Mt 7: 7-11). Experiencing the grief of death in our families can be a time to ponder our own lives, and how we are living in this world in such a way as to prepare for Eternal Life with God in heaven.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. Kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love. Mary, Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us. Jesus, we trust in You!
 
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MariaChristi said:
Hear and keep in your heart His words: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened.
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How timely. Just yesterday I was thinking about how I needed a Bible study or prayer group to be a part of. I had forgotten about the legion of Mary. I had attended a meeting at a parish near where I lived, in another state now. The second meeting was clouded with tears because the priest had been recalled and the new priest was not allowing the Legion to meet there anymore. I thought I had found something special only to have it forcibly taken away. Thank you for posting the website, I did a search and there is one near me even though it is not at my parish, it’s in my city! I have been like a fish out of water here since the move. I hope I can go back to swimming.

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Dear Cassilda,

Thanks so much for your reply. I asked the Holy Spirit what I should post and I believe He answered your prayer! Yes, when we ask according to His Will we can be sure He will grant us what we need most! May you begin to swim again in the Mighty Waters of God’s Mercy, as Mary shows us!
 
Dear Tis_Bearself,

You’ve asked a reasonable question, but perhaps only in God’s heaven will any of us know the whole story behind “why” any persons would do any of the things they may do – it is just as impossible for us to know the depths of our own hearts and why we choose to do some things we choose to do.

I’m not sure if Casilda knows any more information or is free to share what she knows about the situation. It was sad for me to read it and I too wondered why. Generally, things discussed at Legion Meetings are kept in confidence, but an action such as Casilda described had to be known publicly and so some reason may have been offered to the parish but maybe not.

One thing I am sure of, however, God knows and He is faithful. He knows every heart He created and though He permits certain painful things to happen in our lives, He assures us in His Word that He works all things unto good…(cf Rom 8:28).

A story is related of Frank Duff that a woman asked him to visit her Bishop in order that the Legion might be in her Diocese. The Servant of God met with the Bishop but when the Bishop refused to have the Legion in his diocese, Frank merely told the woman, something like – this wasn’t God’s time for the Legion in her diocese. ( I don’t have the exact quote and can’t remember exactly where I read it, but it impressed me as true.)

The Legion does not go into a diocese or a parish without the permission of the Bishop and the Pastor. I believe Frank Duff wanted the Legion always to be in union with the One True Church and humbly submit to legitimate authority. Humility is so important for growth in holiness. God resists the proud! Mary’s “Magnificat” (from Luke’s Gospel) which Legion Members pray daily, helps us to grow more and more like Mary, Mother and Model for the Church.

Your desire to love and serve Him through Mary is a desire I believe God wants to answer. In a similar way I believe He has already begun to answer Casilda’s desire and also the friend of luciavento who is moving and is looking for the Legion in the city of Atlanta. Let us trust Him as our Mother Mary trusted Him on this earth. 🙂
 
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