M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today in SC, all the local groups of Legion of Mary are gathered for what is called the “Acies” Mass. The latin word “acies” means: “army gathered in battle array”. It is an appropriate title for this annual gathering of the Legion members worldwide to re-dedicate themselves to Jesus through Mary and ask blessings for the battles of the year ahead. On a date as close to March 25 as possible, groups come together and before Mass, a small table is placed in front of the main altar with Our Lady’s statue (resembling tables set up for every Legion Meeting all over the world). Legionaries approach two by two, each individually renewing aloud his/her consecration to Jesus through Mary using the short formula. “I am all yours”. I participated in this, 2 years ago, and can still see the last two persons approach Mary’s statue, one with portable oxygen and the other on a walker. It was a touching scene that remains with me. Today our local group is unable to be there physically, but only in spirit. It was through my becoming a Junior Legion of Mary member that I began to know Mary better and through Mary to know Jesus better.
I mention this ceremony as a prelude to our thread for this Day 5 of our final week in preparation to consecrate or re-consecrate ourselves on March 25. The Legion of Mary was “born” in the hearts of a small group of persons who after praying de Montfort’s Act of Consecration wanted to “LIVE” that consecration – putting the words into concrete actions in their everyday lives. Today the Legion is in almost every country of the world and is the largest Catholic Lay apostolate in the world. It seems to me it is “hidden” in many ways, as Mary was on this earth, but as Bl. John Paul II said to Servant of God, Frank Duff, Founder of the Legion:
Remembering Jesus gave His Holy Spirit and His Mother to help us know Him better, we can pray gratefully:
Litany of the Holy Spirit can be found HERE
Ave Maris Stella HERE
Litany to the Holy Name of Jesus HERE
Today in SC, all the local groups of Legion of Mary are gathered for what is called the “Acies” Mass. The latin word “acies” means: “army gathered in battle array”. It is an appropriate title for this annual gathering of the Legion members worldwide to re-dedicate themselves to Jesus through Mary and ask blessings for the battles of the year ahead. On a date as close to March 25 as possible, groups come together and before Mass, a small table is placed in front of the main altar with Our Lady’s statue (resembling tables set up for every Legion Meeting all over the world). Legionaries approach two by two, each individually renewing aloud his/her consecration to Jesus through Mary using the short formula. “I am all yours”. I participated in this, 2 years ago, and can still see the last two persons approach Mary’s statue, one with portable oxygen and the other on a walker. It was a touching scene that remains with me. Today our local group is unable to be there physically, but only in spirit. It was through my becoming a Junior Legion of Mary member that I began to know Mary better and through Mary to know Jesus better.
I mention this ceremony as a prelude to our thread for this Day 5 of our final week in preparation to consecrate or re-consecrate ourselves on March 25. The Legion of Mary was “born” in the hearts of a small group of persons who after praying de Montfort’s Act of Consecration wanted to “LIVE” that consecration – putting the words into concrete actions in their everyday lives. Today the Legion is in almost every country of the world and is the largest Catholic Lay apostolate in the world. It seems to me it is “hidden” in many ways, as Mary was on this earth, but as Bl. John Paul II said to Servant of God, Frank Duff, Founder of the Legion:
We are striving to understand Jesus better in this last week of our preparation because He is our one Mediator. We are desiring to consecrate ourselves to Him through Mary in imitation of the Trinity who honored her first. May these last few days be blessed ones in which we draw closer to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of our Mother. God can do great things with simple and humble people who want to know and love Him more, and who seek to honor His Mother as He did.
Remembering Jesus gave His Holy Spirit and His Mother to help us know Him better, we can pray gratefully:
Litany of the Holy Spirit can be found HERE
Ave Maris Stella HERE
Litany to the Holy Name of Jesus HERE