THE LEGION AND ME

THE STANDING INSTRUCTIONS OF THE LEGION

“Legionary duty requires from each legionary include:

• Punctual and regular attendance at the weekly meetings of the praesidium, and the furnishing there of an adequate and audible report on the work done.
• Daily recitation of the Catena.
• Performance of a substantial active legionary work , in the spirit of faith, and in union with Mary, in such fashion that in those worked for and in one’s fellow-members, the person of our Lord is once again seen and served by Mary, his mother.
• Absolute respect for the confidential nature of many matters discussed at the meeting or learned in connection with the legionary work Fellow legionaries, I hope we are all adhering to these instructions as required of us. God bless us all!! Reference: Hand Book Pg 109 Item 7. (Posted by Bro. John Paul)

THE PATRONS OF THE LEGION

• ST. JOSEPH In the Legion’s prayers, St. Joseph’s name follows the invocations to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, as he ranks next to them in the Court of Heaven. He was head of the Holy Family, fulfilling in regard to Jesus and Mary a primary and altogether special part. The Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurs on 19th March.
• ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST Designated in the Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” St. John appears therein as the model of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Faithful to the end, he clung to that Heart till he saw it stilled pierced in death. He was Mary’s priest: therefore a special patron to the legionary priest in his service of the organization which aims to be a living copy of Mary. His feast day occurs on 27th December.
• ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL “Although the prince of all the heavenly court, St. Michael is the most zealous in honouring Mary and causing her to be honoured, while he waits always in expectation that he may have the honour to go at her bidding to render service to some one of her servants” (St. Augustine) The feast day of the “commander of the army of the Lord” (Josh 5:14) occurs on 29th September.
• ST. GABRIEL ARCHANGEL He is the Angel of the Annunciation. It was through him that the compliments of the Holy Trinity were addressed to Mary; that the mystery of the Trinity was first stated to man; that the Incarnation was announced; that the Immaculate Conception was declared; that the first notes of the Rosary were struck. The feast of St. Gabriel occurs 29th September.
• THE HEAVENLY POWERS, MARY’S LEGION OF ANGELS Mary is the general of the armies of God. The angels form the most glorious troops of her who is terrible as an army set in the battle array! The memorial of the Guardian Angels occurs on 2nd October.
• ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST He was placed among the patrons of the Legion on 18th December, 1949. For he is more intimately bound up with the devotional scheme of the Legion than any of its patrons, with the exception of St. Joseph. He has two liturgical celebrations. That of his nativity occurs on 24th June, and of his martyrdom on 29th August.
• ST. PETER As prince of the Apostles, is pre-eminently the patron for an apostolic organization. He was the first Pope, but stands for all the illustrious line of Pontiffs, and for the present Holy Father. In invoking St. Peter, we express once again a Legion’s Loyalty to Rome, the centre of our faith, the source of authority, discipline, unity. His feast day occurs on 29th June.
• ST. PAUL A soul that is to win others must be great and wide as the ocean. To convert the world, one’s soul must be greater than the world. Such was St. Peter from the day when a sudden light from heaven shone round about him, and threw its radiance into his soul, and enkindled therein the burning desire to fill the world with the Name and Faith of Christ. His feast day occurs on 29th June. Reference: Hand Book Pg. 141 – 145 (Posted by Bro. John Paul)