The Legion of Mary
Regia POS T&T
The Legion of Mary was founded by Frank Duff on 7 September 1921 at Myra House, Francis Street, in Dublin. This building is still there today. The house was owned by the St Vincent de Paul Society.
Legion Of Mary
Mission & Beliefs
Come Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!
The Holy Spirit has made Mary His spouse and helpmate in this Renewal, and likewise her devoted children.
Frank Duff, lived to see the Legion become, as prophesied by St. Louis Marie de Monfort, “that mighty legion of brave and valiant soldiers of Jesus and Mary, of both sexes, to fight the devil, the world, and corrupt nature in those more than ever perilous times that are to come.”
St. Louis Marie de Montford,
(from TDM circa 1710 AD)
what we do
About Us
History
The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin, Ireland on 7 September 1921. It is a lay catholic organisation whose members are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis in almost every country.
Aim
The Object of the Legion of Mary is the Glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work.
Unit
The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a praesidium.
the church
The Legion of Mary Worldwide
On all continents
In over 170 countries
4 Million Active members
5 Million Auxiliaries (praying members)
Works of the Legion
The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboartion in every apostolate and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish.
Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
BI. John Paul’s example inspired Pope Francis to pray the Rosary Daily.
In a tribute to Pope John Paul II written after the Pontiff’s death in 2005, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Bueno Aires recounted how the Pope’s example inspired him to “recite the 15 mysteries of the Rosary every day”
“If I remember well it was 1985,” Cardinal Bergoglio wrote. “One evening I went to recite the Holy Rosary that was being led by the Holy Father. He was in frontof everybody, on hisknees. The group was numerous; I saw the Holy Father from the back and, little by little, I got lost in prayer. I was not alone: I was praying in the middle of the people of God to whom I and all those there belonged, led by our Pastor”
"Mary is Apostleship"
Auxiliary Membership
This membership is open to Priests, Religious and lay people who wish to associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name.
Jesus knocks at our hearts... Will you say "yes" to the Lord's call to serve?
Fr. Bede McGregor O.P. Spiritual Director to the Legion of Mary
“Luke writes: ‘As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’. This treasuring and pondering was not simply a matter of thinking about them but even more of allowing them to shape her whole life to its utmost depths. She lived these mysteries of the life of Jesus. Luke says again after the episode of the finding of the boy Jesus in the temple: ‘His mother stored all these things in her heart’. One could say on the basis of these texts that no one has ever prayed and lived the mysteries of Christ like Our Lady. in other words no one has prayed and lived the Rosary like her.”
SERVANT OF GOD
The Founder of the Legion of Mary
Frank Duff
1889 - 1980
His life and work was transformed by the teachings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort; especially his Treatise on True Devotion to Jesus through Mary. Frank was a shining example of how fruitful is the action of the Holy Spirit, if a person devotes his life to Blessed Virgin Mary, our true guide and model of the Christian life.
Frank Duff wrote extensively on the apostolate of the laity, and how we should plan an active part in the life of the Church. His love for Mary, the Mother of God, is evident from the many books and articles he published, and his lifelong commitment to the poor and rejected of his time.
His cause for Beatification was introduced by the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1996, and the prayer for is intercession is available from all Legion sources.
"Can we be Saints" by Frank Duff
First published in 1922 - A prayer he composed when he was aged 27 years old. It is a beautiful insight into his interior life.
"Oh my God, I do not ask for the big things - the life of the missionary or the monk, or those others I see around me so full of accomplishment, I do not ask for any of these; but simply set my face to follow out unswervingly, untiringly, the common life which day by day stretches out before me, satisfied if in it I love You, and try to make You loved.
Nature rebels against this life with its never-ending round of trivial tasks and full of temptation to take relief in amusement or change. It seems so hardto be great in small things, to be heroic in the doing of the common-place; but still this life is Your Will for me, there must be a great destiny in it. And so, I am content.
And then to crown the rest, dear Jesus, I beg You to give my this...fidelity to the end...to be at my post when the final call comes, and to take my last weary breath in Your embrace. A valiant life...and faithful to the end. A short wish, dear Jesus, but it covers all. Amen."
