Introduction
The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbour on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries.

Objectives
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. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a Praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Catholic adults who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual 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 collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking to support the Parish Priest. Every legionary is required to carry out 2hours of work weekly in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.

Legion of Mary at Holy Trinity Para Hills has two Praesidiums:

Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Praesidium meets on Tuesdays from 12.30-2pm and

Mother of Christ Praesidium meets on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9pm

The evening presidium was started to encourage the working group of our Parish to join the Legion of Mary.


Duties of Legionaries at Holy Trinity Para Hills

Attending weekly meetings

Visiting the sick / nursing homes

Preparing children for altar serving

Preparing children for the sacramental programme

Taking Children’s Liturgy during Mass

Reciting the Rosary on the first Sunday of every month after the 10 o’clock Mass for the intention of our Lady Queen of the Legion.

Sending Baptism cards on the 1st Anniversary of a child’s Baptism

Leading the Rosary in the Parish or in the Cathedral, as rostered

Leading the Junior Legion


Contacts for Presidiums
Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Praesidium: Phyllis Truman
Mother of Christ Praesidium: Anne Craig
Junior Legion: Isabel Manuel

About the Founder and Legion of Mary

The Founder of Legion of Mary is the Servant of God, Frank Duff.
Drawing its inspiration from the True Devotion to Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, and which had a profound influence on the Founder, the Legion is at the disposal of the Bishops and Priests for use in the mission of the Church. While essentially a lay association, legionaries look for spiritual and apostolic formation to priests and religious, who, as Legion Spiritual Directors, hold an honoured place in the Legion system. The Legion requires ecclesiastical approval to work in a diocese or parish. Loyalty to the Magisterium and to Ecclesiastical Authority is a basic legionary principle. The Legion aims to bring Mary to the world as the infallible means of winning the world to Jesus and legionary service is based on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ so that in their fellow members and in those they serve, legionaries seek to have the Person of our Lord once again seen and served by Mary, his Mother.

The first meeting of the Legion of Mary took place in Myra House, Francis Street, Dublin, Ireland, on 7 September, 1921. This meeting was to have very beneficial consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church and, in a special way, for millions of members of Christ’s lay faithful who would serve in the Legion and for those who would be served by the legionary apostolate. Many persons outside the Catholic Church would also benefit from that apostolate. With the approval and support of the Popes and a great many Bishops, Priests and Religious, as well as the prayers and efforts of legionaries, the Legion, by the grace of God, has grown into a worldwide organisation with several million members.

The general and essential means by which the Legion of Mary is to affect its object is personal service acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, having Divine Grace as its moving principle and support, and the glory of God and the salvation of souls as its final end and purpose. Evangelisation, especially the seeking of conversions to the Church, should be a priority for the Legion. Through the visitation of homes and by other means, the Legion must, as a first principle, set out to establish a contact of some sort with every soul everywhere. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalised is another vital part of the legionary apostolate. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.

The basic unit of the Legion is called a presidium, which is normally based in a parish. A parish may have more than one presidium. To be an active legionary it is necessary to apply for membership in a presidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates a weekly apostolic task to the members, who generally work in pairs. After a successful period of probation, members are called to make the Legionary Promise (this is only applicable for members over 18 years) which is directed to the Holy Spirit. Realising the necessity for a strong support of prayer, the Legion has Auxiliary members, who associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. The administration of the Legion is carried out through its various councils at local, regional and national level. The central council, the Concilium Legionis Mariae, meets monthly in Dublin.

The Cause for Beatification has been introduced for three legionaries: The Servant of God, Frank Duff (1889-1980), Founder of the Legion, who attended the Second Vatican Council as a Lay Observer; Venerable Edel Quinn (1907-1944), Legion Envoy to East Africa; and the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe (1932-1959), Legion Envoy to South America

Legion Prayers

OPENING PRAYERS

In the name of the Father, etc.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. v. Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created. R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

God our Father, pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit on the world. You sent the Spirit on Your Church to begin the teaching of the gospel: now let the Spirit continue to work in the world through the hearts of all who believe. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

  1. You, O Lord, will open my lips. R. And my tongue shall announce Your praise. v. Incline unto my aid, O God. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. v. Glory be to the Father, etc. R. As it was in the beginning, etc.

Then follow five decades of the Rosary with the Hail, Holy Queen.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

  1. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

  1. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
    R. Have mercy on us.
    v. Immaculate Heart of Mary
    R. Pray for us.
    V. St. Joseph R. Pray for us.
    V. St John the Evangelist
    R. Pray for us.
    V. St. Louis-Marie de Montfort
    R. Pray for us.

Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, etc.

THE CATENA LEGIONIS

Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

(Make the Sign of the Cross) v. My soul glorifies the Lord.* R. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. v. He looks on His servant in her lowliness;* henceforth all ages will call me blessed.

  1. The Almighty works marvels for me.* Holy His name! v. His mercy is from age to age,* on those who fear Him.
  2. He puts forth His arm in strength* and scatters the proud-hearted. v. He casts the mighty from their thrones* and raises the lowly.
  3. He fills the starving with good things,* sends the rich away empty.
  4. He protects Israel His servant,* remembering His mercy, R. The mercy promised to our fathers,* to Abraham and his sons for ever.
  5. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.. R. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

  1. O Mary, conceived without sin. R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, our mediator with the Father, Who has been Pleased to appoint the Most Blessed Virgin, Your mother, to be our mother also, and our mediatrix with You, mercifully grant that whoever comes to You seeking Your favours may rejoice to receive all of them through her. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, etc.

We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our prayers in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

  1. Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces or Invocation appropriate to Presidium) R. Pray for us. v. St. Michael and St. Gabriel R. Pray for us. v. All you heavenly Powers, Mary’s Legion of Angels R. Pray for us. v. St. John the Baptist R. Pray for us. v. Saints Peter and Paul R. Pray for us.

Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of faith in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively faith, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour; a faith, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; a courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; a faith which will be our Legion’s Pillar of Fire – to lead us forth united – to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love – to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death – to inflame those who are lukewarm – to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that – the battle of life over – our Legion may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.

May the souls of our departed legionaries and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, etc.

Membership

Entering and leaving

Membership is open to all baptized Catholics. After visiting a presidium a few times, one can join the legion as a probationary member. This probationary membership lasts for three months, after which he or she has to decide whether to join the Legion as an active member permanently. During the probationary period, probationary members learn about the legion system by reading the Handbook of the Legion of Mary and its active works by listening to reports of active works undertaken by fellow legionaries. At the end of probationary period, members say an oath of “Legion promise”, a pledge of allegiance to the Holy Spirit and to Mary, in order to become a permanent active member. Membership in the Legion of Mary is essentially based on discipline and commitment. Members devote their time and prayer for the intentions of Mary, Mother of God. Members can withdraw from the Legion by informing the president of his or her presidium.

Types of membership

Active members: They regularly attend the weekly sessions of their presidium and pray daily the prayer of the Legion, the Catena Legions, which consists essentially of the Magnificat and some shorter prayers. Their main role lies in active apostolate for the Legion and the Church. Active members under the age of 18 are not allowed to give the “Legion promise” until they turn 18. Members 18 and under are considered Juniors, and are able to hold any office except President in their presidium. Above the level of the presidium, no Junior may serve as an officer.

Auxiliary members: They support the Legion through their prayer. They pray the whole booklet of Legion prayers, the Tessera, every day. The Tessera consists of the Invocation, prayers to the Holy Spirit, the Rosary, the Catena, and the concluding prayers of the Tessera.

Praetorians: This is a higher grade of active membership. In addition to their duties as active members, Praetorians pray the Rosary, the Divine Office and go to Holy Mass daily.

Adjutorians: A higher grade of auxiliary membership. Adjutorians additionally pray the Divine Office and go to Holy Mass daily.

Praetorians and Adjutors do not have higher status or higher rank inside the Legion system. The meaning of these grades is only a desire for a more devotional life, not for higher status. Entering the grade is done by registering with a list of Praetorians/Adjutors and by subsequently observing their duties

Key facts in the history of the Legion of Mary

  • 1889   June 7: Frank Duff is born in Dublin. After an excellent school education, he entered the state service at the age of 18.
  • 1913   October: Frank Duff becomes a member of the Vinzenzgemeinschaft and gets to know the bitter poverty of the population.
  • 1918   Frank Duff gets to know the “true devotion” of Ludwig Maria of Montfort, but comes to a certain understanding only after several readings.
  • 1921   September 7: After a common study of the teachings of the Church of Mary, the legion of Mary with 15 mostly young women with Hw. Toher and Frank Duff at Myra House on Francis Street.
  • 1922   Start of work for street girls, who are invited to retreats and after their conversion to a newly founded home.
  • 1923   Legionnaires enter the infamous confiscation area Bentley Place in Dublin for the first time. This leads to the great adventures described in the book “How to Conquer the World”.    
  • 1926   After a three-week parishioner blessing of the purified Bentley Place Quarter.
  • 1927   March 25: Foundation of the “Morning Star Hostel”, an accommodation for homeless men in Dublin.
  • 1927   First Presidium established outside Dublin in Waterford in South Ireland.
  • 1928   The legion reaches Scotland, soon afterwards also London.
  • 1931   February 2: First Presidium in Madras, India.
  • 1931   Frank Duff is written by Pope Pius XI. In an audience. The Pope blesses the Legion of Mary.
  • 1931   November 27: In Raton, New Mexico, the first presidency of North America is being established.
  • 1932   Eucharistic World Congress in Dublin. Many bishops from all over the world get to know the Legion of Mary for the first time. As a result of the Congress, the Legion began to spread rapidly around the world.
  • 1933   September 7: First Presidium of Africa established in Ifuho, Calabar, Nigeria.
  • 1934   Departure of the first ambassadors of the Legion of Mary, Mary Duffy, to the USA and Canada with the task to make the Legion known and spread there.
  • 1936   Edel Quinn traveled to East Africa as a legionary and arrived in Nairobi on 24 November. Edel was the founder of the Legion in the area of ​​Nairobi. She began to undertake strenuous expeditions through Kenya, Uganda, Nyassaland and Tanganyika and set up hundreds of Legion presidencies.
  • 1944   Edel died on 12 May and was buried at the cemetery of Nairobi, Kenya, near the missionaries.
  • 1944   The first legion group on German soil was built in a prison of war, shortly thereafter the first German presidium in Ravensburg.
  • 1945   Hilde Firtel from Austria was appointed envoy for Germany.
  • 1946   Mgrgr. Riberi, former nuncio for Central Africa, becomes Internuntius in China. He had observed the work of Edel Quinn in Africa.
  • In 1947,   Archbishop Riberi ordered P. McGrath to take over the legion of the legion over China.
  • 1948   At the beginning of 1948 P. McGrath began his activity as an envoy first in Shanghai, but later in North, Central and South China. He usually moved from town to town a few days before the communist troops, and in one year he was able to build 1,000 presidencies.
  • In 1950 he   proclaimed the “Patriotic Church of China”, which, under the name of “Movement of the Three Independents”, strove to guide the Church through the government and the detachment of Rome. The legionaries opposed the attempt and were able to prevent it by educating the Catholics. The Legion of Mary was forbidden, all foreign missionaries were expelled from the country. The communist persecution of the church led to the death of at least 4,000 legionaries.
  • 1953   On 16 July Seamus Grace and Alfie Lambe fly to South America as legion ambassador.
  • 1958   First “Peregrinatio pro Christo” (Legionapostolat abroad during the vacation) to England.
  • 1959   Alfie Lambe dies in Buenos Aires. In just over five years, he made Great for the spread of the Legion of Mary in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
  • 1963   Opening of the beatification process for Edel Mary Quinn.
  • 1965   Frank Duff, at the invitation of Pope Paul VI. As lay advisers in the last period of the Second Vatican Council.
  • 1969   Legionaries and priests from Ireland travel to the Soviet Union for the first time on “Peregrinatio pro Christo”. These journeys are continued with the toleration of the authorities for 20 years.
  • 1976   The Irish priest Robert Bradshaw begins his missionary work in Iceland and is supported by many legionaries from all over the world, who volunteer for a year as “Incolae Mariae” to the apostolate.
  • 1979   Frank Duff was received in audience with officials of the Council of Pope John Paul II. They held a long talk about the situation of the Church throughout the world.
  • 1980   February: the beatification process for Alfie Lambe is initiated by Cardinal Aramburu of Buenos Aires.
  • 1980   On 7th November Frank Duff dies in his house in Dublin.
  • 1992   Fr. Bradshaw moves to Siberia to work as a pastor until his death in 1993.
  • 1998   On 14 January, the process of beatification of the Servant of God Frank Duff is officially opened by Archbishop Desmond Connell.