History of the Legion
The Legion of Mary (Latin: Legio Mariae) had the most humble of beginnings. It was not a thought-out organisation. It sprang up spontaneously. There was no premeditation in regard to rules and practices. A suggestion was simply thrown out. An evening was fixed, and a little group came together, unaware that they were to be the instruments of most loving Providence.(1)
The Legion of Mary was born on the first vespers of the Nativity of Mary, September 7, 1921, in Dublin, Ireland. At the invitation of Frank Duff (1889‐1980) several people had arranged to meet in a building named Myra House. The group was comprised of Frank Duff; a priest, Father Michael Toher; an employee at the ministry of finances; and some fifteen others, almost all office workers or store employees. They wished to devote themselves to an active spiritual apostolate .(2)
To look at that meeting, it was identical with what would be seen today were one to attend a Legion meeting anywhere in the world. The table around which they met bore a simple altar, of which the centre was a statue of the Immaculate Conception (of the miraculous medal model). It stood on a white cloth, and was flanked by two vases with flowers, and two candlesticks with lighted candles. This setting, so rich in atmosphere, was the inspired notion of one of the earliest comers. It crystallised everything for which the Legion of Mary stands. .
.
The first corporate act of those legionaries was to go on their knees. The earnest young heads were bent down. The invocation and prayer of the Holy Spirit were said; and then through the fingers which had, during the day, been toilsomely employed, slipped the beads of the simplest of all devotions. . . They set themselves to the consideration of
how they could best please God and make him loved in his world. Frank Duff envisioned the legion as a school of sanctity. From that discussion came forth the Legion of Mary, as it is today, in all its features. . .(1)
After the recitation of the Veni Sancte Spiritus and the rosary, Duff spoke of the discovery he had just made of the Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by St. Louis Grignion de Montfort (1673‐1716). . . With contagious ardor he explained to the members assembled there that a sincere devotion toward Mary must be active: it obliges us to work
with Mary, to help save souls. " (2) The Legion has also been greatly influenced by John Henry Newman, whose writings are cited more frequently in the handbook than any other single writer except St. Paul and Pope Pius XI, the Pontiff at the time the Legion was founded. Not withstanding his gigantic intellectual achievements, Newman adopted as his motto, taken from St. Francis de Sales, cor ad cor loquitur ("heart speaks to heart"). The legionary is encouraged to reach out repectfully to each and every soul .
. . (6)
How the Legion got its Name
The First Members of the Legion called their group The Association of Our Lady of Mercy. After a year, there were five (Praesidia) which had formed, and the first Curia met in Dublin at Myra House, and a Novena was held for the purpose of finding a name for the organization. Many names were suggested at the following meeting, for example, The Society of St. Bridget. But Frank had already the thought that an international name was needed...One very late night, he was in his study, and as he looked at a beautiful picture of Our Lady on his wall, the name came to him... The Legion of Mary. That name determined the whole future of the the Legion, with its indomitable spirit of bravery, as well as the Roman
Terminology, and the Legion Symbols, such as the Vexillum. (3)
First Works of the Legion
*Since its earliest days the Legion of Mary has specialized in serving society's most afflicted and marginalized people.
The first work of the Legion of Mary was the visitation of the South Union Hospital (now incorporated as part of St James's Hospital), Dublin, to a section of the Hospital frequented by few, if any visitors to patients suffering from cancer.
There was at the time in Dublin an area of ill repute known worldwide as Monto, a no-go area for law and order. In large run-down tenement houses in the slums of Dublin resided many girls who plied the trade of prostitution. Legionaries decided to make a visit to this area and despite initial fears were made welcome by those living there. Twenty-three of the thirty-nine girls agreed to give up that way of life after attending a weekend retreat in the convent of the Sisters of Charity in Baldoyle.
Thanks to the good offices of the then Minister for Local Government, W.T. Cosgrave, a premises was procured in Harcourt Street Dublin, into which the girls moved at the end of the retreat which became known then as Sancta Maria Hostel.
This was followed in 1927 by the Morning Star Hostel for homeless and destitute men and by Regina Coeli Hostel in 1928 for mothers and their children and homeless women. 4 The Legion insisted that the mother should be supported in caring for her own child - a radical break with the then conventional practice of persuading her to place her baby in an
orphanage or in adoption. These hostels have been staffed entirely on a volunteer basis by legionaries, some of whom
have devoted their entire lives to the work. (6) Many people know of the Legion through its work of home-to-home visitation, which is indeed an enduring work described in the handbook as the "apple of its apostolic eye." . . . Dissatisfaction with the low level of religious knowledge by Catholics led the Legion in the 1950's to establish monthly Patrician meetings. . . Many other initiatives were developed to enter into dialogue with disaffected or alienated Catholics . . .The Legions disavowal of all forms of
political activity, including Church politics, have enabled it to function without hindrance even in hostile environments. . . (6)
Expansion
Growth came slowly for the Legion. Five years after its foundation, it was still confined to the limits of the Archdiocese of Dublin. But, then, declared Cardinal Leon Suenens in a report about the Legion in 1950, “behold, a tempest blast arose: in 1927, the Legion began to move into all the dioceses of Ireland; in 1928, it crossed the seas and took root in Scotland.” Then, in 1929, England opened its gates to it. In 1931, it entered America; in 1932, Australia; in 1933, Africa; in 1937, Asia, through China; in 1940, the Philippines; in 1948, Japan. (2)
There are now millions of active and auxiliary members of the Legion. It is, in fact, difficult to give exact figures, for what is valid today may be too small tomorrow. At the end of 1953, the tessera was being prayed in some seventy languages. A report from Dublin at the end of February 1956, noted: The Legion is working in more than 900 dioceses, with an increase of about two per week. On the average, a new praesidium is formed every day in the Belgian Congo, in the Philippines, in Central America. Last year, 150 praesidia were founded in 150 days. Other places also show numbers just as elevated. Today the Legion of Mary is found in about 170 countries, and numbers more than three million members and many more auxiliary members. It is believed to be the largest lay apostolate organization in the Church. (2)
The servant of God, Frank Duff, guided the worldwide extension of the Legion until his death in 1980. At the invitation of Pope Paul VI, he served as a lay observer at the Second Vatican Council. 2 Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary, whose cause for canonization was introduced in 1996, died suddenly in his home on November 7, 1980 when he was 91 years old and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
In July 1996 the Cause of his canonisation was introduced by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Desmond Connell. (5)
Some other notable former legionaries include Elfie Lamb who introduced and established the Legion in South America, and Edel Quinn who introduced and established the Legion in the continent of Africa. Both Frank Duff and Alphie Lambe are now being considered for beatification. Edel Quinn has already been deemed venerable. These were all model souls whose profound devotion to Mary, humility, and zeal truly reflected the lives of the apostles of old. (5)
The three legionaries whose causes for canonization are now under considered for beatification .. . are merely the tip of
the iceberg of those who have attained great sanctity in this way. Not the least among the latter are the thousands of legionaries in (some parts of the world) who suffered martyrdom, torture, or long periods of imprisonment. (6)
Apostolic vigor
The Legion’s apostolate is universal. It is obedient to Mary’s word to the servants at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you.” He, that is, Christ, through the voice of his representatives. Presently the Legion of Mary is the most spectacular proof of the apostolic mission of the Immaculate Virgin and of the effectiveness of an apostolate carried out in her name. (2)
What is the secret of this great fruitfulness of the Legion of Mary? It is the result of both natural and supernatural causes. The natural causes are suppleness in its works and immutability in its method and system. The supernatural causes are its spirituality of prayer and sacrifice, and its total dependence on Mary. Totally with, for, and by Mary. But it is, above
all else, a very special confidence in Mary that confers on the Legion’s activity effectiveness that often borders on the miraculous. This was already mentioned with reference to the Legion’s devotion to the Immaculate Conception. But we must say more about it, for it is the most important facet. The Handbook comes back to it repeatedly: Under the inspiration of this love and this faith in Mary, her Legion undertakes no matter what kind of work, without ever saying that it is impossible, for it believes that everything is possible and acceptable to it. (2) (Handbook, p. 13)
The Legion bears, with inexpressible pride, the name of Mary. A Marian organization, it is based on the unlimited confidence of a child toward this good Mother, a confidence which it believes she will fortify by implanting it deeply into the heart of each one. In this way, it has members who work together with the greatest possible harmony of loyalty and discipline. Mary, then, will be willing to use her institution to accomplish in souls her work of Mother and to continue her unending task: to crush victoriously the head of the infernal serpent. Would we be wrong to trust in her? (2) (Handbook, p. 24)
Grateful acknowledgements (with a special thanks to Br. John M. Samaha, S.M., Marianist brother, and Kieran A.
Kennedy for generous permission to include large sections of their papers (noted below):
1 Paragraphs excerpts from the Legion of Mary handbook, written by Frank Duff
2 Paragraph excerpts from: The Legion in Response to Mary's Call, Brother John M. Samaha, S.M,
marianist.com/articles/samaha-article-v8-12.pdf (an excerpt from:Ephemerides Mariologicae, Abril-Junio 2009, vol.
LIX, fasc. II, pages 287-292 : "Mary's Legion: A Bird's Eye View of the Legion of Mary.") Used with permission.
3 Paragraph contributed by San Francisco Senatus Legion of Mary
4 Paragraphs & photos are excerpts contributed by the New York Senatus.
5 Paragraphs & photos are excerpts contributed by the Arlington Regia
6. Paragraph excerpts from: 75 Years of the Legion, written by Kieran A. Kennedy, author and Legionaire.
7. Photo Morning Star Hostel contributed by Presentata Curia, Dublin (Frank Duff's curia)
Frank Duff with Children in the square
Frank Duff and Legionaries at Regina Coeli
http://legionofmaryd7.com/regina.htm
