Legion of Mary
Come, O 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 Montfort:
"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. " - (from TDM circa 1710 A.D.)
Legion of Mary's History
The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin, Ireland on the 7th of September in 1921. It is a lay Catholic organization whose are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis in almost every country.
Legion of Mary's 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.
Legion of Mary's 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.
Legion of Mary's Works
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 collaboration in every apostolate and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish.
Legion of Mary's 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.
The Legion family Worldwide
On all continents
In over 170 countries
4 million Active members
5 million Auxiliary Membership
The founder of the Legion of Mary
Servant of God
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, how we should play 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 is 1996, and the prayer for his intercession is available from all Legion sources.
A prayer he composed when he was aged 27 yrs 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 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 hard to be great in small things, to be heroic in the doing of the commonplace; 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 me this...fidelity to the end...to be at my post when the final call comes, and to make 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"