from Mary Shall Reign by Frank Duff
"… The Legion is ideal as a priestly mechanism. It possesses the same outlook, the same methods, and - a very important thing - it has in it the element of correct and due subordination. Lay people realize their position in the Legion and conform to it completely and eagerly. I have not got to labor that point, because you who work in the Legion know it. It is a feature not invariably found in the lay societies. It would be hard to find a better means for the priest to express himself and to multiply himself. This notion of broadcasting himself is vital to the priestly function, not only because it is part of its essence, but as well by reason of the fewness of the priests in relation to the needs. It is also necessary psychologically, for an effective and smooth contact with people demands a mediating class, or what we might call an interpreting class, one sharing the point of view of both sides. It must have the priest's outlook and yet belong to the people. It explains one to the other and forms the uniting link."
from an article by Rev. Father Francis J. Peffley
The parish Legion group is intended to be the extension of the priest, to be at the disposal of the pastor to do spiritual work that needs to be done.
At first glance, one is almost overwhelmed by the extent of the pastor's duties. Yet there is in the Church an organization which can greatly assist the priest in fulfilling these pastoral functions: the Legion of Mary.
As a lay organization approved by the Church, the Legion of Mary is a "pastoral tool" ready for use by the priest. Started in Ireland in 1921, it has developed and spread to almost every diocese in the world and presently has a membership of some two million active members and 15 million auxiliary (praying) members. The local unit of the Legion, termed a praesidium, is established in a parish with the permission of the pastor and operates under his supervision. A praesidium usually has a blend of six to twenty lay people who come together each week for prayer, discussion, pastoral reporting and spiritual formation; they then perform some apostolic work under the guidance of the spiritual director (i.e., pastor, assistant, deacon, religious sister, etc.).
The parish Legion group is intended to be the extension of the priest. Under his direction, legionaries perform two hours of apostolic work a week, such as visiting homes of new parishioners, shut-ins and those who have ceased to practice their Catholic Faith. Other works include door to-door visitation within the parish boundaries, visiting hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, running spiritual groups for youth, teaching CCD, etc. In effect, the legionaries are at the disposal of the pastor of the parish to do any spiritual work that needs to be done. It is in this light that we (can) see how the Legion can assist the pastor in his many pastoral duties.
The Code states that the pastor is obliged to see to it that "the word of God is announced to those living in the parish." He does this primarily through his homilies and other types of catechetical formation, which he gives to his parish owners. Right away a problem arises. What about those Catholics living within his parish boundaries who neither attend Mass on Sundays nor participate in any parish activities? It would seem that if the people do not come to the parish, the parish must go to the people. Of course, the priests could never visit all these people on their own, and yet the word of God must be announced "to those living in the parish." This is where the Legion comes in. The pastor, aware of families that have ceased to practice their Faith, would assign two of his legionaries to pay a friendly visit to them. Representing the pastor, the legionaries ask if there is anything they can do for the family or individual and offer a warm helping hand in the pastor's name. In this way, he can keep in touch with all members of his flock and make sure their spiritual needs are not being neglected.
The pastor is also to foster works "by which the spirit of the gospel, including issues involving social justice, is promoted." These works would include both the spiritual and corporal works of mercy such as converting the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless and visiting the sick and imprisoned. For these works many parish organizations are needed which facilitate the laity's obligation to practice works of charity. Many parishes have programs to help feed the poor, shelter the homeless and clothe the needy. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an excellent example. The Legion, focusing on the spiritual, offers the laity an opportunity to visit the sick in nursing homes and hospitals, to visit prisons, to instruct people in the Faith and visit door-to-door within the parish boundaries. By promoting lay organizations like the legion and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the pastor is fulfilling his call to foster works of service among his lay people.