More than a century after it was founded in Dublin, Ireland, the Legion of Mary continues to be a source of public witness, increased faith and evangelisation, including in Australia.
The largest apostolic organisation of lay people in the Church with several million members, the Legion of Mary seeks to increase the personal holiness of its members by imitating Mary’s virtues; to foster deeper devotion to Mary; and to undertake a range of apostolic works[i].
In 2021, several celebrations were held around the country to mark the Legion’s 100-year anniversary. In Hobart, Archbishop Julian Porteous spoke glowingly of the Legion’s contribution to the spiritual life of its members and to the wider society through works of charity.
“The Legion encourages the spiritual growth of its members with a special emphasis on devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, in the spirit of the writings of St Louis de Montfort,” Archbishop Porteous said.
“Without a strong spiritual inspiration, apostolic works can become mere activism. This spirituality ensures that the legionaries have a spiritual orientation in their apostolate. They seek to bring people to faith in Christ and participate in the life of the local parish.”
It is believed that the Legion of Mary is now present in all Australian dioceses, first arriving in the 1930s in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, before finding a home in the other Australian states and territories.
Perth’s Rosemary Bennett has been a member of the Legion of Mary for more than 20 years. She says it was the ideal way for her to combine her faith and love of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Jesus, Mary and the Holy Spirit are central to the life of the legionary,” she explains. “All our works are carried out as if it was Mary herself directing us to Jesus.
“I am a legionary because I love Our Lady and want all to come to know her. I also have a great love of my Catholic faith and want to share it with all I meet.”
The Legion of Mary serves the spiritual and social needs of all, through the apostolic works that its members conduct each week. Members visit families, the sick and prisoners, as well as engaging in door-to-door evangelisation in their local areas.
They often assist regularly at parish events, run parish piety stalls or serve as catechists in their parish, guiding those preparing to receive the sacraments.
Parish branches of the Legion of Mary, called a praesidium, meet once a week for prayer, reports on apostolic work conducted and discussion. Members can be either “active members”, participating in the weekly apostolic works and meetings, or “auxiliary members”, dedicated to prayer.
Canberran Petar Majetic, 24, represents a new generation of young Catholics attracted to the Legion of Mary. He joined the Legion almost two years ago after being invited to a meeting by a fellow parishioner one Sunday after Mass.
He says there are enormous benefits to being a part of the Legion.
“It takes the Catholic life from being just going to Church on Sundays, to actually living it 24/7, constantly being on the lookout to help people who God places on our paths to come to the light of faith,” he says.
Devotion to Mary is a key part of being a member of the Legion, Petar says, with all meetings starting with the recitation of the Rosary.
“Halfway through the meeting we stop to pray the prayer called the Catena, which is the Magnificat, capped with an antiphon,” he says.
“Although it’s not obligatory, legionaries are also strongly advised to do the yearly 33-day consecration to Our Lady, and to practise and imitate the virtues of Our Lady in day-to-day life.”
The main active work that Petar’s praesidium undertakes is public evangelisation.
“We go in pairs into public places… and ask people if they would like miraculous medals and rosaries and invite people to join us for Mass on Sunday,” he explains.
“This has been a great way to also have meaningful conversations with people about God, the Catholic faith and many other religious questions.
“Evangelisation is really at the heart of the Legion, since all the works that we do are spiritual works of mercy. We try to have personal contact with people as this is the best means of reaching them and understanding where they are at, and how God can work in their lives to bring them to true joy and peace, but we also have other means like the piety store which provides them with good books to help them advance in their own spiritual lives.”
Around the country, and indeed the world, individual Legion of Mary members continue the work of evangelisation.
“As legionaries we knock on doors and encourage those who have not been practising to return to the Church,” Rosemary says.
“We open the door for contact with the Church for those who have questions about the Catholic Church. We are the hands, feet and mouth of Jesus and Mary.”
After serving as an active member for most of her adult life, Rosemary says her involvement with the Legion of Mary has been filled with blessings and graces.
“I have made many lifelong friends and journeyed with many on their paths in both faith and life struggles,” she says.
“The Legion of Mary is a way of life for me, a journey I am so happy to have travelled along.”
In a similar vein, Petar says he would have no hesitation in recommending the Legion of Mary to others.
“It has been one of the greatest graces of my life so far, and I strongly encourage others to give it a go and drink from the fountain of graces that lie at its heart,” he says.
For those interested in becoming a member of the Legion of Mary, contact your diocesan representative for details of your nearest praesidium.
Images: Myra House in Dublin, Ireland, where the Legion of Mary was founded in 1921 (Flickr; William Murphy); the Legion of Mary praesidium in Garran, ACT.
Words: Matthew Biddle
[i] https://legionofmary.org.au/index.php/what-is-the-legion-of-mary/