The late Steve Jobs, the American inventor, technical designer, and co-founder of the highly successful Apple, Inc., once remarked that, when it comes to success in business, “It’s not about charisma and personality, it’s about results and products” that get people excited about one’s company, what it stands for, and what it can contribute to the industry.
While results might be almost everything in the business world, it is definitely not true in the Legion’s world. As the Handbook states: “… legionaries must be brought to realize that they do not work directly for results. They work for Mary, quite irrespectively of the simplicity or difficulty of the task” (H, 35). Because the member does not work for tangible results, he or she must refrain from the natural tendency to judge the “success” or “failure” of activity based upon witnessing them. Instead, the legionary must realize that, in spite of one’s best efforts and most loyal service, the fruits of his or her loyal labors will not always be seen immediately – if ever – in this life. In addition, the member does not realize the many marvelous, yet secret ways the Lord and His Mother could use what was done for the benefit of a soul, even over the long haul.
Perhaps after a long day at the book barrow, not one substantial interaction with a passerby on the Catholic Faith has transpired. Yet, little do we know that someone walking by – someone we never engaged in conversation – saw the crucifix on the front of a pamphlet in the barrow, was struck with sorrow for his or her sins, and made a good confession later that day. Perhaps after hours doing door to door evangelization and inviting the “fallen away” back to Sunday Mass at the parish, nothing but scorn has been experienced. Yet little do we realize that one individual who slammed the door in our face after a brief interchange later thought it all over and decided to contact the local parish about returning. Perhaps we have spent hours in a hospital visiting the sick, distributing holy cards, and praying with patients, yet no interest was encountered. Yet little do we know that one person to whom we gave a holy card, in a moment of crisis, grasped it with an act of contrition that brought him mercy in the end. We get it. There are a thousand ways the Lord may choose to use our faithful Legion service: Not all of them involve our seeing it happen or witnessing results!
Legion members should strive to adopt the mindset of St. Teresa of Calcutta. This remarkable woman served the poorest of the poor in India, working strenuously, hour after hour, spending all she had to bring relief to Christ suffering in her midst. Mother Teresa likely ended many days without seeing the fantastic results of her labors. Many of those cared for died. Numbers of those loved failed to convert. Dozens encountered never received medical treatment because of a lack of resources. Yet Mother did not consider herself a failure or give up her mission. After all, she did not judge her life and define success based on results, but on obedience to the divine will – summed up in that now famous phrase, “God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.” Hers was the joy of the “useless servants” described by Jesus in the Gospel: Mother Teresa felt herself blessed simply at “having done only what she was asked to do” (Luke 17:10). It was the service that mattered most, not the results. Legion members, it must be so for us.
The saying goes that “success is a journey, not a destination.” Success typically unfolds over time and rarely in an instant. So, Legionaries must be content with and humbly accept the fact that their work on many days may only take people a few more inches along the road of faith. And they must have enough trust that Mary will walk them the remainder of the way to Her Son.
15 January 2017: Rev. Frank Giuffre/Philadelphia Senatus
Reading: Handbook, pp. 35-36 [Chapter 6, Section 4]