Legion of Mary Philadelphia Senatus

There is an old saying that what we are is more important that what we do: that is why we are not called “human doings,” but “human beings.” Our value is intrinsic and is not earned by our works.
Many will wonder why the Legion does not operate on a “works only” philosophy. Why does there have to be a weekly meeting? The response is very simple. The Legion is not about doing, but about being. It is about building up members in holiness, not merely about keeping them busy. This is affirmed in the first paragraph of Chapter Two of the Handbook where it is specified that the Legion’s objective is “the glory of God through the holiness of its members” (H, 11). And holiness is not something we do, but something we are. Building members up in holiness, challenging members to holiness, and training members in habits of holiness is the reason why the weekly meeting is “the heart of the Legion” (H, 71) and not the assignments.
I like to view the meeting as a formation program, like the Seminary before the priesthood. Although the spiritual needs in our world are many and serious, Mother Church does not ordain men to be priests the day after applying and getting accepted by their bishops. She knows that it would make for disaster if men were sent out to work without bonding with the Christ of their work – without maturing in their humanity, growing in their knowledge and practice of the Faith, and gaining needed pastoral skills. It is similar in the Legion. The meeting forms the member in union with Jesus and Mary and in the ways of Jesus and Mary so that, as each faces the many desperate situations in the field, he or she will be the most powerful instruments possible in fostering the world’s salvation.
Fr. Fran Peffley has said that what the obligation to Sunday Mass is to a Catholic, the requirement of attending the weekly meeting is to the Legionary (Inside the Legion of Mary, p. 63). The Church knows we cannot live the week to the fullness without the fruits of the Sacred Liturgy. And the Legion knows we cannot be holy and spread holiness to the fullness without the meeting. Let us therefore respect and attend our weekly meetings, letting them build up our Legion beings – not just our Legion doings!

November 19, 2017/Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus/Rev. Frank Giuffre Reading: Handbook: Chapter 11, Section 5 (“The Weekly Meeting of the Praesidium”: pp. 71-72)

What is the difference between “could” and “should?” Grammarians tell us that “could” expresses what is possible, while “should” relates what, among the many possibilities, is the right thing to do. Legion of Mary members must sort out “could” from “should” as they ponder which active works to pursue in their praesidia. After all, there is so much one “could” do in a parish, but, given Legion priorities (for works of conversion) and the limited number of members, the bigger question is what we “should” do in that parish.

As we face making that decision, we would do well to scrutinize the work itself against the following points raised in today’s Handbook reading. There we read that the Legion works which “should” be done involve:  1. acting for the sake of the “particular needs” of a parish, not merely what serves one’s own preferences;   2. honoring the primacy of performing the “difficult work”;    3. seeking “progressive pioneering” or that willingness to do more, give more, and emerge from a group’s “comfort zones” for the sake of the glory God;    4. never acting out of that “prudence” which would have members select the least risky or least demanding option, preferring the heroic to the trivial;    5. and opting for works which are “necessary to souls” and, in the process, edify others.

With regularly, the question arises, “Is a certain task brought before us an authentic Legion work?” We must know that the real question which we should be asking in its regard is not whether it could be done, but whether it should be done. If it “measures up” to much of the criteria listed above, it is certainly worthy of performance. If it does not, then it might be best to do it on one’s own, outside the Legion, or to seek someone else in the parish to do it, leaving the Legion free to pursue the more pressing work for souls.

The Servant of God, Frank Duff, once made the following statement: “Mary, the Queen of the Legion, has the office of mothering mankind. We have the privilege of helping her, and she depends on that cooperation. It is woeful if in such wonderful circumstances we only take in hand the things of lesser consequence, leaving the multitudes in real deprivation” (ML, 13). Friends, that is what really is at stake in the debate about what “could” be done in the Legion: making sure that our works bring our Mother closer to her children most in need of her love and help. For her sake and their sake, let us be sure we decide rightly … and then do what “should” be done for the sanctification and salvation of her sons and daughters.

October 15, 2017/Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus/Rev. Frank Giuffre Reading: Handbook: Chapter 37, Introduction (p. 231 – paragraphs before no. 1)

Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus

Emergency centers enlist a “triage” approach to crisis care. What does it involve? “Triage” is the practice of assigning degrees of urgency to cases of medical need in order to assure that attention is given first to the most critical and time-sensitive situations (like a stroke) while less-life-threatening ones (like a muscle strain) are treated afterward. It is all about using limited resources efficiently for the sake of saving the greatest number of lives.

What works in the medical realm also applies in the spiritual. Although any instance of evil infecting a soul is worthy of the utmost apostolic concern, cases of more serious need merit first place when it comes to pastoral care. Our present Holy Father, Pope Francis, has in fact affirmed this approach. He regularly refers to the Church in our times “as a field hospital after battle,” and he has said that workers providing “emergency care” within it should enlist apostolic triage when caring for the spiritually wounded, giving priority to the most critical cases and needs. Just as a medical technician would lay aside concern for a man’s cholesterol imbalance in order to surgically care for a life-threatening injury, so Catholics should not be exclusively concerned (or even more concerned), for example, about spreading a popular devotion among some the faithful while neglecting those outside the Faith who have never heard about Jesus and who are on the verge of dying without knowing His life and love. It makes no sense to put all – or even most – of our Christian resources into bettering the condition of an already saved soul when another stands in danger of eternal loss.

Legion praesidia and members must take this apostolic-triage-logic to heart in discerning which spiritual works to pursue in a parish and how legionaries are to be allocated for assignments. Specifically, Legion officers must guard against putting all or most of a praesidium’s resources into works of consolation and of conservation (which deal with those already evangelized) and make sure that those of conversion (which deal with those never evangelized) receive the priority they deserve. Yes, the sick need visiting, the Pilgrim Virgin Statue needs circulating, the Patrician meeting needs coordinating, and the RCIA needs teaching. But souls in our parish boundaries need saving, too. And putting the largest percentage of our attention and energy into works of consolation and conservation over those of conversion makes as much sense as a doctor putting the entirety of his time into treating patients with broken arms while ignoring those in the same room who are having serious heart attacks. Matters of life-or-death must come first – for the soul, as well as for the body!

The Servant of God, Frank Duff, embraced and practiced this logic in his apostolic service, and he codified it throughout the Legion Handbook. We had evidence of it in our reading for today which calls making home visitations the “preferred work of the Legion” (H, p. 232). Mr. Duff did not want the Legion’s precious energies to be focused almost entirely on “giving aspirins to the healthy” while walking by neighbors dying for lack of someone to take them to the emergency room. He instead wanted legionaries, when discerning active works, to make sure that those linked to conversion take priority. Anyone who contests this should take the time to read the lead article in the August-September-October 2017 edition of Maria Legionis entitled “Upgrading Legion Work,” and that individual will see out how wrong he or she is. (Incidentally, I think that the article should be required reading for every legionary in this Senatus!) Here is a one sentence “taste” of the proof in Mr. Duff’s own words: “The Legion should be found confronting its problems in identically the same spirit as the early Church, namely, that the prime work of converting must be properly attended to, and after that the other works [that is, conservation and consolation], always provided that there is enough manpower left-over for the main work [that is, conversion]” (ML, p. 4).

Jesus once said that he “did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13/NAB). Even Jesus triaged his emergency care for souls! Even Jesus gave priority, not to “saving the saved,” but to saving the sinner. We in the Legion would do well to remind ourselves of our Lord’s words and, following the wishes of our founder, the Servant of God, Frank Duff, give works of conversion the priority they deserve.

September 17, 2017/Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus/Rev. Frank Giuffre Reading: Handbook: Chapter 37, Number 2 (p. 232)

Click here for “Upgrading Legion Work” article

President John F. Kennedy made immortal a line from his inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
We active members in the Legion can think similarly about auxiliary members, regarding them more in terms of what they can do for us instead of what we can do for them. That is, we tend to give more attention to assuring their prayers on behalf of our work for the souls of others when we should also be seeking to assure and provide support for their souls, too.
It is precisely to correct this errant tendency that the Legion requires the regular visitation of auxiliaries and makes their “after care” one of its suggested works. (See H, Chapter 37, Number 14.) It values the sacrifices they are making for others so much that it counsels that like sacrifices be made for them. In this way, the Legion system conveys its wish that auxiliaries be treated not merely as individuals to be “used,” but instead as souls to be helped toward a goal shared with active members: holiness unto salvation. In that spirit, the Handbook counsels active members to “look out for” auxiliaries just as members of a family do for each other – with the elder brothers and sisters, the active members, seeking to do everything in their capacity to preserve the spiritual health of their younger siblings, the auxiliary members, and thereby fostering the realization of Christian “perfection” in all within the Legion “household” (H, 256).
Understanding this, praesidia should see to it that auxiliary visits be made and made with quality. They should assure that each is fulfilled by a personal contact (H, 89) and never only by phone call or mailing. They should include discussion of more than contact information and whether a Tessera needs replacement; instead it should involve ample time for prayer followed by a conversation which gives the auxiliary a chance to discuss the status of his or her life of faith. On the basis of what is said in that conversation, the active-member-visitor should be prepared to provide needed spiritual support to the auxiliary and be ready to “prescribe” to him or her practices that will help the auxiliary find healing and pursue growth in sanctity (H, 256).
What types of practices could active-member-visitors suggest? They might
– discuss the value of and encourage attendance at daily Mass;
– speak of the benefits of taking part in Eucharistic Adoration;
– talk over the graces of regular Confession;
– suggest and arrange the Anointing of the Sick for those of fragile age or health;
– explain how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours;
– specify how each might benefit from adjutorian membership;
– recommend solid Catholic and Legion reading material (even in the form of audio books), including the Bible, The Catechism, and the True Devotion … and then talking over with them what was read during a follow up visit;
– pass along editions of Maria Legionis;
– ask if they have considered attending a local Patrician Meeting;
– give them sacramentals, but first teaching them what they mean and how they are to be used;
– loan them DVD’s on the lives of the saints … and (again) talk over the story in a follow-up visit.
The Handbook calls the aftercare of auxiliaries “full of possibilities” (H, 256). In saying this, the Legion is challenging active members to be creative and zealous in finding ways to benefit the souls of auxiliaries who do so much to benefit its mission for souls. So let us be sure to visit our auxiliaries. And as we do, let us also be sure to think not only about what they do for the Legion, but what the Legion must do for them.

August 20, 2017: Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus by Rev. Frank Giuffre

Reading: Handbook: Chapter 37, Number 14

Finance experts say that one of the best things we can do for ourselves in life is to set money aside and invest it for retirement. Although it might limit the amount of funds available to us in the present, it will only serve to set the stage for our well-being in the future.
Our Handbook selection today relates the truth that one of the best things we can do for our Legion praesidium is to make another sacrifice in the present as an investment for the future: that of boosting the number of our auxiliary members. In fact, the text says boldly that it should be the goal of each praesidium to “bring every Catholic in its area into auxiliary membership” (H, 99, emphasis added).
At first, such a remark might seem to be wildly “overstated” and grossly impractical. “After all,” the legionary thinks, “Why ‘waste’ limited time and energy on the securing of praying members when they would be better spent on active works.” “In addition,” he or she asserts, “Don’t we have enough of them already?” Yet, seemingly conscious of such a sentiment, the Handbook goes on to insist that the welcoming of many as auxiliaries will become “… favorable soil … for the working of other aspects of the Legion apostolate” (H, 99). In other words, the strenuous effort invested into the gaining of auxiliary members will only add to – rather than subtract from – Legion aims and effectiveness. Like a financial investment, a present sacrifice will “pay off” with future benefits. How so?
Firstly, soliciting auxiliary members fulfills the Legion’s aspirations toward evangelization. By inviting a lukewarm or even fallen away Catholic to be an auxiliary, the grace of conversion is fostered in an individual’s soul. By teaching him or her to say the Rosary with the prayers of the Tessera, a more solid routine of sustaining prayer is engendered within each. By asking that a commitment be kept for the sake of Jesus and Mary, the keeping of other commitments attached to living one’s faith, such as regular attendance at Mass and at Confession, is also fostered.
Secondly, soliciting auxiliary members honors the legionary’s duty with regard to extension. Not only does educating the unfamiliar in the nature of the Legion add another soul to its circle of influence, it also increases the possibility that these same individuals will tell others – their friends and neighbors – about “the great group” they discovered! And some of those so reached might just get involved as active or auxiliary members.
Thirdly, soliciting auxiliary members secures help from heaven “essential” (H, 100) for the flourishing of the interior lives and the exterior works of active members. Just as armies often rely on “air support” in advance of a ground assault, so we in the Legion rely upon “prayer support” in advance of our battle for souls. Therefore the more prayers behind us, the greater the strength for the fight within us … and the better the chances of success for us, as well.
Fourthly, soliciting auxiliary members gets the Legion into more homes and places members in closer proximity with those, the family and friends of the auxiliary, who may be feeling attracted to the Faith, struggling with the Faith, or having questions about the Faith. Auxiliary visits then become occasions to interact with them in the hopes of influencing each for good.
Finally, soliciting auxiliary members stokes Legionary zeal. The courage and love demonstrated in reaching out to welcome a newcomer trains us to be equally courageous and loving in the field when the salvation of souls is at stake.
It is said that “God helps those who help themselves.” Well, God also helps the Legion when it helps itself by seeking praying-helpers in the form of auxiliaries. It gives more power in the present. It sets the stage for more effective apostolates in the future. Therefore, we can be certain that one of the best things we can do for the Legion is to invest time and energy into recruiting auxiliaries into our ranks.

July 16, 2017/Allocutio to the Philadelphia Senatus/Rev. Frank Giuffre Reading: Handbook, p. 99/Chapter 16 (f)

        Historians tell us that, originally, the process of recruiting men into the Roman legion was a relatively uncomplicated process. When war was declared by the Roman Senate, a red flag was hoisted over the capitol, news was carried to territories under imperial rule, and all men who were citizens, property owners, taxpayers, and age 17 to 46 were obliged to report for duty.

Recruiting – or what we call “extension” – into Mary’s Legion need not be complicated for us, either. The “red flag” of the battle for souls has already been hoisted by Christ over His Church. In response, the Legion of Mary mobilizes, holding a place in its ranks for any citizen of the Kingdom – any adult Catholic in good standing – who wishes to join in the fight. Yet those soldiers will never join that army – our Legion – unless one thing happens first: unless the news is carried to them – unless each of them, woman or man, is invited to join those ranks. Would any of us be in the Legion if that were not the case – unless someone had taken the time, in writing or in person, to summon us into the army of Mary? Thus it cannot be said enough: words bring members. Therefore, where no new invitations are being made, they will be no new legionaries, either.

As a help to making those invitations regularly and successfully, our Handbook reading for today offers two basic challenges on the topic of extension so as to inform our approach: it asks us to change the way we view recruiting, and it also asks us to change the way we view recruits. In terms of the former, the Handbook asserts that, while extension can be variously regarded, one way is definitely not as something optional. Instead the effort is referred to as a “duty” (H, 179) – which means as an obligation – from which no one can be excused: and that means no one! So serious does the Legion consider this stance that, as we heard, members are asked to hold one other accountable for how well or how poorly they are doing it (cf. H, 180). When was the last time we praised a fellow legionary for his or her outstanding work in reaching out to newcomers? When was the last time we took a fellow legionary aside and asked why he or she never reports a single active or auxiliary contact?

It is true: it often takes a great deal of courage to do extension, but we can draw inspiration from the fact that even our Lady did this work. Yes, we actually have a scene in the New Testament where Mary can be found reaching out to others to help serve Christ for the glory of the Father. It happened at the wedding feast of Cana where Mary, after learning that the newlyweds “had no more wine” (John 2:3), seeks out the assistance of others: those waiters whom she advises to “do whatever Jesus says” (John 2:5) and who eventually fill the stone jars with the water that Jesus later makes into wine. Mary could have thought, “Oh well, someone will step up to help on their own.” Instead Mary acted to involve others in her work and the work of her Son. More than likely, their saying “yes” to her invitation became a life-changing event. Who would not have been transformed at seeing divine power at work? (Remember, they saw water go in and wine come out!) Perhaps it began a lifetime of service as a disciple of the Lord – all because Our Lady was courageous enough to invite them! So if extension was important to Our Lady, then it should be so for us. It will be powerful, now as then!

Yet not only does the Handbook challenge us to view recruiting differently, it also demands that we view recruits differently. In this regard, the Handbook makes reference (p. 180) to Luke 10:2, Jesus’ words about the harvest being abundant, but laborers being all too few. In Jesus’ world, wheat had to be gathered from the fields within a small window of time before the rainy season arrived; wheat not taken in-time would be lost for all-time. Evoking these words of Jesus within the context of a discussion on extension seems to clarify exactly what is being sought in legionary recruits. And it is definitely NOT volunteers. A volunteer is someone who is asked to consider whether they want to help souls. What is being sought through the Legion are instruments of and coworkers with Jesus and Mary who realize how much they are needed in the fight to save souls. There are so many – too many – who need to be reached, converted, and cared for, and there is too little time left to do it! What we should appeal to in the work of extension then are heroes willing to step up because they realize this: how much their help is needed – whether they “want” to give it or not!

The Handbook says in another section that recruiting actually fulfills the Great Commandment: we “love one another” by helping each find the Legion, a great aid to the salvation of their souls and those of others. So let us love our brothers and sisters so much that we do not deprive them of the opportunity of being active or auxiliary members in our Lady’s army. Let us have the courage to invite them. Let us let them know how much they are needed!

Allocutio/18 June, 2017/Philadelphia Senatus/Rev. Frank Giuffre
Handbook, pp. 179-180 – Chapter 31, Section 1