This membership consists of those who are unable or unwilling to assume
the duties of active membership, but who undertake to give the Legion the
assistance of their prayers.
Auxiliary membership is subdivided into two
degrees:
(1) For Priests and Religious; and
(2) for the Laity.
The obligations of this membership, which is called Adjutorian Membership, are fulfilled in either of two ways.
(A) By the recital of the prayers prescribed for ordinary Auxiliary Lay membership; or
(B) by the daily recital of the Catena of the Legion together with the following formula of offering in substance or intention,
The obligations of this membership consist in the daily recitation of the prayers comprised in the Legion Tessera, which is given to each Auxiliary in token of membership [ copied below ].
These prayers are:
The Invocation and Prayer of the Holy Ghost;
five decades of the Rosary and the Invocations that follow;
the Catena of the Legion
(that is, the Magnificat with antiphon, versicle [v] and responsory [r] together with the prayer from the Mass of Our Lady Mediatrix of all Graces) and the prayers described in the Tessera as "Concluding Prayers."
All the above prayers are to be offered daily by the Auxiliaries for the intentions of Our Blessed Lady.
If, however, a person whose daily Rosary
is already offered for particular intentions, desires to become an Auxiliary, the recitation of another Rosary is not necessary.
Lay-auxiliaries may also make the Formula of Offering prescribed for Adjutorians, and given above.
By doing so the value of their Auxiliary service will be greatly enhanced.
There is no entrance fee for membership of the Legion of Mary, but a small offering may be made for the cost of the Tessera (Prayer Card).
Each local branch (Praesidium) of the Legion keeps a list of the Auxiliary members obtained through that branch. The names of intending Auxiliary members are placed on a provisional list until three months probation has been served. Then when the Praesidium is satisfied that the obligations of membership have been faithfully discharged, the names of the candidates are placed on the Auxiliary Roll.
The Legion of Mary is an Association of the Catholic Laity. Membership is open to men and women, married or single. The Legion draws its inspiration from the realization of the immense intercessory power of Our Lady with her Divine Son, and from the conviction that she is the divinely appointed Mediatrix of all Graces.
The object of the Legion is the assistance of the Bishops and Priests in their apostolic work of saving and sanctifying souls. It does not concern itself with the giving of material aid.
The Legion was founded in 1921, in Dublin, Ireland. Today there are over 800 Praesidia (branches) of the Legion in the City of Dublin alone.
In 1928 the Legion began to spread rapidly.
In that year it was established in Scotland, where there are now 150 Praesidia.
In 1929 a start was made in London. There are over 1,000 Praesidia in England now.
In 1931 it reached India and spread with astonishing rapidity.
In the same year it appeared in the U.S.A., where it is now established in almost every diocese; and in Canada it has extended into some fifty Dioceses.
It is also widely organized in the West Indies and is active in Central and South America.
In 1932 the first Praesidium was formed in Australia.
The Legion is now operating in every State of the Commonwealth.
In 1934 the Legion found
its way to Africa. Here its success has been beyond even the most sanguine expectations. Two Apostolic Delegates have recommended it to the Bishops of Africa.
In 1936 it reached China, rapidly extended to 90 Dioceses and received the highest commendation of the Internuncio and of the Hierarchy of China.
Over 1,000 Bishops have welcomed the Legion to their respective Dioceses a number which increases monthly.
The Legion is also established in the following countries:
The basis of the Legion System is the weekly meeting of the Praesidium (local branch).
The purpose of the Praesidium meeting is two-fold, spiritual formation and apostolate.
The active members come into the Praesidium to pray, to plan, and to act. Whatever success attends their efforts is rightly attributed to the powerful intercession of her whom Legionaries serve as their Queen and Commander.
The Central Council of the Legion of Mary is named the Concilium and is located in Dublin, Ireland.
Further information regarding membership may be procured from your local Praesidium (branch):
(Permissu Ordinarii Archidioecesis Ludovicopolitanae.) Publishers Printing Co., Louisville. Ky., U.S.A.
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In the name of the Father, etc.
Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ Our Lord.
[v] Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips.
[r] And my tongue shall announce Thy praise.
[v] Incline unto my aid, O God.
[r] O Lord, make haste to help me.
[v] Glory be to the Father, etc.
[r] As it was in the beginning, etc.
Then follow Five Decades of the Rosary with the Hail! Holy Queen...
[v] Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God.
[r] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has
purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they
promise.
Through the same Christ Our Lord.
[v] Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
[r] Have mercy on us.
[v] Immaculate Heart of Mary
[r] Pray for us.
[v] St. Joseph
[r] Pray for us.
[v] St. John the Evangelist
[r] Pray for us.
[v] St. Louis Marie de Montfort
[r] Pray for us.
In the name of the Father, etc.
[To be recited daily, with 5 decades of the rosary, for Auxiliary Membership]
[Antiphon] Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the Sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?
My soul + doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid:
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations to them that fear Him. [Antiphon]. Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?
[v] O Mary conceived without sin. Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ our Mediator with the Father, In the name of the Father, etc.
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; [v] Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces (or Invocation appropriate to Praesidium) Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, May the souls of our departed Legionaries and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. In the name of the Father, etc.
(Permissu ordinarii Dioec. Dublinen, die 26a Jan. 1950)
1940 Legion of Mary.
He hath showed might in His arm:
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat:
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things:
As He spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
as it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
[r] Pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Who hast been pleased to appoint the Most Blessed Virgin, Thy Mother.
to be our Mother also, and our Mediatrix with Thee,
mercifully grant that whosoever comes to Thee seeking Thy favours
may rejoice to receive all of them through her. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYERS
despise not our prayers in our necessities,
but ever deliver us from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
[r] Pray for us.
[v] Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel
[r] Pray for us.
[v] All ye Heavenly Powers, Mary's Legion of Angels
[r] Pray for us.
[v] Saint John the Baptist
[r] Pray for us.
[v] Saints Peter and Paul
[r] Pray for us.
that fulness of faith in Thee and trust in her,
to which it is given to conquer the world.
Grant us a lively faith, animated by charity,
which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of Thee,
and ever to see Thee and serve Thee in our neighbour;
a faith, firm and immovable as a rock,
through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses,
toils, and disappointments of life;
a courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things
for God and for the salvation of souls;
a faith which will be our Legion's Pillar of Fire - to lead us forth united - to kindle everywhere the fires of Divine Love - to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death - to inflame those who are lukewarm - to bring back life to those who are dead in sin;
and which will guide our own feet in the Way of Peace,
so that - the battle of life over - our Legion may reassemble,
without the loss of any one, in the Kingdom of Thy Love and Glory.
Amen.