Begun in 1931 the Legion of Mary is now a world-wide apostolic organization of Catholic men and women who place themselves under the banner of Mary, Queen of the Legion. With the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit they strive to develop greater spirituality in their lives while practicing the spiritual works of mercy. Their purpose is for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Membership in the Legion is open to all Catholic men and women who lead edifying lives and are animated by the Legion spirit or at least desire to foster that spirit in themselves and are willing to fulfill the required duties. Let’s listen to the founder himself describe the members of the Legion: "Not special souls or unusual types, but ordinary Catholics living the everyday life of the world. Its membership comprises the learned and the unlearned, laborers and leisured, the unemployed, widely differing classes, colors, races, including not a few whom the world would consider as primitive or depressed. In a word, it represents typical Catholicism."

Persons desiring to join must apply for membership in a praesidium. A praesidium numbers from six to twenty members. Praesidia are organized with the approval of the local curia. The praesidium may be for men only, for women only, or mixed, according to circumstances and needs. Candidates have a three months probation in which they perform all the prescribed duties. Then they become full-fledged members by making the Legionary Promise to the Holy Spirit during the weekly meeting in the presence of the praesidium. Any member may be chosen as an officer and full obedience is given to the authority of the president approved by the spiritual director.

The legion is a lay apostolic group and the spiritual director remains behind the scenes as advisor and director, representing the clerical guidance required by Catholic Action, which is a sharing by the laity in the apostolate of the hierarchy. A member must at least be eighteen years old. However, there are junior praesidia for those between ten and eighteen, with duties befitting their abilities, under the direction of a senior Legionary.

In addition to the ordinary active membership, the Legion recognizes two other grads of membership:

The Praetorians – The Praetorian degree is a higher grade of active membership, consisting of those who to the ordinary obligations of membership undertake to add:

No one should be deterred from undertaking the praetorian degree by fears that he will not succeed in attending Mass or receiving Holy Communion absolutely every day. No one can be certain of such exact regularity as this.

Auxiliary membership in the Legion of Mary is open to priests, religious and the laity. Auxiliary members do not undertake the active apostolate of weekly meetings and weekly two hour assignment. Auxiliary membership is subdivided into two degrees:

Auxiliary service consists in the daily recitation of the prayers comprised in the tessera, namely; the invocation and prayer of the Holy Spirit; five decades of the rosary and the invocations which follow them; the Catena; and the prayers described as "concluding prayers". Persons who are already saying a daily rosary for any intention whatsoever may become auxiliaries without obligation to say an additional rosary.

Adjutorian membership comprises those who will (a) recite daily all the prayers of the tessera and in addition (b) agree to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, and to recite daily an Office approved by the Church.

Annually, as close as possible to March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, active and auxiliary Legionaries assemble in a sacred and solemn religious ceremony, called the Acies, to renew individually and collectively their consecration to the Blessed Virgin. This assembly recalls Mary’s complete dedication to the Holy Spirit during that momentous visit of the Archangel Gabriel when the fate of mankind hung in the balance and awaited Mary’s free acceptance. This impressive rite reminds every Legionary of his duty of surrendering to continue her mission of crushing the serpent’s head.

The Legion limits its activities to the spiritual sphere. It has not intentions of interfering with any other Catholic organization. There are no dues and no drives or collections of any kind, not even for charitable causes. Others do that kind of work. The secret bag collection is the only mention of finances and this voluntary contribution supports the highly organized, far-flung Legion.

ACTIVE members meet weekly (about 1 ½ hours) with their Spiritual Director usually in a parish to pray, to report on and to receive a work assignment. A minimum of two hours work is assigned by the President and approved by the Spiritual Director or pastor. Legionaries are required to preserve absolute secrecy in regard to sensitive matters discussed or learned at the meeting or in their work. Active members recite daily the Catena (the Magnificat, prayers of the Legion). The work of a praesidium varies from place to place but members always go out in pairs to meet people. Newer members are instructed by the master-apprentice method. Ideally, the praesidium will hold evangelization/conversion contacts as its highest priority with conservation of the Faith and consoling works following. A partial list of works includes:

AUXILIARY members, the praying wing of the Legion of Mary, are lay faithful, priests, or religious unable or unwilling to assume the duties of active membership. They recite daily the prayers of the Tessera, namely the invocation and prayers of the Holy Spirit, 5 decades of the Rosary, the Catena, and the prayers described as "concluding prayers". Auxiliary members are contacted at least once a year by active members of their attached praesidium. An invitation is extended to Acies, the annual ceremony of reconsecration to Mary, Queen of the Legion, held around March 25^th, the Annunciation. Auxiliaries are honored with the special function around September 8^th, the birth of our Blessed Mother.

The first step is to be a guest at a meeting of the Legion of Mary. Guests are always welcome and can go on one of the work assignments with an experienced member if they choose. If there is no Legion of Mary in your parish, you can participate in a group of another parish until you can start one of your own with the assistance of other Legionaries and in cooperation with the pastor.

For more information, ask any member of the Legion of Mary or contact the parish office to obtain the name and telephone number of a point of contact for the nearest Legion of Mary Praesidium. You can also complete the feedback form below for more information: