The Legion of Mary

Name, Origin and Spirit
The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics who with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces (who is fair as the moon, bright as the sun, and -to satan and his legionaries – terrible as any army set in battle array), have formed themselves into a Legion of service in the warfare which is perpetually waged in the Church against the world and its evil powers. “The whole life of men, both individual and social, shows itself to be a struggle, and a dramatic one, between good and evil, between light and darkness.” (GS.13)

The legionaries hope to render themselves worthy of their great heavenly Queen by their loyalty, their virtues, and their courage. The Legion of Mary is therefore organized on the model of an army, principally on that of the army of ancient Rome, the terminology of which is adopted also. But the army and the arms of legionaries of Mary are not of this world. The spirit of the Legion of Mary is Mary herself and especially aspires after her many virtues, her self-sacrificing love of God and above all her unequalled faith. The Legion of Mary was founded by Frank Duff from Dublin, Ireland on September 7, 1921. His profound insights into the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the plan of Redemption, as also into the role of the lay faithful in the mission of the Church, are reflected in the Handbook of the Legion of Mary which is almost entirely his composition.

Mary, Queen of Peace Praesidium was founded November 1987 based here at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. The members meet every Saturday morning at 10:15 where they make report on their assignments doing weekly Home Visitation to families with two statues of Our Lady to propagate Family Rosary and Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Mary, pastoral care at Riverview Hospital, Hawthorne Care Centre, Kingsway Port Coquitlam Pre-Trial Centre, visiting the sick and those who call for prayerful support under special circumstances. They help in the spiritual growth of the young ones in the parish through the formation of the Junior Praesidium members and meet with them every Friday at 3:00 pm. The children are guided in praying the Holy Rosary, study the handbook and its application and require them to do service hours especially among members preparing for the Sacraments. The work of evangelization is a continual task of each member and the spiritual life of the parish is their specific goal.

Object
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active cooperation, under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary’s and the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ. Subject to the approval of the Concilium, and to the restrictions specified in the official handbook of the Legion, the Legion of Mary is at the disposal of the bishop of the diocese and the parish priest for any and every form of social service and Catholic action which authorities may deem suitable to the legionaries and useful for the welfare of the Church.