The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolate association of men and women in the Catholic Church who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbor on a voluntary basis.
With the approval of the Popes and a great many Bishops, Priests, and Religious, as well as the prayers and efforts of Legionaries, the Legion, by the grace of God, has grown to several million members throughout the world. Its two-fold purpose is sanctifying its members and advancing the reign of Christ through Our Lady. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of our pastor. Active members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Our many works, done in pairs, may include leading the rosary before Masses, wakes/funerals, and Rosary Rallies, following up with new parishioners, reaching out to the elderly and sick, teaching religious education, assisting the pastor with home consecrations, and bringing the Blessed Pilgrim Virgin statue to families. (see description below).
Membership
There are two types of membership: active and auxiliary. The active members meet weekly for prayer, planning, and discussion then are assigned two hours of work. Auxiliary members are the spiritual wing of the apostolate. They agree to pray the rosary daily along with the Legion Tessera prayers; these prayers then give the spiritual lift to our active members, allowing them to do great things for Jesus through Mary.
Our praesidium meets at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evenings at the home of Damaris Niewald to first pray the rosary and then determine how we can be of service to the pastor to do any type of spiritual work of mercy. Please come for a visit.
Contact Delores Charbonneau at (785) 738-3719 or Damaris Niewald at (785)738-5414 if you are interested in learning more about the active or auxiliary memberships.
Blessed Pilgrim Virgin Statue Visitation
Hosting the Blessed Pilgrim Virgin statue is a beautiful way to honor Jesus and Our Lady, to invite God’s blessings into your home, and to unite your family in prayer. But is your family ready for the commitment? Is there room for the Pilgrim Virgin in your everyday life? Is your home “Catholic” enough? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES!!!
First, contact Kathy Reiter at (785) 738-2915 to get on the schedule. A member of the Legion will call you to set up an available Saturday and time. Next, prepare a place of honor before the Pilgrim Virgin arrives, such as a table, mantel, or bookshelf. You can add a small tablecloth, a rosary, candles, and flowers. On the day of arrival, two members of the Legion will bring the Pilgrim Virgin to your home. They will help set her up in the place you have prepared and guide you through a welcome prayer ceremony that takes about 20 minutes.
So, what do you do all week while the Pilgrim Virgin is in your home? The simple answer is this: spend time with your honored guest. Pray the rosary each day together as a family. Don’t be discouraged or distracted by impatient children or cranky adults. Just PRAY the rosary each day. And don’t stop there! Pause throughout your day as you pass by her, and just say “hello.” Offer a silent Hail Mary; ask Mary to help you or to pray for a special intention. She’s a GREAT listener, and she LOVES to rain down God’s graces on those who ask. At the end of your week, the legionaries return for a farewell prayer ceremony.
There have been many benefits and little miracles given during the visit of Our Lady’s statue, such as family members returning to the Church, job offers, health improvement, and increased family peace and family prayer. The Pilgrim Virgin statue is a beautiful, tangible reminder that Mary is really and truly present in your home and active in your daily lives. Please consider inviting her into your home today.