Page 116 - 聖母軍團員手冊（英文版，2014年5月-2022年1月更新版）

Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 114

114 ORDER OF THE PRAESIDIUM MEETING CHAPTER 18
that there was heard once more the rejoicing of Abraham (cf Jn 8:56)
who foresaw the Messiah, and there rang out in prophetic
anticipation the voice of the Church . . . And in fact Mary’s hymn has
spread far and wide and has become the prayer of the whole Church
in all ages.” (MCul 18)

11. The Allocutio.* When the members resume their seats,
a short talk shall be given by the Spiritual Director. Except in
special circumstances, this should take the shape of a
commentary upon the handbook with the object of
eventually making the members completely familiar with
every point contained therein. The allocutio will be greatly
appreciated, and it will play an all-important part in the
development of the members. Responsibility for the latter
exists, and it would be an injustice both to them and to the
Legion not to draw out all their possibilities. To do this it is
essential that they be given a perfect knowledge of their
organisation. The study of the handbook will greatly help
towards this end, but must not be con sidered to be a
substitute for the allocutio. Legionaries will believe that they
have studied the handbook when they have read it attentively
two or three times. But even ten or twenty readings would
not bring the degree of knowledge which the Legion desires.
This will only be imparted by a systematic verbal explanation
and expansion of the handbook week after week, year after
year, until the members have become completely familiarised
with every idea it contains.
In the event of the absence of the Spiritual Director, the
com mentary should be made by the President or by any
member designated by the President. It is stressed that a mere
reading from the handbook or any other document does not
suffice for the allocutio.
The allocutio should not occupy more than five or six
minutes.
The difference between the praesidium where the allocutio
has been thoroughly done, and the praesidium where it has
been badly done, will be precisely the difference between a
trained and an untrained army.
“I have long had the feeling that, since the world is growing so
rapidly worse and worse and God has lost his hold, as it were, upon
*The allocutio was the Roman General’s address to his legionaries.