Page 129 - 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 127

CHAPTER 20 THE LEGION SYSTEM INVARIABLE 127
2. Experience has shown that the name of an organisation
has little definite meaning for some persons. For they regard
it as a virtual tyranny if they are not permitted to cover with
the name of a standard organisation some composition of
their own minds.
Sometimes “modernisers” proceed to alter almost every thing
in the Legion while retaining its name. Can they not see that
such an illegal transferring to their own possession of the
established position and membership of the Legion would be
the worst sort of depredation because it is in the spiritual order.

3. And places — like persons — are apt to conceive that they
are out of the common and that their case has to be specially
legislated for. Hence the proposals which are from time to time
made that the Legion system should be flexed to meet alleged
special circum stances. Such modifications, if made, will have
an unhappy sequel. For almost invariably they spring, not
from necessity (for the Legion has already demonstrated its
universal adaptability), but from the operation of a false spirit
of independence. Such will never attract the special blessings
of Heaven, and the fruit of that independence will always be a
falling away. However, as it will not always be possible to
convince people of this, it is at least pointed out to those who
are set upon exercising a right of private judgment in relation
to the rules of the Legion, that their only course in honour is
to re frain from covering their transactions with the name of
the Legion.

4. Moreover, this ingenious picking of parts, which too-
clever men often indulge in, never succeeds in capturing a
quality of sweetness and inspiration which was the real power
of the original, so that the usual result of this species of
surgery is a corpse. But at the very best, what is created is a
beautiful machine and nothing more. When poor results or
failure follow, there is a heavy responsibility to be faced.
5. The various councils of the Legion exist chiefly for the
purpose of preserving intact the Legion system. At all costs
they must be true to the trusteeship committed to them.
“The system of the Legion of Mary is a most excellent one.” (Bl.
John XXIII)