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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 142

142 THE PATRONS OF THE LEGION CHAPTER 24
phrase constantly recurs: “God sent his angel.” All the nine
choirs of angels have guardian ship of some kind: over
individuals, places, cities, countries; over nature; and some
even over their fellow-angels. Scripture shows that even
heathen kingdoms have their guardian angels. (Dan 4:10, 20,
10:13) The choirs are named as being: Angels, Archangels,
Cherubim, Seraphim, Powers, Principalities, Thrones, Virtues
and Domina tions.
The position is, accordingly, that the angels aid as a body as
well as individually, playing a part analogous to that of an
airforce in relation to a surface army.
It was finally seen that the existing angelic invocation was
not expressive of this universal protective role of the angels. It
was decided:
(a) that it should be recast to a better form;
(b) that the word “Legion” should be linked with the
angels. Our Lord himself had applied it to the angels,
hallowing the word by thus taking it on his lips. When
menaced by his enemies, he said: “Do you think that I cannot
appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than
twelve legions of angels?” (Mt 26:53)
(c) that the name of Mary should be introduced into the
invoca tion. She is Queen of the Angels. She is truly the
Commander of the Angelic Legion and it would be a new
grace to our Legion to salute her under that deeply significant
title.
Prolonged discussion throughout the Legion resulted in the
adoption on l9 August, 1962, of the following form of
invocation:
“All ye heavenly Powers, Mary’s Legion of Angels, pray for
us.”
The memorial of the Guardian Angels occurs on 2 October.
There is an association, called the Philangeli, which
specialises in spreading knowledge of the angels and devotion
to them. Its principal centre is: Philangeli, Hon. General
Secretary, Salvatorians, 129 Spencer Road, Harrow Weald,
Middlesex HA3 7BJ, England.

“Our Lady’s queenship of the angels must not be taken as a term of
honour only. Her royal office is a participation in that of Christ and he
has absolute universal dominion over creation. Theologians have not