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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 196

196 BASIC DUTIES OF LEGIONARIES CHAPTER 33
the “petty jealousies.” Jealousy is seldom petty in itself. It
means acid in the individual heart. It enters all but
universally into human rela tions, poisoning them. In the
malevolent, it is a fierce and mad den ing force which can
perpetrate most dreadful things. But likewise, it tempts the
unselfish and the pure of heart through their sensitive and
loving natures. How hard it is to see oneself displaced by
others, outpaced in virtue or in performance, put aside in
favour of the young! How bitter is the contemplation of one’s
own eclipse! The best of souls have felt that secret pang, and
have learned from it their own amazing weakness. For that
bitterness is really smoulder ing hate, and near to bursting
into destructive flame.
Relief may lie in trying to forget. But the legionary must aim
at higher things than such a peace. He must be satisfied with
nothing less than victory, a vastly meritorious conquest over
stark nature arrayed in battle, the transformation of the half-
hate of envy wholly into Christian love. But how can such a
wonder be achieved? It will be done by putting into force the
fulness of legionary duty to his fellow-members and to those
around him, in each of whom he has been taught to see and
reverence his Lord. Each sting of jealousy must be met by this
reflection: That person, whose increase has caused my pain, is
none other than the Lord. My feelings, therefore, must be
those of St. John the Baptist. My joy is filled that Jesus is
exalted at my expense. He must increase, but I must decrease.
That outlook is heroically holy. It is the raw material for a
destiny. What glorious scope it gives to Mary to free from
every stain of vanity a soul through which the light will shine
unto others (Jn 1:7), for her fashioning of yet another selfless
envoy to prepare the way before the Lord! (Mk 1:2)
A precursor must always desire his own eclipse by him whom
he announces. An apostle will always see with joy the growth
of those around him, and will never think to measure their
uprise against his own. He is no apostle who wishes growth to
all, except when that growth casts shadow on his own! That
jealous thought would show that self is first when self is
touched, whereas self in the apostle must be always last. Nay
more! the spirit of envy cannot co-exist with true apostleship.
“With her first words of respect and loving salutation, Mary
imparts that first sanctifying impulse which purifies those souls,