Page 208 - 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 203

CHAPTER 33 BASIC DUTIES OF LEGIONARIES 203
12. THE LEGIONARY MUST PRAY AS WELL AS WORK
Though the recital of the Catena Legionis is the only daily
duty imposed by the Legion on its active members, the latter
are earnestly urged to include all the prayers of the Tessera in
their daily programme. The auxiliary members’ duty requires
those prayers, and it would be a reproach to the active units
were they to fall short of what the auxiliaries, in countless
numbers, are contributing. It is true that the auxiliary does
not perform the active work. Nevertheless, it is certain that
the auxiliary is of greater service to the Legion’s Queen than
the active member who works but does not pray. This is the
reverse of the intention of the Legion, which conceives the
active membership as the spearhead of its attack and the
auxiliaries as the haft only.
Moreover, the fervour and perseverance of the auxiliaries will
depend in great measure upon their conviction that they are
supplementing a self-sacrificing and in fact heroic service—one
far beyond their own. For this additional reason, the active
member must constitute a model and an inspiration to the
auxiliary. But a genuine inspiration he can hardly be, if his
service of prayer falls below that demanded from the auxiliary,
leaving a doubt as to who serves the Legion the better.
Every legionary, active and auxiliary, should enrol in the
Confra tern ity of the Most Holy Rosary. The benefits attaching
to member ship are immense. (see appendix 7)
“In all petitions the Most Holy Name of Jesus is at least implicitly
invoked, even though the words ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’ are
not expressly said: because he is the necessary Mediator to whom
appeals must be presented. Moreover, when the suppliant addresses
God the Father directly, or when he confides his request to an angel
or a saint without calling on the most holy name of Mary, then the
same must be said of the Blessed Virgin as of her Divine Son. Just as
his Name is ever implicitly invoked because he is the sole necessary
Mediator, so the name of his Blessed Mother who is associated with
him is also in all prayers implicitly invoked with his. Whenever God
is asked, she is virtually asked. Whenever Christ as Man is asked, she
is thereby asked. Whenever a saint is asked, she is asked.” (Canice
Bourke, O.F.M. Cap.: Mary)
13. THE INTERIOR LIFE OF LEGIONARIES
“It is no longer I who live” says the Apostle “but it is Christ
who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) Interior life means that one’s