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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 22

22 THE DEVOTIONAL OUTLOOK OF THE LEGION CHAPTER 5
model of the virtues.’ No human mother can limit her task to the
generation of a new man. She must extend it to the function of
nourishing and educating her offspring. Just so the Blessed Virgin
Mary, after participating in the redeeming sacrifice of the Son, and in
such an intimate way as to deserve to be proclaimed by him the
mother not only of his disciple John but — may we be allowed to
affirm it — of mankind which he in some way represents, now
continues to fulfil from heaven her maternal function as the
cooperator in the birth and development of divine life in the
individual souls of redeemed men. This is a most consoling truth
which, by the free consent of God the All-Wise, is an integrating part
of the mystery of human salvation, therefore it must be held as faith
by all Christians.” (SM)

5. LEGIONARY DEVOTION THE ROOT OF THE
LEGIONARY APOSTOLATE
One of the dearest duties of the Legion shall be to show
whole-hearted devotion to the Mother of God. It can only do
so through its members, so that each one of these is asked to
associate himself with it by serious meditation and zealous
practice.
If the devotion is to be in real truth a legionary tribute, it
must be an essential part of the Legion — as much an
obligation of member ship as the weekly meeting or active
work: all must participate in it in a perfect unity. This is a
point of view with which members cannot be too deeply
impressed.
But this unity is something most delicate, for each member
in a measure controls it, and can mar it. So on each one
devolves a solemn trusteeship in the matter. If there is default;
if the legionaries are not “living stones . . . built into a
spiritual house” (1 Pet 2:5), then is a vital part of the structure
of the Legion defective. In measure as the living stones are
found in this way wanting, will the Legion system tend more
and more to become a ruin, which will not shelter, and hence
with difficulty will retain, its children. Still less will it be the
home of high and holy qualities, or a starting-point for heroic
endeavour.
But with everyone adequately discharging this item of
legionary service the Legion will be found possessed of a