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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 230

230 PRAESIDIA REQUIRING SPECIAL MENTION CHAPTER 36
ium. Having regard to the fact that time is limited, that suit -
able work may not be easy to find in the circumstances of
seminary life, and that study of the handbook is given special
attention, a minimum of one hour a week should be spent on
active work. The possible lack of variety in the work must be
compensated for by richness of spirit. The work must be done
with sheer perfection and with emphasis on the note of
union with Mary.
The selection of works will depend on the circumstances
and rules of the house. Some suggestions are: the visitation of
homes, hospitals and other institutions, instruction of
converts, teaching of catechism, preparation of adults and
children for the sacraments. It is very important that any
works undertaken should tie in with pastoral training prog -
rammes set up by superiors.
(c) The reports to the praesidium must not be routine
phrases. They should be vivid and interesting. Success in this
direction will render the members masters in the art of making
reports and qualified to teach that art to those whose legionary
destinies they will be guiding in the future.
(d) Duties of a disciplinary or of a purely supervisory
character should not be assigned by a praesidium. Such work
would tend to make members of the Legion (and then the
Legion itself) unpopular with their fellows.
(e) Membership should be completely voluntary. Anything
that savours of compulsion or even of college routine would
operate detrimentally. In order to stress the voluntary nature
of Legion membership, it is a good idea to hold the praesid -
ium meeting during free time.
(f) The praesidium shall be so conducted, both as regards
meet ings and activities, as not to interfere in the slightest way
with the horarium and rules of the house. On the other hand,
the conditions of active membership of the Legion must not
be altered, for this would defeat the whole purpose in view. In
practice, it will be found that the faithful working of such a
praesidium will intensify the attitude of the students towards
their vocation, their studies, and the discipline of the place.