Page 243 - 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 238

238 SUGGESTIONS AS TO WORKS CHAPTER 37
at work there a potent leaven. Those legionaries have
abundant time to spend on their activities amongst the other
patients, and can raise themselves to a high pitch of holiness.
The value of their Legion membership — on its lesser level as
a therapeutic or healing force — to themselves has been so
evident as to be everywhere recognised by the medical staffs
of those places.
This new view of life opened up to them, the patients,
some of whom had touched the depths of misery in the
thought of being so useless and a burden, will taste the
supreme joy of feeling that they are of use to God.
The Communion of Saints must necessarily operate inten -
sively as between the legionaries and those they visit, that is
in the way of an advantageous interchange of burdens and
benefits. May we not suppose that the sick are paying on
behalf of the legionaries some portion of the debt of suffering
which is due by every mortal man; but which, if borne by
every man himself, would leave the whole world sick; so that
some are given the privilege of bearing more than their share
in order that the work of the world may be carried on.
And what is the legionary able to give in this invisible
trans action? What else but a share in his apostolate — the
sick person being unable (and sometimes unready) to fulfil
that portion of his Christian obligation.
Thereby, each one would be delightfully benefited at the
expense of the other. Yet it is not a mere matter of evenly
balanced exchange. For the gain of each far outweighs his loss
by virtue of the Christian principle that to give brings back
one hundredfold. (see section 20, chapter 39, Cardinal Points
of the Legion Apostolate)
“ ‘I am Christ’s wheat,’ said St. Ignatius of Antioch, ‘and that I may
be made into bread worthy of God, I must needs be ground by the
teeth of lions.’ Never doubt that the best of crosses, the safest, the
most divine is always that one which Jesus Himself ordains without
consulting us. Increase your faith in this doctrine so dear to saints
cast in the mould of Nazareth. Adore, bless and praise God in all the
contradictions and trials which come directly from His Hand and,
conquering the repugnance of your nature, say with all your heart,
‘Fiat,’ or still better, ‘Magnificat!’ ” (Mateo Crawley-Boevey)