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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 291

CHAPTER 39 CARDINAL POINTS OF THE LEGION APOSTOLATE 291
passed by. These are not to be approached in a spirit of
religious aggression, but for the purpose of establishing a
footing of friendship. The explanation that all homes are
being visited to make the acquaintance of their tenants will
lead to a kindly reception in many non-Catholic homes, a
circumstance which Divine Providence may utilise as an
instru ment of grace to those “other sheep” which it desires to
have within the fold. A friendship towards Catholics of the
apostolic type will cause many prejudices to die; and a respect
for Catholics will un question ably be followed by a respect for
Catholicism. Information may be sought, books asked for,
and from all this still greater things may come.

10. MATERIAL RELIEF PROHIBITED
Material relief must not be given — even in the smallest
ways; and experience shows that it is necessary to mention
that old cloth ing belongs to this category.
In ruling thus, the Legion does not slight the act of relief-
giving in itself. It simply declares that for the Legion it is
impracticable. To give to the poor is a good work. Done with a
supernatural motive it is a sublime one. The systems of many
great societies rest upon this principle; notably that of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul to whose example and spirit the
Legion rejoices to proclaim itself deeply indebted — so much,
in fact, as to make it possible to say that the roots of the
Legion lay in that Society. But to the Legion is assigned a
different field of duty. Its system is built upon the principle of
bringing spiritual good to every individual in the population.
This programme and one of relief-giving are not compatible
in practice because:
(a) The visits of an organisation which gives relief will
seldom be welcomed by persons who do not need relief. They
will fear lest such a visitation would label them in the eyes of
their neighbours as benefiting in some material way. So the
praesidium which earns the name of relief-giving will quickly
find its field of work narrowed exceedingly. Material relief
may be to other societies a key which opens. It is the key
with which the Legion locks itself out.