Page 299 - 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 294

294 CARDINAL POINTS OF THE LEGION APOSTOLATE CHAPTER 39
13. SEEK OUT AND TALK TO EVERY SOUL
The essence of religious work is its desire to reach every
individual, to take into the sphere of its apostolate not merely
the neglectful, not alone the household of the Faith, not only
the poor or the degraded, but ALL.
Especially the most repulsive forms of religious neglect
must not intimidate the legionary. There is no person,
however abandoned and hopeless to all appearance, in whom
the faith and courage and perseverance of the legionary will
not produce results. On the other hand, it would be an
intolerable limitation of the mission of the Legion to confine

attention to the graver evils. The special attractive ness of the
search for the sheep that is straying or in the hands of the
thief, should not blind the legionary to the fact that a wider
field lies to hand in the urging on of that vast multitude who,
though called by God to sanctity, are contenting themselves
with a life of mere performance of the essential duties. Now,
to induce persons, who have been content with merely
satisfying their obliga tions, to take on works of zeal or
devotion will only be accomplished by a long-continued
visitation, requiring much patience. But if, as Father Faber
says, one saint is worth a million ordinary Catholics; and if,
as St. Teresa of Avila tells us, one soul, not a saint but seeking
sanctity, is more precious to God than thousands living
common lives, how delightful, then, the achievement of
setting the first steps of many in the path that turns aside
from the ordinary rut.

14. NO ONE IS TOO BAD TO BE UPLIFTED;
NO ONE TOO GOOD
Not a single one of those encountered in visitation should
be left on the same level as when found. There is no one so
good that he may not be brought a great deal nearer to God.
Frequently will legionaries find themselves approaching
persons who are holier far than they, but even then it is not
for them to doubt their capacity to do great good. They will
impart new ideas, new devotions. They may enliven a
routine. Certainly, they cannot fail to edify by their cheerful
practice of the apostolic life. So, whether the legionaries are
dealing with the saint or the sinner, let them proceed,