Page 30 - 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 29

CHAPTER 6 THE DUTY OF LEGIONARIES TOWARDS MARY 29
preference for humble and little-sought tasks, in a readiness to
bear contempt and rebuffs, and generally in an attitude
towards the manifestations of God’s Will which will reflect
Mary’s own declaration: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.”
(Lk 1:38)
The necessary union of the legionary with his Queen
requires not only the desire for that union, but the capacity
for it. A person may determine to be a good soldier, but yet
may never possess the qualities which will make him an
efficient cog in the military machine. In consequence that
man’s union with his general is an ineffective one, so that he
impedes the working out of the military plan. Similarly, the
legionary may aspire to play a great part in the plan of his
Queen; yet he may be incapable of receiving what Mary so
ardently longs to give. In the case of the ordinary soldier this
incapacity would proceed from defects of courage,
intelligence, physical fitness, and the like. In the case of the
legionary, that incapacity would be caused by the absence of
the virtue of humility. The purpose of the Legion is the
sanctification of its members and the radiation of that
holiness in the world of souls. But there can be no holiness
without humility. Moreover, the Legion apostolate operates
through Mary. But there can be no union with Mary without
some likeness to her, and there can be little likeness to her in
default of her special virtue of humility. If union with Mary is
the indispensable condition — the root, so to speak, of all
legionary action, then the soil on which these roots depend is
humility. If that soil is deficient, the legionary life will wither.
It follows that the Legion’s battle for souls must begin in
the heart of the individual legionary. Each one must wage the
battle with himself, determinedly conquering in his heart the
spirit of pride and self. This terrible struggle with the root of
evil within one, this constant striving after purity of
intention, how exhausting it is. It is the battle of a lifetime.
Reliance upon one’s own efforts will make it the failure of a
lifetime; for self winds itself even into the attack on self. Of
what use are his own muscles to one struggling in a
quicksand? A firm support is necessary.
Legionary, your firm support is Mary. Lean upon her with
complete trust. She will not fail you, for she is deeply rooted
in that humility which is vital to you. In the faithful practice