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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 302

302 CARDINAL POINTS OF THE LEGION APOSTOLATE CHAPTER 39
thought! — that the very circumstance which to the limited
human vision seems to prevent those conditions from being
ideal and to spoil the prospects of the work, is not an obstacle
to success but the requisite for success; not a flaw but a hall-
mark; not a deadweight on effort but fuel which feeds that
effort and aids it to achieve its purpose. For it is ever God’s
pleasure to show his power by extracting success from
unpromising conditions and by accom plish ing his greatest
projects with inadequate instruments.
But the legionaries must note this important proviso: If
those difficulties are to be salutary, they must not proceed
from legionary neglect. The Legion cannot expect to derive
grace from its own faults of omission or commission.

25. SUCCESS A JOY. FAILURE ONLY A POSTPONED
SUCCESS
Viewed aright, the work should be an endless source of joy.
Success is a joy. Failure is a penance and an exercise of
faith—a higher joy to the thoughtful legionary, who sees
therein merely a postponed and greater success. Again, it is a
natural pleasure to be received with the grateful smiles of the
many who value intensely the visit. But the doubtful looks of
others should bring a deeper consolation, for here is
something seriously amiss which has been escaping attention.
It is the legionary experience that true Catholic feeling —
even when complicated by some religious neglect — is
responsive to the friendly, sympathetic visitor, so that the
contrary not infrequently marks a soul in peril.

26. ATTITUDE TOWARDS DEFECTS OF PRAESIDIA
AND LEGIONARIES
There must be patience with the defects of praesidia or
individual legionaries. The fact that zeal is so sluggish, that
improvement seems negligible, and that worldly failings are
sadly in evidence should not bring discouragement. The
following line of thought will help in such circumstances.
If those legionaries, with the drive of their system behind
them and unquestionably influenced by its prayer and
devotion, are nevertheless found wanting, what would their