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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 30

30 THE DUTY OF LEGIONARIES TOWARDS MARY CHAPTER 6
of the spirit of dependence upon her will be found a supreme,
simple, compre hen sive way of humility — what St. Louis-
Marie de Montfort terms “a little-known secret of grace,
enabling us quickly and with but little effort to empty
ourselves of self, fill ourselves with God, and become perfect.”
Consider how this is so. The legionary, in turning towards
Mary, must necessarily turn away from self. Mary takes hold
of this move ment and elevates it; makes of it the supernatural
dying to self which fulfils the stern but fruitful law of the
Christian life. (Jn 12:24-25) The humble Virgin’s heel crushes
the serpent of self, with its many heads:—
(a) of self-exaltation; for if Mary, so rich in perfections as to
be called by the Church the Mirror of Justice, endowed with
unbounded power in the realm of grace, is nevertheless found
on her knees — the humblest handmaid of the Lord! — what
must be the legionary place and attitude;
(b) of self-seeking; for, having given himself and all his
goods, spiritual and temporal, to Mary to use as she thinks fit,
the legion ary continues to serve her in the same spirit of
complete generosity;
(c) of self-sufficiency; for the habit of leaning on Mary
inevitably produces distrust of one’s own unaided powers;
(d) of self-conceit; for the sense of partnership with Mary
brings realisation of one’s own inadequacy. What has the
legionary contri buted to that partnership but painful
weaknesses!
(e) of self-love; for what is there to love! The legionary,
absorbed in love and admiration of his Queen, is little
inclined to turn from her to contemplate himself;
(f) of self-satisfaction; for in this alliance higher standards
must prevail. The legionary models himself upon Mary and
aspires to her perfect purity of intention;
(g) of self-advancement; thinking with Mary’s thoughts,
one studies God alone. There is no room for plans of self or
reward;
(h) of self-will; completely submitted to Mary, the legionary
distrusts the promptings of his own inclinations and in all
things listens intently for the whisperings of grace.
In the legionary, who is truly forgetful of self, there will be
no impediment to the maternal influences of Mary. She will