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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 305

CHAPTER 39 CARDINAL POINTS OF THE LEGION APOSTOLATE 305
to some important work. Should calm consideration show: (a)
that otherwise a work, on which depends the salvation of souls,
will in whole or part remain undone, and (b) that everything
possible has been done in the interests of safety; then let the
attack go on with picked material. It would be an intolerable
thing for legionaries to look on impassively while their neigh -
bours were going to ruin. “God keep from us the serenity of the
ignor ant. God keep from us the peace of cowards.” (De
Gasparin)
33. THE LEGION MUST BE IN THE FOREFRONT
OF THE CHURCH’S BATTLE
Legionaries share in Mary’s faith in the victory of her Son
— her faith that through his death and resurrection all the
power of sin in the world has been conquered. According to
the measure of our union with Our Lady the Holy Spirit puts
this victory at our disposal in all the battles of the Church.
With this in mind, legion aries should be an inspiration to the
whole Church by the trust and courage with which they take
in hand the great problems and evils of the day.
“We must understand what the warfare is. It is being fought not
simply to enlarge the Church, but to bring souls into union with
Christ. It is that strangest of wars which is fought for the enemy, not
against him. Even the term ‘enemy’ must not be allowed to mislead.
Every unbeliever is, as every Catholic is, a being with an immortal
spirit, made in the image of God, for whom Christ died. However
violently hostile to the Church or to Christ he may be, our aim is to
convert him, not simply to defeat him. We must never forget that the
devil wants his soul in hell as he wants ours, and we must fight the
devil for him. We may be forced to oppose a man to prevent his
endangering souls; but always we want to win him for his own soul’s
salvation. It is in the power of the Holy Spirit that we must fight, and
he is the Love of the Father and the Son; in so far as the Church’s
soldiers fight in hatred, they are fighting against him.” (F. J. Sheed:
Theology for Beginners)
34. THE LEGIONARY MUST PROPAGATE EVERYTHING
CATHOLIC
Legionaries will not neglect the use of the scapulars, medals,
and badges approved by the Church. In distributing these and
spreading devotion to them, channels are set up, along which
— as a million instances have shown — it is the will of God
that grace will copiously flow.