Page 320 - 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 315

CHAPTER 40 GO PREACH THE GOSPEL 315
“We must always remember,” said Dr. Williams, former
Arch bishop of Birmingham, “that religion is caught, not
taught. It is a flame set alight from one person to another. It is
spread by love and not in any other way. We take it only from
those whom we think friendly to us. Those whom we regard
as indifferent or hostile cannot recommend religion to us.”
If personal contact is necessary, not many cases can be dealt
with by the individual worker. Therefore for many
conversions many workers will be required. Legionaries must
be multiplied.
As part of any scheme the following should receive
attention:—
(a) The work of study should be undertaken, not for the
purpose of mere controversy, but to fit oneself to assist the
sincere enquirer.
(b) Existing converts should be looked up in order to ensure
that they have the support of Catholic friendships, or to bring
them, if suitable, into Legion membership. None will be more
qualified than they to meet the difficulties of their former
brethren.
(c) The following up (from lists supplied by those who
specialise in instruction) of those who had embarked on a
course of instruction in which they did not persevere.
Experience indicates that the default is usually due, not to a
loss of the desire to become Catholics, but to accidental
circum stances which cause a break in the attendance; shyness
or procrastination then prevents resumption.
(d) The opportunities of effective contact with people who
are not Catholics are plentiful if legionaries would only act
towards them in a natural Christian way. To Catholics who
are in perplexity, in grief, or in trouble of any kind, the
legionary would counsel prayer or would seek to induce them
to read something likely to help them. He would speak to
them of God’s love and of the motherhood of Mary, thereby
comfort ing them and uplifting them. Similarly effective use
could be made of the oft-recurring periods of trial in the lives
of people who are not Catholics, but they are not utilised. The
topic of religion is taboo. Only worldly sentiments are uttered
which do not console, nor show forth faith, nor accomplish