Page 339 - 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 334

334 PAPAL LETTERS AND MESSAGES APPENDIX 1
PAUL VI to the LEGION OF MARY

Vatican City,
January 6, 1965.

Dear Mr. Duff,
The letter which you recently addressed to the Sovereign
Pontiff, inspired by devoted filial sentiments, brought Him
pleasure and gratification. His Holiness desires to take this
occasion to send His Message of praise and encouragement to
the Legion of Mary, which, first born in the mystic climate of
Catholic Ireland, has by now extended its beneficent action
to every continent.
Such a Message the Holy Father considers to be amply
deserved by your movement by reason of its pious aims and
of the many activities it has so wisely produced and
developed to the great advantage of the Catholic apostolate,
thus proving itself to be an instrument of astonishing efficacy
for the building up and spreading of God’s Kingdom.
His Holiness still preserves vivid remembrances of the
meetings had with you while He was in the service of this
Secretariat of State. It was in particular from those
conversations that He was able to derive a full conception of
the spirit which animates your movement and constitutes the
secret of its vitality. Indeed, the spirit of the Legion of Mary,
while properly drawing fruitful nourishment from the strong
interior life of its members, from their discipline, their
dedication to the salvation of their neighbour, their
unflinching loyalty to the Church, nevertheless is
distinguished and characterized by an adamant confidence in
the action of the Blessed Virgin. Recognizing in her the
model, the guide, the joy and the support of all its members,
the Legion of Mary, by its eloquent activities, helps us to