Page 351 - 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 346

346 THE ROMAN LEGION APPENDIX 4
be no grumbling if promotion did not come and if
resentment happened to be felt it might not be allowed to
appear either in word or deed. Hence all moved together as
one man, because directed by a common purpose, each was
bound to the leader and to one another. Shoulder to shoulder
and flank to flank, their hosts patrolled the world and upheld
Roman prestige and Roman law wherever they appeared. Their
devotedness made them irresistible in the face of the enemy,
their undaunted courage and dogged persever ance wearing
him out and compelling him either to surrender or to fly. They
were the outposts of the Empire: on them fell the brunt of
maintaining it in its integrity. Such examples as that of the
Roman Centurion found standing at his post when Pompeii
was excavated, or the famous Theban Legion, massacred with
its generals, Saints Maurice, Exuperius, and Candidus in the
persecution of Maximian, illustrate their unflinching heroism.
The spirit of the Roman Legion may be summed up as one
inspired by submission to authority, an unflagging sense of
duty, perseverance in the face of obstacles, endurance in
hardship, and loyalty to the cause in the tiniest details of duty.
Such was the pagan ideal of reliable service. The legionary
of Mary must also have this virility, but supernaturalised and
tempered and sweetened by contact with her who can best
teach the secret of loving, gracious service.
“Standing before the cross, the Centurion watched the Saviour die.
Struck by the cry he had uttered before rendering up his soul, he
glorified God, saying: ‘Truly this man was the Son of God.’ (Mk 15:39)
And the legionaries that were with him watching Jesus, having seen
the earthquake and the things that were done, were sore afraid,
saying: ‘Indeed this was the Son of God.’ (Mt 27:54)
The soldiers of the Roman army thus became the first converts.
The Church of the future, which must be called the Roman
Church, began in a mysterious manner around Calvary the function
which she was destined to fulfil in the world. The Romans it was who
offered up the Victim and elevated it in the sight of the multitude.
These future guardians of the unity of the Church would refuse to
tear the tunic of Jesus. These depositories of the faith would be the
first to write and to uphold the principal dogma of the new faith —
the royalty of the Nazarene. They would smite their breasts at the
moment when the sacrifice would be consummated saying: ‘Truly
this was the Son of God.’ Lastly, with the same spear which would
open up to the Gospel all the highways of the universe, they would
open the Sacred Heart of the Master, from whence flow streams of
benediction and of supernatural life. Since all humanity is guilty of