Page 37 - 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 36

36 THE DUTY OF LEGIONARIES TOWARDS MARY CHAPTER 6
full co-operation of Mary, so that even miracles are wrought
where they are needed. If one can do but little, and yet does it
with all one’s heart, Mary will come in with power and will
give that feeble movement the effect of a giant’s strength. If,
having done all that he can, the legionary is still a million
miles from success, Mary will bridge that distance to carry
their joint work to an ideal conclusion.
And even if the legionary puts into a work ten times the
intensity which is needed to perfect it, nevertheless, not a
particle of what he does is wasted. For is not all his work for
Mary and at the service of her vast design and purpose? Mary
will receive with joy that surplus effort, will multiply it
exceedingly, and with it supply grave needs of the household
of the Lord. There is nothing lost of anything which is
committed to the hands of the careful housewife of Nazareth.
But if, on the other hand, the legionary’s contribution falls
meanly short of what might reasonably be required from him,
then Mary’s hands are held from giving munificently. The
compact of common goods with Mary, so full of unique
possibilities, is set aside by legionary negligence. O what sad
loss to souls and to the legionary himself thus to be left on his
own resources!
It is useless, therefore, for the legionary to justify
insufficient effort or slovenly methods by alleging that he
relies on Mary altogether. Surely that sort of reliance, which
enabled him to shrink from reasonable endeavour on his own
part, would be a weak, ignoble thing. He seeks to transfer to
Mary’s shoulders a burden which his own are adequate to
bear. Would any common knight of chivalry serve his fair
lady so strangely!
So just as if nothing had been said on this subject, let this
root principle of the legionary alliance with Mary be stated
once again. The legionary must give to the utmost of his
capacity. Mary’s part is not that of supplying what the
legionary refuses to give. It would not be proper for her to
relieve her legionary from the effort, method, patience,
thought, which he can provide, and which is due by him to
the treasury of God.
Mary desires to give profusely, but she cannot do so except
to the generous soul. Therefore, desirous that her legionary
children will draw deeply from her immensity, she anxiously