Page 47 - 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 46

46 THE LEGIONARY AND THE EUCHARIST CHAPTER 8
measure that the legionary possesses grace can he be the
channel of it to others. Hence it is that the legionary begins
his membership by a request to be filled, through Mary, with
the Holy Spirit and to be used as an instrument of his power
which is to renew the face of the earth.
The graces, which are thus asked for, flow one and all from
the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary. By means of the Mass,
the Sacrifice of the Cross is continued among men. The Mass is
not a mere symbolic representation of the past, but places really
and actually present in our midst that supreme action which
our Lord consummated on Calvary, and which redeemed the
world. The cross was not worth more than the Mass, because the
two are but one and the selfsame Sacrifice, time and space being
pushed aside by the hand of omni potence. The priest and the
victim are the same, the setting alone is different. The Mass
contains everything that Christ offered to God, and all that he
acquired for men; and the offerings of those who assist at Mass
become one with the great offering of Christ.
Therefore, to the Mass must the legionary have recourse if a
plenteous sharing in the gifts of redemption is desired for
oneself and for others. By reason of the fact that opportunities
and circum stances differ so much, the Legion does not impose
any obligation on its members in this matter. Nevertheless,
solicitous for them and their work, it urges and implores each
one of them to assist freq uent ly — every day if at all possible —
at Mass, and at that Mass to receive Holy Communion.
Legionaries perform their actions in union with Mary.
Especially does this apply to their taking part in the Eucharistic
celebration.
The Mass, as we know, is made up of two principal parts —
the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist. It is
important to bear in mind that these two parts are so closely
connected with each other that they constitute one single act of
worship. (SC 56) For this reason the faithful should participate
in the whole of the Mass where both the table of God’s Word
and the table of Christ’s Body are prepared, so that from them
the faithful may be instructed and nourished. (SC 48, 51)
“In the Sacrifice of the Mass we are not merely reminded of the
sacrifice of the cross in a symbolical form. On the contrary, the
sacrifice of Calvary, as a great supra-temporal reality, enters into the
immediate present. Space and time are abolished. The same Jesus is