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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 48

48 THE LEGIONARY AND THE EUCHARIST CHAPTER 8
representing all mankind there, and at each new Mass the
offering of the Saviour is accomplished subject to the same
conditions. Mary stands at the altar no less than she stood by
the cross. She is there, as ever, co-operating with Jesus — the
Woman, foretold from the beginning, crushing the serpent’s
head. A loving attention to her ought, therefore, to form part
of every Mass rightly heard.
And also with Mary on Calvary were the representatives of
a Legion, the Centurion and his men, who took a mournful
part in the offering of the Victim, though indeed they did not
know they were crucifying the Lord of Glory. (1 Cor 2:8) And,
wonder of wonders, grace burst upon them! “Contemplate
and see,” says St. Bernard, “how piercing is the glance of faith.
Consider attentively what lynx-eyes it possesses. On Calvary
it enabled the Centurion to see life in death, and to recognise
in a dying breath the sovereign Spirit.” Looking upon their
dead and disfigured victim, the legionaries proclaimed him to
be the very Son of God. (Mt 27:54)
These fierce rude converts were the fruits, swift and
unexpected, of Mary’s prayers. They were strange children
that the mother of men first received on Calvary; yet they
must have ever made the name of legionary dear to her. So,
who can doubt that when her own legionaries — united to
her intention, part of her co-operation — come to the daily
Mass, she will gather them to her, and give to them the “lynx-
eyes” of faith and her own overflowing heart, so that they
will enter most intimately (and with surpassing profit) into
that continuation of the sublime sacrifice of Calvary.
When they see the Son of God lifted up, they will unite
them selves to him to be but a single victim, for the Mass is
their sacrifice as well as his sacrifice. Then they should receive
his adorable Body; for this partaking, with the priest, in the
flesh of the immolated Victim is essential, if the fullness of
the fruit of the Divine Sacrifice is to be gathered.
They will understand the essential part of Mary, the New
Eve, in those holy mysteries—such a part that “when her
beloved Son was consummating the redemption of mankind
on the altar of the cross, she stood at his side, suffering and
redeeming with him.” (Pope Pius XI) And when they come
away, Mary will be with her legionaries, giving them a share
and part in her administration of graces, so that on each and