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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 55

CHAPTER 9 THE LEGIONARY AND THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST 55
ness of sin, can only be appreciated by understanding that
Christ lives in the Church and through it continues his
mission. The Church reproduces the life of Christ and all the
phases of his life.
Each member of the Church is summoned by Christ its
head to play his part in the work of the Mystical Body. ““Jesus
Christ” — we read in the Constitution Lumen Gentium —
“by communicating his spirit to his brothers and sisters,
called together from all peoples, made them mystically into
his own body. In that body the life of Christ is communicated
to those who believe... As all the members of the human
body, though they are many form one body, so also are the
Faithful in Christ. (cf 1 Cor 12:12) Also in the building up of
Christ’s body there is a diversity of members and
functions” . . . The spirit of the Lord gives a vast variety of
charisms inviting people to assume different ministries and
forms of service...” (CL 20).
To appreciate what form of service ought to characterise
legion aries in the life of the Mystical Body we look to Our
Lady. She has been described as its very heart. Her role, like
that of the heart in the human body is to send the blood of
Christ coursing through the veins and arteries of the Mystical
Body, bringing life and growth with it. It is above all a work of
love. Legionaries then, as they carry out their apostolate in
union with Mary are called to be one with her in her vital role
as the heart of the Mystical Body.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’,
nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you’.” (1
Cor 12:21) Out of this let the legionary learn the importance
of his share in the apostolate. Not only is he one body with
Christ and dependent upon Christ, but likewise Christ, who is
the Head, is in a true sense dependent on him; so that even
Christ, our Lord, must say to the legionary: “I need your help
in my work of saving and sanctifying souls.” It is to this
dependence of the head on the body that St. Paul refers when
he speaks of filling up in his own flesh what is wanting of the
sufferings of Christ. (Col 1:24) This striking expression does
not suggest that Christ’s work was in any way imperfect, but
simply emphasises the principle that each member of the
body must give what it can give towards the working out of
its own salvation and that of others. (Phil 2:12)