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Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 57

CHAPTER 9 THE LEGIONARY AND THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST 57
his work. At the foot of the cross stands a figure, so desolate
that it seems impossible for her to continue to live. That
woman is the mother alike of the Redeemer and of the
redeemed. It was first from her veins that the blood was
drawn which now lies scattered cheaply about, but which has
ransomed the world. That Precious Blood will henceforth flow
through the Mystical Body, forcing life, so to speak, into every
crevice of it. But all the consequences of this flowing must be
understood, so that they can be applied. That precious stream
brings to the soul the likeness of Christ; but it is the Christ
complete: not merely the Christ of Bethlehem and Thabor —
the Christ of joy and glory, but as well the Christ of pain and
sacrifice — the Christ of Calvary.
Every Christian should be made to realise that he cannot
pick and choose in Christ. Mary realised this fully even in the
joyful Annunciation. She knew that she was not invited to
become only a Mother of Joys, but the Woman of Sorrows as
well. But she had always given herself utterly to God, and
now she received him completely. With full knowledge, she
welcomed that infant life with all it stood for. She was no less
willing to endure anguish with him than she was to taste bliss
with him. In that moment, those Sacred Hearts entered into a
union so close as to approach identity. Hence forth, they will
beat together in and for the Mystical Body. Thereby Mary has
become the Mediatrix of all Graces, the Spiritual Vessel which
receives and gives our Lord’s Most Precious Blood. As it was
with Mary, so shall it be with all her children. The degree of
man’s utility to God will always be the closeness of his union
with the Sacred Heart, whence he can draw deeply of the
Precious Blood to bestow it on other souls. But that union
with the heart and blood of Christ is not to be found in a
phase of his life, but in the life entire. It is as futile, as it is
unworthy, to welcome the King of Glory and to repulse the
Man of Sorrows, for the two are but the one Christ. He who
will not walk with the Man of Sorrows has no part in his
mission to souls, nor share in its sequel of glory.
It follows therefore that suffering is always a grace. When it
is not to bestow healing, it is to confer power. It is never
merely a punish ment for sin. “Understand,” says St.
Augustine, “that the affliction of mankind is no penal law, for
suffering is medicinal in its character.” And on the other hand,