Legion of Mary – Overview

The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighboring community on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries.

In Milton, Ontario, Our Lady of Fatima Praesidium unites members from both Holy Rosary Parish and St. Benedict of Nursia Parish. The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates substantial apostolic tasks to its members, who always work in pairs under the spiritual direction of our parish clergy.

The Core Aim of the Legion
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work of advancing the reign of Christ.

“He who seeks graces without Mary is attempting to fly without wings. True devotion to Mary consists in giving oneself entirely to her, in order to belong entirely to Jesus through her.”
— St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, Inspiration of the Legion Spirit

Legionary service is grounded in the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ: in every person encountered—whether sick, lonely, lapsed, or inquiring—legionaries seek to behold and serve the Person of Jesus Christ through the maternal care of Mary, His Mother.

Key Legionary Principles
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Working in Pairs: All apostolic works are carried out two-by-two in the spirit of the Gospel (Luke 10:1).
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Strict Confidentiality: Everything discussed during meetings and visits is held under inviolable privacy.
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Spiritual Ministry: The Legion avoids political or material relief tasks, focusing purely on spiritual and personal welfare.
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Ecclesiastical Obedience: Unreserved loyalty and cooperation with parish priests and the Magisterium.

“Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?”
Catena Legionis (Song of Songs 6:10)

The official prayer leaflet issued to every member of the Legion of Mary across the globe—the token of fraternity and constant union in prayer.

3. Concluding Prayer

(Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our prayers in our necessities, but ever deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

v. Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces (or Invocation appropriate to Praesidium)
R. Pray for us.
v. Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
R. Pray for us.
v. All you heavenly Powers, Mary’s Legion of Angels
R. Pray for us.
v. St. John the Baptist
R. Pray for us.
v. Saints Peter and Paul
R. Pray for us.

Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard of Mary, that fullness of faith in You and trust in her, to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a lively faith, animated by charity, which will enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of You, and ever to see You and serve You in our neighbour; a faith, firm and immovable as a rock, through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; a courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls; a faith which will be our Legion’s Pillar of Fire – to lead us forth united – to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love – to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death – to inflame those who are lukewarm – to bring back life to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace; so that – the battle of life over – our Legion may reassemble, without the loss of any one, in the kingdom of Your love and glory. Amen.

May the souls of our departed legionaries and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

(Make the Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tessera • Legio Mariae
English Official Translation with Traditional Latin Invocations

1. Opening prayer and Rosary

(Kneel)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

v. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
v. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray:
O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocations to the Mother of God
v. You, O Lord, will open my lips.
R. And my tongue shall announce Your praise.
v. Incline unto my aid, O God.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Five Decades of the Holy Rosary
Followed by the Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) and the invocation:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

v. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

2. Catena Legionis

Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

(Make the Sign of the Cross)
v. My soul glorifies the Lord.
R. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
v. He looks on His servant in her lowliness; henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
R. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy His name!
v. His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear Him.
R. He puts forth His arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted.
v. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly.
R. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty.
v. He protects Israel His servant, remembering His mercy,
R. The mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons for ever.
v. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?
v. O Mary, conceived without sin.
R. Pray for us who have recourse to you.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our mediator with the Father, Who has been pleased to appoint the Most Blessed Virgin, Your mother, to be our mother also, and our mediatrix with You, mercifully grant that whoever comes to You seeking Your favours may rejoice to receive all of them through her. Amen.

The Blessed Virgin Mary

The four Dogmas

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes four Marian dogmas—divinely revealed truths that are binding on the faithful.

Mother of God (Theotokos)

Meaning: Mary is truly the Mother of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully man in one divine person.
Definition: Proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD.

Perpetual Virginity

Meaning: Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus Christ.
Definition: Affirmed through early Christian tradition and Church councils (such as the Lateran Council in 649 AD).

Immaculate Conception

Meaning: Mary was preserved immune from the stain of original sin from the very first moment of her conception, through the anticipated merits of Jesus Christ.
Definition: Proclaimed as a dogma by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus.

Assumption of Mary

Meaning: At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken (assumed) body and soul into heavenly glory.
Definition: Proclaimed as a dogma by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

The Rosary

The Feast days and Memorials

The Apparitions

Marian Hymns

Antiphons of Mary

The Praesidium Altar & Meeting Order

Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM in St. Benedict’s Church Hall, members gather around the Altar of Mary for spiritual renewal, accountability, and apostolic mission.

The Official Legion Altar

Statue of the Immaculate Conception

The standard model of the Miraculous Medal representation, expressing Mary’s maternal mediation and crushing the serpent.

The Vexillum Legionis
The Roman military standard baptized for Christ: the Holy Spirit dove above, the oval medallion of Mary, and the globe below.

Two Lighted Candles & Fresh Flowers
Signifying living faith, purity of intention, and reverence for the Queen of the Legion during the entire meeting.

Pristine White Altar Cloth
Embroidered with the Legion motto: “Legio Mariae”, symbolizing the clean table of fraternal charity and prayer.

The Weekly Meeting Order (Every Tuesday 7:00 PM)

Step 1 • 7:00 PM

Opening Prayers & Holy Rosary

Kneeling before the Altar, members invoke the Holy Spirit, recite the Apostles’ Creed, and pray 5 decades of the Rosary for our parish intentions.

Step 2 • 7:20 PM

Spiritual Reading & Minutes

Reading from the Legion Handbook or spiritual classic, followed by confirmation of previous minutes and the Treasurer’s statement.

Step 3 • 7:35 PM

Work Reports & Catena

Each pair of active legionaries reports on their assigned apostolic visits. At midway, all stand to recite the Catena Legionis (Magnificat).

Step 4 • 8:05 PM

Allocutio & New Assignments

Spiritual Director or President gives an instructional allocutio. New works are assigned for the week, ending with Concluding Prayers and blessing.

Causes for Beatification

Legionary Witnesses to Holiness

Three heroic legionaries whose causes for canonization have been introduced in the Church.

Servant of God Frank Duff
1889 – 1980
Founder of the Legion of Mary
Founded the Legion in Dublin, Ireland on September 7, 1921. He served the poorest of the poor and attended the Second Vatican Council as an honored Lay Observer. Cause introduced in 1996.

Venerable Edel Quinn
1907 – 1944
Legion Envoy to East Africa
Despite severe tuberculosis, she traveled thousands of miles across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda establishing hundreds of praesidia with joyful, heroic charity. Declared Venerable in 1994.

Servant of God Alfie Lambe
1932 – 1959
Legion Envoy to South America
Known as “El Corderito” (The Little Lamb), Alfie planted the Legion across Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina with youthful zeal and humility before dying at age 26.

Diocese of Hamilton • Milton Deanery

Our Partner Parishes

Our Lady of Fatima Praesidium is a united ministry drawing dedicated active and auxiliary members from both Catholic parishes in Milton.

St. Benedict Parish

Meeting Host Location

300 Yates Drive, Milton, ON L9T 2W3
(289) 878-3118 • stbenedictmilton.com
Praesidium Gathering: Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall. Enter through the main doors or side parish office entrance.
Visit St. Benedict Parish Website ↗

Holy Rosary Parish

Historic Mother Parish in Milton

139 Martin Street, Milton, ON L9T 2R3
(905) 878-6535 • holyrosaryparish.ca
Community Outreach: Legion members conduct home visitations, Pilgrim Virgin statue placements, and nursing home visits throughout the Holy Rosary parish boundary.
Visit Holy Rosary Parish Website ↗

Faith in Action

Our Apostolic Ministries in Milton

Every active member is assigned a weekly spiritual work by the praesidium president, performed in pairs with love, humility, and absolute discretion.

Pilgrim Virgin Statue Visits
Accompanying the blessed statue of Our Lady of Fatima to family homes in Milton for a 1-to-2 week stay, introducing or deepening family Rosary devotion.

Homebound & Senior Visitation
Visiting the elderly, sick, and lonely in their homes, Milton retirement residences, and nursing care centers, bringing prayer, conversation, and Miraculous Medals.

Welcoming New Parishioners
Assisting our parish priests with outreach to newly registered families and baptismal follow-up, helping newcomers integrate into parish sacramental life.

Auxiliary Member Care
Keeping in regular, warm contact with our Auxiliary (praying) members, providing them with Legion news, annual reunion invitations, and spiritual encouragement.

Catholic Literature & Book Barrow
Distributing Catholic pamphlets, rosaries, Miraculous Medals, and apologetics books at parish events to gently encourage personal inquiry and Catholic faith.

First Saturday & Public Rosaries
Leading and coordinating the First Saturday Rosary of Reparation requested by Our Lady of Fatima for world peace and the conversion of hearts.