Approved Works of the Legion of Mary

The Concilium Legionis Mariae has always offered it's members a list of approved works.  The following is based on those 35 suggestions.  These are just examples and are not all-inclusive.  They have been categorized and the terminology modernized.  You can see that the works are substantial and active.  Mere attendance at events, services, or prayers is active, but no matter how substantial, do not fulfill the active work requirement.  Needless to say, works must be done in pairs (or more) whenever possible.

A. Conversion/Evangelization

  • Home visitation door-to-door.
  • Crowd contact work, (Examples: Book barrow, fairs, park rosaries, flea-market booths, etc.) but must be done by two or more and be promoting religion and/or the Legion. If items are sold, it must be without profit.
  • Side walk counseling in front of abortion facilities, but NOT picketing.  Work must be done in pairs in a non aggressive manner.
  • Distribution of Catholic literature at bus depots, train stations, hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, etc.
  • PPC, exploratio dominicalis, Sunday search for souls, etc

B. Conservation/Instruction

  • Organizing and conducting instructions for children and adults; such as, RCIA, CCD, etc., as long as no pay is involved.
  • Lecturing by Legionaries for right-to-life at schools, workshops, etc.
  • Preparing people to receive the Sacraments, including marriage encounter type training
  • Setting up and/or teaching Bible studies.
  • Probation counseling for delinquent children.
  • Counseling children or adults for substance abuse.
  • Follow-up on children or adults seen in prison or juvenile facilities.

C. Consolation

  • Home visitation other than door-to-door.
  • Nursing home and hospital visits
  • Visitation of people in institutions of any kind - jails, mental wards, group homes, retirement homes, handicapped facilities, etc.
  • Communion for the sick and shut-ins (but not serving at Mass.)
  • Recruiting members for parish organizations (however work for other organizations cannot be counted as legion works.)

D. Para-liturgical Events – Religious Services

  • Conducting para-liturgical services when no priest is available.
  • Promoting Enthronement of the Sacred Heart and conducting enthronement exercises
  • Leading Rosary or wake services as funerals (if assigned by praesidium.)
  • Organizing and promoting the Pilgrim Virgin Statue.
  • Organizing Rosary Groups and teaching how to make Rosaries.
  • Organizing and leading holy hours or all-night adoration. (Again: The mere attendance at such events, no matter length of time,.does not constitute active work.)

E. Works of Service

  • Transporting those in need to church, doctors, shopping, etc. (Be sure to check is if this permitted by your parish and/or diocese.)
  • Baby sitting (without pay) so parents or care-givers or other family members (not your own family) can attend church, shopping, doctors, etc.
  • Conducting youth clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.
  • Serving dinners for funerals (if assigned, and especially if no one else is available.)
  • Preparing homes of the blind or sick for visitation by the priest.
  • Setting up and/or leading retreats, days of recollection, or evening of reflections, primarily for auxiliaries.
  • Service in soup lines (the Legion is not to provide the food.)

F. Legion Promotion – Extension and Recruiting

  • Visiting priests to urge starting a Praesidium.
  • Invitation Drives.
  • Recruiting Auxiliaries.
  • Visitation (after care) of Auxiliaries.
  • Training a new Praesidium.
  • Staffing and promoting Patricians.
  • Serving as officer for Juniors (if in a senior Praesidium.)
  • Contacting auxiliaries or shut ins by phone.  (This work should be done by those who are not able to do more active work.)

Any other works requested by the pastor that does not involve regular collection of funds or material aid. Exceptions are made for the elderly and/or handicapped.  Whatever they are capable of and find challenging may be assigned

In reading this list, it should become obvious that Legionary works must be substantial and active. Mere attendance at events, services, or prayers, no matter how substantial, does not fulfill the active work requirement. Furthermore, Legionary work must be done in pairs or groups whenever possible. By making such demands of her members, the Legion fosters the spiritual growth of both her own members and the beneficiaries of her work.

The focus of every Legion work, no matter how simple, must always be the conversion of the world. The Legion’s founder, Frank Duff, provides an ideal model in this regard — he would pray every day over a map of the whole world, asking for the conversion of every soul.