The Legion of Mary Exists to Evangelize
We can learn a lot about the ways of reaching the poor and the suffering in our cities, prisons, hospitals......you name it by following the example of Frank Duff. Unfortunately, though, Legion headquarters in Dublin will not allow Pro-Life work to be considered Legion of Mary work which I believe is unfortunate. I can't imagine Frank Duff being ok with this.
The Legion of Mary and the New Evangelization
MARIA LEGIONIS, JUNE 2006 Fr. Bede McGregor O.P. Spiritual Director to the Legion of Mary
Frank Duff's Suggestions as to Legion Works
MARIA LEGIONIS, JUNE 1997 excerpts from an article by Frank Duff entitled Upgrading the Legion Work which appeared in Maria Legionis, Issue No. 4/1976.
https://sites.google.com/site/faithfulcatholics/frank-duffs-suggestions-as-to-legion-works
A Witness to Bessie O'Meara by Father James Whalen - Father James Whalen was Spiritual Director of the Senatus of Ontario until his untimely death while giving a pro-life retreat
Father James Whalen Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary until his untimely death while giving a pro-life retreat
n 1937, she joined the Legion of Mary Praesidium, Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, taking part in weekly visitation to women in prison and the handicapped. She continued to visit the women when they were released from prison, helping them by bringing them to retreats. She was the heart of many a pilgrimage for the handicapped to Cap-de-la-Madeleine or St-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Her other great service to life was her apostolate to the native missions. She was a missionary par excellence, devoting hundreds of hours to gathering handmade mittens and other items to raise money for the needy. This yearly event at St. George’s would gather in legionaries and Catholic Women’s League members from all over the city and countryside. No one could refuse to help Bessie as she would not take no for an answer. This was not surprising, as she never refused to help anyone in need.
Two other passages in Scripture really spoke to me about her: "In life and death we are the Lord’s" (Rom 14:9) and "God will bring those who have died in Jesus with Him" (1Thess 4:14).
In Memoriam
Telegram from Pope John Paul 11
Catholic Church's Man of the Century by Ted Hogan, close personal friend of Frank Duff
World Pays Tribute to Frank Duff by ISABEL CONWAY
Telegram from Pope John Paul 11
Text of telegram from Pope John Paul 11 to Concilium President Enda Dunleavy
TELEGRAM
VATICAN CITY
11 NOVEMBER 1980
MR. ENDA DUNLEAVY
PRESIDENT
CONCILIUM MARIAE LEGIONIS
NORTH BRUNSWICK STREET
DUBLIN, IRELAND
THE LEGION OF MARY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD MOURNS THE DEATH OF ITS FOUNDER FRANK DUFF. I JOIN WITH THE MEMBERS IN PRAYING FOR THE ETERNAL REPOSE OF HIS SOUL. THE ASSOCIATION THAT HE FOUNDED HAS MADE COUNTLESS LAY CATHOLICS AWARE OF THEIR INDESPENSABLE ROLE IN EVANGELIZATION AND SANCTIFICATION AND HAS ENABLED THEM TO FULFILL THAT ROLE ZEALOUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY. TO ALL LEGIONARIES I IMPART THE APOSTOLIC BLESSING AND COMFORT IN THEIR LOSS AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR FUTURE TASK.
JOHN PAUL 11
World Pays Tribute to Frank Duff by ISABEL CONWAY
Frank Duff did not wait for miracles to happen. Instead, he went out and made them happen himself ... with these words, Cardinal O Fiaich summed up the work of the founder of the Legion of Mary, who was laid to rest in his 92nd year in Dublin yesterday.
The Cardinal told the Funeral Mass congregation, spilling on to the steps of St. Andrew's Church in Westland Row, Dublin, with many more gathered in the street outside, that their leader's work for the Catholic Church was perhaps the greatest single contribution in this century.
"In the Legion," he said, "everyone is a brother and sister. We are gathered around the mortal remains of the man who for almost 60 years was the great spiritual guide and philosopher of the Legion of Mary." The President, Dr. Hillery, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr. Fergus O'Brien, and the former Taoiseach, Mr. Jack Lynch, and the former Leader of Fine Gael, Mr. Liam Cosgrave, were prominent among the huge attendance. Also present were Minister for Health, Dr. Woods; Minister of State in the Taoiseach's Depart ment, Mr. Sean Moore, representing Mr. Haughey; Garda Commissioner, Mr. Patrick McLaughlin and the Army Chief of Staff, Major-General Carl O'Sullivan.
Legionaries from all over the globe, including Bangkok, Toronto, Iceland, many parts of the U.S., France and Spain, came to pay their last respects to the distinguished founder of the million member lay apostolate established in every country outside the Communist bloc.
In the congregation too were representatives of many other religious organizations, and communities, and also the Diplomatic corps, including the Austrian, American and German ambassadors.
Cardinal O Fiaich, the principal celebrant of the Solemn Requiem Mass, was flanked by Archbishops Thomas Morris, of Cashel, Joseph Cunnane, of Tuam, and Dermot Ryan of Dublin. Ten Bishops from all over Ireland were at the funeral Mass and 35 priests concelebrated with the Cardinal.
At the graveside, the final prayers were delivered by Archbishop Ryan and Rev. Tom O'Flynn, spiritual director of the Legion Concilium. Mourners included Miss Carmel Duff, a cousin, Mr. Enda Dunleavy, president of the Legion, and Mr. Sam Hughes, the vice-president.
Hundreds of friends, admirers and legionaries could not be accommodated in the packed church, so they waited patiently outside in the cold morning until Dr. Duff's ornately carved coffin was carried to the waiting wreath-bedecked hearse.
In his sermon, Cardinal 0 Fiaich spoke of Frank Duff's complete trust in God, his devotion to our Blessed Lady and his desire to reach out to every person as a brother and sister to help him or her along the road to heaven.
His belief was that men and women would do things for Christ if they were only shown the way and, aided by his outstanding quality as an organizer, the Legion of Mary had won millions for God throughout the world.
Cardinal 0 Fiaich described Mr. Duff, as "truly a man before his time in challenging complacency within the Church and calling for a new awakening by emphasizing that everyone is his brother's keeper and the Church is not merely a collection of individuals."
"He was almost a radical," the Cardinal added, "in stressing the need to involve the laity more in the work of evangelizing and giving women a prominent role in his organisation."
The Cardinal then talked of the care the Legion of Mary founder lavished on particular groups and societies, on the sick, the lonely, the foreign student, the street girl, and the down and out.
"We are here to honour a true Dubliner who had time to listen to everyone. His closest friends were to be found in the poor of Dublin. He was honoured with a Papal decoration and a doctorate from our National University. His favourite dress was a battered suit and his favourite means of conveyance was an ancient bicycle.
"His frail body had an unquestionable spirit of godliness and prayer and through the intercession of Mary, this humble, simple Dubliner was the man whose contribution was perhaps the greatest single contribution to the Catholic Church in this century," the Cardinal said.
Recalling that in 1976, Frank Duff had declined an "Irishman of the Year" award bestowed on him, Cardinal 0 Fiaich said: "The day may come when the Church will declare him Irishman of the Century. But today we pray for his eternal reward."
- The Irish Press, Friday, November 14, 1980
"A great man has died. Frank Duff's contribution to the Universal Church has been enormous. He was a pioneer of the lay apostolate movement and the Legion of Mary, which he founded, has been a powerful instrument in spreading the Gospel of love and in building up the Church in many lands."
Cardinal 0 Fiaich
from Excerpts from Catholic Church's Man of the Century on the occasion of Frank Duff's 91st Birthday
by Ted Hogan, a close personal friend of Frank Duff