The Importance of Studying the Handbook

Post date: Feb 25, 2018 11:30:26 PM

by Jamie Sawyers

Handbook Study: Page 199, chapter 33, #10: Study of the Handbook

4/9/17 Comitium Meeting at St. Joseph Church

In Romans 15:4 (New International Version), St. Paul advises us that “everything that was written in the

past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they

provide we might have hope.” The same implications can be applied to the study of the Legion of Mary Handbook.

Without instruction on the history and purpose of the organization, it would be very difficult for Legion of Mary

members to know what is expected. Thus, it is essential that Legionaries glean all of the knowledge that can be

absorbed from the Handbook.

The laws, principles, and methods of the Legion of Mary are contained in the Legio Mariae Handbook

(Legio Mariae, 2005, p.199). Members cannot be effective unless they learn this material. The laws within it are

there to inform Legionaries of the best practices in sharing the Lord with others and enhancing personal spiritual

growth. Despite these reasons for studying the Handbook, members have voiced opposition to this activity.

Reasons for avoiding diligent Handbook study include the length of time required, difficulty of ideas, and

obscure vocabulary. These concerns can easily be overcome, however, for those truly invested in performing the

work of the Legion. For example, the Handbook could be studied in the same time it takes to scroll through

Facebook, post pictures to Instagram, look at television, or read the newspaper. Challenging concepts can be

conquered the same way that hard subjects are mastered in school, through lessons, explanations, examples, and studying.

In the Legion of Mary, each local praesidium provides this tutelage through the “spiritual reading,

Allocutio, and by stimulating the legionaries in a systematic reading and study of the handbook” (Legio Mariae,

2005, p.201). Arduous vocabulary and archaic lingo can be deciphered with a dictionary or Google. Once

Legionaries triumph over these obstacles, they can become familiar with the Handbook and will quickly learn that

simply reading it is not the end game.

We are informed in James 1:22 (King James Version), that we should “be ye doers of the word, and not

hearers only.” The Book of Joshua 1:8 (New International Version), advises to “keep this Book of the Law always

on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Reading and studying the Handbook prepares us for appropriate spiritual works and gives us guidelines as to how they should be conducted. Once we have a thorough understanding of the Handbook, we can much more easily spread the Gospel, share the story of the life of Mary, and attempt to win souls to Christ.

Works Cited

Legio Mariae: The Official Handbook of the Legion of Mary (Revised ed.). (2005). Dublin, Ireland: Concilium

Legionis Mariae.