Legion of Mary
Mary's apostles, sent two by two.
The codified plan of the active Marian apostle. The word "Legion" is military-Marian: Mary is the commander, the legionary her instrument, and allegiance her keynote. What sets this rule apart is that the apostolic work itself is a required weekly commitment, not a daily aspiration — spirituality here is inseparable from systematic outreach.
The daily core is the full five-decade Rosary, non-negotiable, joined to the Catena Legionis — the Magnificat with its antiphon and prayers, prayed at midday — and the morning offering. Around it turn the weekly praesidium meeting and its allotted hours of apostolic work, and the annual Acies, the renewal of consecration to Mary as Mediatrix near the feast of the Annunciation.
For the temperamentally apostolic — those who want a rule with concrete external deliverables and not only interior ones, and who are blessed with an active praesidium nearby.
The Official Handbook of the Legion of Mary (Frank Duff)
What it proposes
- Morning Offering 06:30 · Daily · Essential
The morning offering, placing the day at the service of Mary, the legionary's commander.
- Holy Mass 07:00 · Daily · Ideal
The Eucharist when possible, the strength of the apostle sent out to labor in Mary's name.
- Catena Legionis Daily, at midday · Essential
The Legion's daily chain prayer — the Magnificat framed by its antiphon, versicles, and collect — binding every legionary to Mary at midday.
- Holy Rosary 18:00 · Daily · Essential
The full five-decade Rosary, non-negotiable — the legionary's daily weapon and the Legion's first duty.
- Praesidium meeting Weekly · Essential
The Legion's weekly cell meeting — prayer, report, allocation of work, and spiritual reading from the Handbook; a non-negotiable of the rule.
- Apostolic work Weekly, about two hours · Essential
The weekly hours of active apostolate allocated at the meeting — door-to-door visits, hospital and parish work; in the Legion the work itself is required, not optional.
- Confession 10:00 · Ideal
Frequent confession, recommended for the apostle who must carry grace to others.
- Acies (consecration renewal) Annually, near March 25 · Ideal
The annual gathering near the Annunciation where legionaries renew their consecration to Mary as Mediatrix — the Legion's central act of allegiance.
In the Ember app, adopt this tradition as your own plan of life, practice by practice, with times and reminders.