The Legion of Mary (Legio Mariae) is an association of Catholic laity who serve the Church on a voluntary basis.  It was founded in Dublin, Ireland, as a Roman Catholic Marian Movement by layman Frank Duff.  Today between active and auxilary members there are in excess of 10 million members worldwide making it the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church.

Active members at Saint James participate in:
-visiting homes to encourage the rosary
-assisting the pastor
-one hour meetings each Monday 8:30am
-two hours of assigned work

If you are interested in membership please contact the parish office: 238.0853

History:

The Legion of Mary was founded by Frank Duff on September 7, 1921 in Dublin.  His idea was to help Catholic laypeople fulfill their baptismal promises and be able to live their dedication to the Church in an organized structure, supported by fraternity and prayer.

The Legion was first only open to women, the first men apart from Duff himself joined it in 1929. The legionaries first started out by visiting hospitals, but the were soon active among the most destitute, notably among Dublin prostitutes.  Frank Duff subsequently laid down the system of the Legion in the Handbook of the Legion of Mary in 1928.

The Legion of Mary soon spread from Ireland to other countries and continents.  At first, the Legion often met with mistrust due to is dedication to lay apostolate which was unusual for the time.  Only after Pope Pius XI expressed praise for the Legion in 1931, did distrust fade.

Most prominent for spreading the Legion was the Irish legionary Edel Mary Quinn for her activities in Africa during the 1930s and 1940s.  Her dedication to the mission of the Legion even in the face of her ill health due to tuberculosis brought her great admiration in and outside of the Legion.  A beatification process is currently under way for her and for Frank Duff