Ten Reasons to Join the Legion of Mary

1. Joining the Legion of Mary can help grow hair

A true story concerns the late Father Francis Ripley of Liverpool, England.

Father wanted to start the Legion in the hospital and was recruiting members. One German patient had been in an explosion in a tank and had lost all his hair which had never grown back. Fr. Ripley asked him to join the Legion of Mary.

The solider asked Father whether the Blessed Mother would help his hair grow back if he joined and Fr. Ripley said that he would not be surprised if that happened. Three months later this German Legionary had the most beautiful head of blond hair!

The principle is that Our Lord and Our Lady are never outdone in generosity. If we sacrifice some time, effort or energy doing their work, they always give something in return.

2. The Legion of Mary is a School for Saints

Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary, once said that “the Legion makes saints and makes them by the bushel.” When we consider that an organization only 85 years old already has five lay members whose cause for canonization has been introduced, is truly amazing.

If we want to become good at something, we have to practice it every week, such as a sport, a hobby, a musical instrument. If we want to “get good” at holiness, we must practice it every week as well. And the Legion gives us that opportunity; it provides an ideal expression of the Catholic vocation. It is a unique privilege and great blessing to be counted in its membership.

3. Join the Legion of Mary and Fulfill Canon Law

Canon Law is the rulebook of the Catholic Church. Canon 225 obliges us to be apostolic: “Since all lay people are assigned to the apostolate by baptism and confirmation, they are bound by the general obligation and they have the right, whether as individuals or organizations or in associations, to strive so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all people throughout the world.”

Legion of Mary membership makes it actually easy to follow the rules and be a good Catholic, but it does more: the Legion offers a proven method and motivation for sanctity, thus fulfilling Canon 210 which states: “All Christian faithful must make an effort, in accord with their own condition, to live a holy life and to promote the growth of the Church and its sanctification.


Check out the remaining 7 at the Legion of Mary, Tidewater