The Legion of Mary: Prayerful Service under the Guidance of the Blessed Mother

In our Catholic faith, prayer and service go hand in hand. Having a community with whom we can pray and serve is a critical part of our faith journey. The Legion of Mary at Our Lady of Hope offers this valuable prayer opportunity to its members. The Legion of Mary is a global organization, but its heart is at the parish level. Members of the Legion of Mary place themselves under the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary as they pray together and serve the parish.

Phyllis Daily has been in the Legion of Mary for about seven years and recalls that it was a natural place for her to find fellowship.

“I’ve been blessed,” Phyllis says. “I grew up Irish Catholic with parents who had strong values and I went to a Catholic school. The Legion of Mary is a way to find comfort and people that have the same basic rules in their lives and because of that you feel more comfortable and stronger in your faith.”

The Legion of Mary dates back to 1921 when it was founded in Dublin, Ireland. There are groups, each known as a “praesidium,” all over the world. Each group takes a unique approach according to the needs of the parish. Phyllis finds this universality comforting.

“You know that if you moved out of town, you’d probably be able to find another group to join,” she says.

A unique service that our parish’s Legion of Mary praesidium offers is to attend funerals and pray a Rosary before the funeral. The members let the family know that they are praying for their loved one. Phyllis has noticed that often the family of the deceased does not practice the Catholic faith, and they might not know the movements and responses during the funeral Mass. For Phyllis, it’s important to ensure that someone is there praying for the deceased parishioner. The Legion also makes donations to have Masses said for individuals.

COVID-19 has certainly impacted the efforts undertaken by the Legion of Mary. Formal meetings have been paused, but several of the members still gather to pray the Rosary on Thursday at 9 a.m.

“To meet once a week still gives us comfort,” Phyllis says.

Even though they aren’t currently as active, the group’s mission continues in small but profound ways.

“It’s kind of neat,” Phyllis says. “We pray the Rosary right before the children’s Mass. They see us there and I hope it inspires them to think about God.”

The Legion of Mary has a long history and a timeless mission — to make saints of its members through prayer, service, and entrustment to Our Lady.

If you would like to learn more about the Legion of Mary, please contact Phyllis Daily at 812-257-0068.