Frank Duff KC*SG Papal Knight and Legionary Among the outstanding Papal Knights and Dames, Francis Michael "Frank" Duff KC*SG (7 June 1889 – 7 November 1980) is known to all. As a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Frank was greatly influenced by the spirit of the Society and gradually came to have a great love for the poor and underprivileged in whom, as in everybody he met, recognised and honoured Christ. One of the strongest convictions of his life was that without exception, all are called to be saints and through our Catholic faith we have available the means necessary to attain this. His deep spiritual faith in Mary Our Mother was the catalyst in setting up the first branch of the Legion of Mary in September 1921. Today the Legion of Mary is found in about 170 countries, and numbers more than three million members and many more auxiliary members. In his understanding of the Blessed Virgin in the plan of redemption, Mary fulfils faithfully the office which Jesus has committed to her. Subject to Him she is also most perfectly united to Him. She is fully Mother and everything connected with the children of God is placed under her influence. She has not any jurisdiction independent of His; she is totally dependent on Him. But neither is she a mere mechanism; she is a responsible co-operator with His Will. Everything comes from the Father and everything returns to the Father and Mary is at the heart of this. When someone has once found Mary, and through Mary, Jesus and God the Father, he has found all that is good … all of God’s grace and friendship, all truth against lies, all sweetness and joy in the challenges of life. It is through Mary we must approach God and unite ourselves perfectly and strictly to his Majesty, without fear of rejection. We pray that one day Francis Michael "Frank" Duff KC*SG is declared a saint by the Catholic Church and hope for the day that we too, by following his example and the example of Mary may one day be listed among the saints. In July 1996 the cause of his canonization was introduced by the Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell. Rt. Rev’d Msgr Eoin Thynne
Frank Duff: A Life Story By Finola Kennedy
Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God Frank Duff God our Father, You inspired your servant Frank Duff with a profound insight into the mystery of your Church, the Body of Christ, and of the place of Mary the Mother of Jesus in this mystery. In his immense desire to share this insight with others and in filial dependence on Mary he formed her Legion to be a sign of her maternal love for the world and a means of enlisting all her children in the Church’s evangelizing work. We thank you Father for the graces conferred on him and for the benefits accruing to the Church from his courageous and shining faith. With confidence we beg you that through his intercession you grant the petition we lay before you. We ask too that if it be in accordance with your will, the holiness of his life may be acknowledged by the Church for the glory of your Name, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. http://www.papalorders.ie
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