About the Legion of Mary

“Per Mariam ad Jesum” — Through Mary to Jesus

Our Story

A Movement Born in Prayer

The largest apostolic organisation of lay people in the Catholic Church began with fifteen women, a priest, and a man of extraordinary faith — gathered around a statue of Our Lady in a modest Dublin meeting room.

On 7 September 1921, at Myra House on Francis Street, Dublin, the Servant of God Frank Duff convened the first meeting of what would become the Legion of Mary. Alongside Father Michael Toher as spiritual director, they placed a statue of the Immaculate Conception of the Miraculous Medal type at the centre of the room — a practice that continues in every Legion meeting to this day.

The group’s first apostolate was visiting women suffering from illness in Dublin hospitals. Soon after, the Legion became active among the city’s most marginalised, including the women of the Monto district, helping them escape desperate circumstances and begin new lives. This radical spirit of mercy set the tone for everything that followed.

“The true legionary, like the true disciple of Christ, is one who is prepared to give all, do all, and suffer all for the souls of men.”

— Frank Duff, Founder

Frank Duff modelled the organisation on the ancient Roman legions — adopting their terminology and discipline but directing it entirely toward spiritual works and acts of mercy. He drew deeply from the writings of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, particularly True Devotion to Mary, which became the spiritual engine of the entire movement. Within decades, dedicated Legion envoys carried this flame to every continent on earth.

The Legion Worldwide

A Global Army of Mary

10M+ Members Active & auxiliary worldwide
170+ Countries Every continent on earth
3M+ Active Legionaries Weekly apostolic service
100+ Years of Service Founded 7 September 1921
Where We Serve

A Presence in Every Corner

  • South Korea has one of the highest concentrations of legionaries — over 162,000 members among just 4 million Catholics
  • Strong presence across the Philippines, Brazil, Argentina and the Democratic Republic of Congo, each with 250,000–500,000 members
  • Across Ireland (North & South), the Legion counts over 540 praesidia, 6,100+ legionaries and 111 curiae serving every diocese
  • Officially recognised by the Holy See as an international association of the faithful in 2014
Why Join

The Graces of Membership

  • ✝
    Live Your Baptismal Call The Legion draws you into the mission Christ entrusted to every baptised person — to sanctify, to witness, to serve.
  • ♡
    Grow Closer to Mary & Jesus Through weekly prayer, the Rosary, and Marian consecration, legionaries deepen a living relationship with Our Lady and her Son.
  • ⛺
    Receive Abundant Graces A treasury of spiritual benefits — including a share in the prayers and works of legionaries across the world.
  • ✭
    Find Purpose & Community Weekly praesidium meetings offer genuine friendship, spiritual direction, and a concrete apostolate that gives meaning to every week.
Our Mission

The Three Pillars of Service

The Legion’s primary objective is “the glory of God through the holiness of its members, developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work.”

Every legionary undertakes weekly apostolic work structured around three pillars — the “Three C’s” that define the Legion’s practical mission in the world.

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Conversion

Evangelisation through door-to-door visitation, street apostolate, distributing Catholic literature, and missionary initiatives such as Peregrinatio Pro Christo. Legionaries reach out to those who do not yet know Christ, always with charity and respect.

♥

Conservation

Strengthening the faith of Catholics through home visitation, encouraging participation in the sacraments, supporting RCIA and catechesis, and welcoming new parishioners and families of the newly baptised back into the life of the Church.

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Consolation

Visiting the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, bringing comfort to the lonely and housebound, supporting those in prison, and accompanying the grieving. Legionaries bring the tender mercy of Christ to those who suffer.

Our Standard

The Vexillum Legionis

The Vexillum Legionis — Standard of the Legion of Mary

The Standard of the Legion

A Banner of the Holy Spirit

The Vexillum Legionis is the standard of the Legion of Mary, adapted from the vexillum of the ancient Roman legions. It is present at every Legion meeting and leads processions — a visible sign that legionaries serve under Mary’s command, as soldiers of Christ in the spiritual battle for souls.

Where the Roman imperial eagle once stood as a symbol of earthly power, the Vexillum bears the Dove of the Holy Spirit — divine strength working through gentleness and love. Pope Pius XI himself called it “that beautiful standard of the Legion of Mary.”

The Dove The Holy Spirit, who descended upon Mary at the Annunciation, replacing the Roman eagle of worldly power.
Legio Mariae The cross-bar inscription identifying the Legion — “Legion of Mary” in Latin.
The Miraculous Medal An oval frame bearing the Immaculate Conception, joined to the staff by a rose and a lily.
The Globe The world to be conquered by the Holy Spirit acting through Mary and her children.
Organisation

How the Legion Works

The Legion of Mary is organised along a hierarchical structure inspired by the Roman military system. Each level has officers — President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Spiritual Director (usually a priest).

Concilium Legionis Mariae

Supreme governing body — Dublin, Ireland

Senatus

National or major regional council

Regia

Province, state, or metropolitan area

Comitium

City or part of a diocese

Curia

Deanery or group of parishes

Praesidium

The parish-level unit — where all the work begins

Active Members

Attend a weekly praesidium meeting and perform approximately two hours of apostolic work each week. They recite the daily Tessera prayers and are the backbone of the Legion’s mission.

Praetorian Members

A higher grade of active membership. In addition to active duties, they pray the Rosary daily, recite the Divine Office, and attend Holy Mass every day.

Auxiliary Members

Support the Legion through daily prayer, reciting the full Tessera each day. They are the prayer warriors whose intercession sustains every active legionary in the field.

Adjutorian Members

A higher grade of auxiliary membership, committed to daily Mass, Holy Communion, and the recitation of an approved Office of the Church.

Spiritual Life

Our Devotions & Prayers

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The Holy Rosary

The central prayer of the Legion. Every meeting includes the Rosary, and every legionary prays it daily — following St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s teaching that it is one of the Church’s greatest spiritual treasures.

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The Miraculous Medal

At the very first meeting in 1921, a statue of the Miraculous Medal type was placed at the centre. The Medal remains central to the Legion’s identity and its apostolate of distributing sacramentals.

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True Devotion to Mary

The entire spirituality of the Legion is rooted in St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s masterwork — a total consecration to Jesus through Mary. Frank Duff called it the spiritual engine of the movement.

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The Catena Legionis

The “Chain of the Legion” — prayed midway through every meeting and daily by every legionary. It includes the Magnificat and unites all legionaries across the world in prayer.

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The Tessera

The Legion’s prayer card — from the Latin for a token shared among friends. It contains the daily prayers that bond all legionaries together: invocations, the Rosary, and the Catena.

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The Legionary Promise

After a probationary period, active members make the Legionary Promise — a solemn commitment to faithful membership, entrusting their service to the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

Heroes of the Faith

Legionaries Who Changed the World

Servant of God Frank Duff
Servant of God

Frank Duff

1889 – 1980 • Founder

Born in Dublin, Frank Duff founded the Legion after years of charitable work with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. His vision of empowering the laity anticipated the Second Vatican Council by decades. His cause for canonisation was introduced in 1996.

Read Full Biography →
Venerable Edel Quinn
Venerable

Edel Quinn

1907 – 1944 • Envoy to East Africa

Despite suffering from tuberculosis, Edel Quinn spent seven heroic years establishing hundreds of Legion branches across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, and Mauritius. She died in Nairobi at just 36. Declared Venerable in 1994.

Read Full Biography →
Servant of God Alfie Lambe
Servant of God

Alfie Lambe

1932 – 1959 • Envoy to South America

Gifted with a magnetic personality and remarkable language ability, Alfie Lambe evangelised five South American nations in just six years. He died in Buenos Aires at the age of 26. His cause for beatification was introduced in 1978.

Read Full Biography →

The Official Handbook

The Official Handbook of the Legion of Mary is far more than a rule book — it is a comprehensive spiritual guide, a manual of apostolate, and a treasury of Marian theology. It draws upon Sacred Scripture, the Church Fathers, papal documents, and the writings of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort.

  • Complete spiritual formation for active and auxiliary members
  • Practical guidance for every form of apostolic work
  • The prayers, rituals, and procedures of the Legion system
  • Translated into dozens of languages worldwide
  • Regularly updated — latest edition published in 2024
Download Handbook (PDF)
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The Indispensable Companion

“Without the Handbook, it would be very difficult for members to know what is expected of them. Dedicated legionaries who study and know the Handbook develop an authentic apostolic and contemplative spirit.”

Join the Legion Today

“The true legionary is one who dares greatly for God, and who at the end has nothing left but God.”

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