Suy tư: LEGIONARIES AND THE HUMILITY VIRTUE

Chapter 6 of the Handbook of Legionaries highlights the duty of Legionaries towards Mary, emphasizing not only devotion but also practical imitation. The second part of this chapter specifically urges Legionaries to imitate Mary’s humility, describing it as both the foundation and essential instrument of the Legion of Mary.

In battle, soldiers must show humility before the authority of their leaders. Military orders are absolute; commands must be followed without question. But what happens if disobedience arises within the army? If we are fortunate, it may pass without consequence. More often, however, life is not so forgiving—disobedience can result in damage and losses that affect the entire force. Casualties, defeat, and the loss of honor and prestige for both the nation and its leaders can result when soldiers fail to obey.

“Legionaries, knowing themselves to be soldiers, are stimulated to impart a soldierly seriousness to their work. But the warfare of legionaries is not of this world, and must be waged according to the tactics of Heaven.” Furthermore, the Handbook goes on the idea: “The fire which burns in true legionary hearts springs only from the ashes of lowly and unworldly qualities. In the Legion system, humility plays a unique part. In the first place, it is an essential instrument of the legionary apostolate…  Without humility there can be no effective legionary action.”

Mary is a model of humility in the face of God’s mysterious grace. At the Annunciation, this simple, innocent, and unassuming Jewish girl responded to God’s call with, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). In the Magnificat, she sang, “He has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:48-49). Furthermore, Mary humbly shared her joy with Elizabeth: “Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:39-40). As the Mother of Jesus Christ, Mary was under no obligation to visit Elizabeth or to share her joy first with her relative. What inner motivation moved Mary to act in this way, if not a profound humility springing from her heart?

Today, as members of the Legion of Mary, we continue the humble path set by Our Lady. What sets this journey apart? Chapter 6, Part II of the Handbook makes it clear: self-exaltation, self-seeking, self-sufficiency, self-conceit, self-love, self-satisfaction, self-advancement, and self-will—all these are placed under Mary’s feet. As the Handbook beautifully puts it, “The humble Virgin’s heel crushes the serpent of self, with its many heads.”

When a legionary possesses true humility and is genuinely forgetful of self, there is no obstacle to the maternal influence of Mary. Thus, when others encounter a legionary, they encounter the humility of Mary herself—and ultimately, they meet Jesus Christ, the true Leader of the Church.

Author: Little Stream

Photo: Br. Bong