“The anniversary encourages Legionaries to redouble their efforts in bringing Mary to the world and reaching out to those who have fallen away from the faith and sharing the Gospel message”
THIS year, on Sept. 7, the Legion of Mary will be 104 years old, and the next day hundreds of thousands of Marian devotees will once more celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, marked since the 5th or 6th century.
We have been particularly impressed by what Legion of Mary members, called Legionaries, have been doing for years, having seen up close our essential whole, sister Maria Rosa, engage for nearly a score in evangelization efforts as from the time we were still in San Juan City to the time we relocated to our present Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.
Full disclosure: We are a lifetime member of the Sodality of Our Lady of Montserrat, the name given to the statue of the Virgin Mary and Child venerated at the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery in Catalonia, Spain, the image officially proclaimed the patroness of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII in 1881.
When we were still in San Juan City, at the Santuario del Santo Cristo Parish, for a good three decades, we saw the Legion of Mary members engage in evangelization efforts, which included outreach to squatter areas, as among their apostolic works.
Their primary focus was on converting others to the Catholic faith and nurturing existing believers, with a major aspect of their work having to do with introducing others to the Catholic faith, which involved visiting homes within the parish, distributing religious materials, and offering spiritual guidance.
This 2025, as in years past, we note the Legionaries are excited as the Legion of Mary, founded in Dublin, Ireland by Frank Duff in 1921, approaches its 104th anniversary.
LOM is a Catholic lay apostolic organization aimed at leading the world to a greater faith in Jesus Christ through the intercession of Mary, whose birth is celebrated by Catholics worldwide on Sept. 8.
The date of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated and was established in the Eastern Church, which begins its liturgical year in September, and was later adopted by the Western Church to align with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), with Sept. 8 being nine months prior, according to theologians.
While the Bible does not provide details about Mary’s birth, early Christian writings like the Protoevangelium of James filled in the gap, leading to the development of traditions surrounding her birth.
The Protoevangelium of James offers a narrative about her parents, Joachim and Anne, and their prayers for a child, reflecting the piety of the time.
Catholics note the Church does not claim historical accuracy for the Sept. 8 date, but uses it to honor Mary’s birth and its connection to the Incarnation.
Theologians say the Eastern Church began celebrating Mary’s birth, likely in the 5th or 6th century, with a feast associated with a church near the Pools of Bethesda in Jerusalem, and Catholics possibly adopted the feast later, likely around the 7th century, with Pope Sergius I introducing it to Rome and linking it to the dedication of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Santa Maria Maggiore, also known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major or the Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, is one of the four major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
Next month’s LOM anniversary, and on the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is, Legionaries say, yet another chance to renew their commitment to the Legion’s two-fold purpose: the spiritual development of its members and the conversion of the world through Mary.
After all, the Legion’s mission is to bring Mary to the world and win it for Christ.
The anniversary encourages Legionaries to redouble their efforts in this work, which includes reaching out to those who have fallen away from the faith and sharing the Gospel message.
The Legion system emphasizes the spiritual development of its members through prayer, the sacraments, and apostolic work, with the anniversary properly an opportunity for Legionaries to reflect on their own growth and the growth of their fellow members, according to theologians.
