Heroic Works First by Bro. Ed Miller (SF Senatus Workshop Saint Finn Barr, June 23, 2013)

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1 Heroic Works First by Bro. Ed Miller (SF Senatus Workshop Saint Finn Barr, June 23, 2013) I think each person might have a slightly different idea of what constitutes heroic work. What one might consider a piece of cake might be heroic for another. A definition I like is Any activity performed in an uncontrolled environment, where there is either a real or perceived risk, or danger to an individual. This pertains not only to physical risk, but also to potential emotional embarrassment or verbal abuse. In an uncontrolled environment you have no idea what a person might do, like one of our members in Berkeley, when he rang the doorbell, and.. a guy stuck a gun in his face! WHAT DO YOU WANT?! Oh we re from the Catholic Church. We d like to invite you to our church. He put the gun down, and everything was fine! You might be bitten by a dog, (like a Legionary on PPC ) or spit on when confronted by some pro-abortion advocates! The first time I went on Legion work, we went Door-to-door. I was scared to death!...not because of any physical danger, but because I didn t want to be perceived as some religious fanatic. Anyway I didn t think anyone would want to talk to us and I was praying that no one would be home! Fortunately, the first 3 houses we went to were home and they were very happy to talk to Catholics! They had been visited many times by Jehovah s Witnesses and probably Mormons, but never Catholics! You re Catholics!? When did Catholics start doing this? I ve been here 35 years, and have never been visited by the Catholic Church! It was then, that I realized the importance of Door-to-door! It still took me more time to really feel comfortable going D-D. And, every time I started a new type of Legion work, I had that same uneasy feeling, and dreaded starting it like the Bookbarrow at the corner of 14 th & Broadway in the heart of downtown Oakland then again, Apostolate-to-the-Crowd in a public park. Even approaching people after Mass to invite them to the Legion; I knew they were Catholics, but it s still difficult approaching strangers. What I consider really heroic work is what the original Legionaries, Frank Duff & 16 young ladies did in Dublin, Ireland. Two Legionaries were sent to visit someone, and found themselves in a house of prostitution and ran out as fast as they could! It turns out that it was an area called Bentley Place, a small area of Dublin known for its prostitution and crime, which the police were very familiar with; so much so, that they didn t go in there, because they figured they wouldn t get out alive! Page 1

2 The Legionaries went to their Legion meeting, and related their experience. Then someone said, That s exactly the place we should visit we can t just let it go on without doing something! After some discussion, every one of the Legionaries wanted to go there! But, because they were sure that they would never see them again, they chose two members who didn t have family responsibilities that would cause a hardship, if they didn t return. But instead of being killed in 2 years they converted all the prostitutes and actually had a procession down the street, with a huge cross, and nailed it on the wall at the end of the dead-end street. If you want to read the whole story, including how the Legion of Mary got started, it s in a book called MIRACLES ON TAP, by Frank Duff. Years later, when the Concilium in Dublin sent Legionaries to the U.S. on a PPC to Brooklyn, N.Y., the pastor told them they couldn t go to certain areas of the parish, because it was too dangerous. But they said, Father, if we don t go there, we ve wasted this whole trip! They convinced him to let them go. They had some interesting experiences..someone tried to sell the Legionaries some shoes he had taken off of a dead man! Another pair of Legionaries we re threatened by a person with a knife! But they persevered and completed the PPC. Some of you may remember the PPC we had in Oakland, years ago. The pastor told us we couldn t go into certain areas, because it was very dangerous. We convinced him to let us go, because we finished all of the safe areas, and still had 2 or 3 days to finish the PPC. They were surprised to see us there...especially Catholics going door-to-door! But they were very happy to see us. We also visited some of the local bars, and we all had a very good experience! Later on, when we started a praesidium in another part of East Oakland, I was with a new Legionary on door-to-door, and when we finished, it was dark and we had to cross a vacant lot to get to the car. We could see a group of men in the middle of the lot, which was a little intimidating. So, I said a little prayer and decided to go directly to them, rather than try to avoid them. We went right up to them and said, Hi, we re from the Catholic Church St. Louis Bertrand s Catholic Church on 100 th Ave. We d like to invite you to our church! Do you know anything about the Catholic Church? The leader of the group looked at us and said, I can t believe this! I thought you were going to ask us, How in the heck do we get out of here?! It turned out he was the pastor of the local protestant church, with a bunch of the teenagers from the youth club. He was very impressed & considered how members of his own church could do the same thing. Closer to home, and still going on, is our street work at Eddy & Jones, in the Tenderloin District. Years ago, (my wife Angela remembers), there were prostitutes Page 2

3 and porn shops on every corner. That s completely changed now. And Angela thinks it s because of the Legionaries going there once a month. If that change came about from a once-a-month apostolate, I wonder what it would be like if we had Legionaries down there every week. Which, I think we can do, if we train more people. Maybe start them off in the daytime, til they get used to it. It s still not a good area, but we don t usually feel threatened, in spite of drug activity still going on. There was one time when she did feel threatened because a drug dealer, or maybe a pimp, thought she was cutting in on his territory! Looking around, her Legionary partner was way down the street and not within easy talking or shouting distance. So, we need to keep that in mind when we are on Legion work. You can talk to different people, but keep within easy reach, and carry Rosaries and Miraculous Medals in plain sight and no large purses which can be grabbed by a purse-snatcher! Always carry I.D. So why do we do this kind of work, if there s a risk involved? Because Christ TOLD US to bring the Gospel to everyone! Listen to yesterday s Epistle from St. Paul: (2 Cor. 11:18-30) Five times he was scourged by the Jews, three times he was beaten with rods; once he was stoned, til they thought he was dead; Three times he was shipwrecked; in dangers from the Jews, from the Gentiles; from robbers; dangers from false brothers, and many sleepless nights and from cold and exposure; in the wilderness and at sea and the daily pressure from anxiety for all the churches (2 Cor. 11:18-30).. AND WE RE COMPLAINING??! Again, (2 Cor. 4:11) throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus sake and (Rom. 1:14) he says, For I have an obligation to all peoples, to the civilized and to the savage, to the educated and to the ignorant. So then, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also To quote from the Handbook: Till the Legion in any center can say with truth that its members know personally, and are in touch in some way with each and every individual member of the degraded classes, its work must be regarded as being still in a stage of incomplete development, and efforts in this direction must be intensified. (Ch. 37 #6, pg. 240) At the bottom of all really fruitful work must be the readiness to give oneself entirely. Without this readiness, one s service has no substance. The Legionary who somewhere set up the barrier: thus far and no farther is self-sacrifice to go, will accomplish only the trivial, though great exertions may be made. Therefore, Sour looks, or ridicule or adverse criticism, pangs from failure or the bitter cold or sordid surroundings should not deter us from completing Our Lord s command to spread the Gospel throughout the world. (Ch.4, #3 & 4, pg ) Page 3

4 But leadership may fail, through a mistaken solicitude for those led. Therefore, Spiritual Directors and all officers are exhorted to set up standards which have some slight relation to those of the Colosseum. False fears will be the first obstacle. But false or founded, someone must do this work. (Ch. 37 #6, pg. 240) If a work is necessary to souls then caution must take a second place and courage must precede it. (Ch. 37 pg. 232) Jesus answered: Will you lay down your life for me? (Jn. 13:38) If your pastor won t permit Door-to-door in your parish, maybe you can work with another praesidium in their parish; or do Apostolate-to-the-Crowd ( Crowd Contact pg. 252 #9) in a park or other public place, (e.g. near a BART station or bus stop). Thus the call of the Legion is for a service without limit or reservations For if excellence is not aimed at a persevering membership will not be achieved. (Ch.4, #5, pg ) In all Legion activities, we should give our maximum effort! Strive for an A+ don t be content with a C! Though not its initial venture, the visitation of the homes has traditionally been the preferred work of the Legion, its special occupation everywhere, its avenue of greatest good, and the apple of its apostolic eye. (Ch. 37 #2, pg. 233) Each Praesidium has to consider, Where can we do the most good, for the Church? The Legion is meant for Apostolic ACTION! Usually our limitations stem from fear feelings of awkwardness embarrassment at being seen walking the streets rather than actual physical limitations. I understand that, because that was my problem! But we have to fight to overcome those feelings. It sometimes helps to go in groups of 4 or 6 and work on opposite sides of the street, where you are within sight of each other, for emotional support. Master and Apprentice system of formation An experienced Legionary teaching the other members, by actually doing it, not just talking about it. The President has to take the initiative take the lead and assign himself or herself with another less experienced member. If you have no one who has done Door-to-door, request help from another praesidium or the Senatus. We will try to send someone to teach you. But you have to take the initiative! (Ch. 10 #7, pg. 66) At the end of this workshop, talk to someone, if you need help getting started. Those of you that know how to do Door-to-door need to make yourselves available to teach others. You will receive Graces beyond measure, that will strengthen your members and build up your praesidium. Grant us a courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation, great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls AMEN! Page 4

5 Heroic and Valid Works of the Legion of Mary (For Senior Legionaries, 18 and above) As a principle, every praesidium should be doing some work which can be called HEROIC. (HB, p. 231) Definition of Heroic Work: Any activity performed in an uncontrolled environment, where there is either a real or perceived risk, or danger to an individual. This pertains not only to physical risk, but also to potential emotional embarrassment or verbal abuse. Heroic Works (Uncontrolled Environment) Door to Door Visitation Bookbarrow Crowd Contact Prison Ministry Mental Institution or Hospital Pro Life Work Parish Census Valid Legion Works (Controlled Environment) Hospital/Rest Home Visitation Homebound or Shut-in Visitation Communion to the Sick and Elderly Teaching or Assisting in CCD or RCIA Pilgrim Virgin Apostolate Sacred Heart Enthronement Supervision of Junior Praesidia Visitation of Auxiliary Members Conducting Patrician s Meeting Conducting Faith or Bible Study Apostolate in the Parish Dissemination of Catholic Literature Supervision of Youth Groups Promoting Daily Mass Organization of Eucharistic Adoration Promoting Retreats and Parish Missions Note that the above list should not be considered as complete. The Handbook states that each place has its own special needs when it comes to determining the type of apostolic works required. Legionaries will employ any other means of achieving the objects of the Legion which local circumstances may suggest, and which may be approved by the governing authority of the Legion, conformity with ecclesiastical authority being always understood. Once again it is insisted that the outlook on possible works should be one of enterprise and courage. (HB p. 259)/ Page 5