Catholic Apostolates

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary is a world-wide association of Catholics whose members are service oriented on prayer and the facilitation of the spiritual works of mercy. Guidance is provided from a priest of the parish. The primary purpose of the Legion of Mary is to lead people to Jesus Christ through the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate Mediatrix of all Grace by pro-active prayers and spiritual works.

Our Lady of Joy Praesidium meets in the Senior Center at St. Joan of Arc church every Wednesday from 3:00-4:15pm. Our goal is to meet with like-minded Catholics to pray and give glory to God. Auxiliary members attend meetings and give at least 2 hours of service a week.

Auxiliary members:

  1. Recite the 5-decade Rosary daily.
  2. Say the prayers contained in the Legion of Mary prayer card called Tessera”.

Active members:

Visitation of the homes of the people has traditionally been the preferred work of the legion; its special occupation everywhere; its avenue of greatest good; the apple of its apostolic eye. There are so many avenues of approach, that each team of Legionaires may choose a favorite.

The devotions of the Sacred Heart Enthronement and the Pilgrim Virgin Visit provides an especially favorable introduction of the Legion, and may include the blessing of the home.

The most important point of visitation is of course, that each home be contacted with loving and persevering effort directed towards each person of the household ascending a bit in spiritual life.

Again, these visitations form a most fruitful introduction, striking the right note of simple piety, facilitating acquaintance and repeated visits, bringing all the facts of Legionary work into being.

Visitation is so important because the home is spiritually the strategic point.

Visitation of the Nursing Homes is also a great favorite of the Legion. Where in the past, we were allowed to go door to door, visiting all residents of the Home, we now are limited to visiting those that have registered as Catholic and have requested visitation. It still allows us to say hello to those sharing a room or those in the hall or in the shared rooms of the Home. Often a chapel area is supplied for the occasional Mass or Communion Service, depending on the number of Catholics at the Residence.

First Saturday Devotion

The observance of the First Saturday in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is intended to make reparation to Jesus and Mary for the sins of mankind. This devotion was revealed by the Blessed Virgin to three children. Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia to whom She appeared at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. On June 13, 1917, Our Lady specifically stated in speaking to Lucia that:  “Jesus wants to make use of you to make Me known and loved”.  He wants to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.

Our Lady repeated this in the July 13th apparition when after the vision of Hell that was granted to the three children she said “You have seen Hell. Where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart, if what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. “ Our Lady asks for reparation. “There are so many souls whom the Justice of God condemns for sins committed against Me, that I have come to ask reparation.”

“O my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinner’s and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary "(Sacrifice Prayer)

The following First Saturday devotions are efficacious in honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

  1. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
  2. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
  3. Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  4. Act of Reparation
  5. The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  6. The Sacrament of Reconciliation

“I promise to help at the hour of death, with the graces needed for salvation, whoever on the First Saturday of five consecutive months shall:

  1. Confess and Receive Holy Communion
  2. Recite five decades of the Holy Rosary
  3. Keep me company for fifteen minutes while mediation on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to Me. (My Immaculate Heart.)”

The Legion of Mary, Our Lady of Joy Praesidium, sponsors a First Saturday of the Month devotion to our Blessed Mother each month after the 8:30am Mass.