The various offices which Mary fulfilled, of nourishing, tending, and loving the actual body of her Divine Son, are still her offices in regard to each member of the Mystical Body, the least brethren as well as the most honorable. So that, when "the members may have the same care for one another" (1 Cor 12:25), they do not act independently of Mary, even when, through thoughtlessness or ignorance, they fail to recognize her presence. They but join their efforts to Mary's efforts. It is already her work, and she has been exquisitely busied on it from the time of the Annunciation to this very day. Hence it is that legionaries do not really bring Mary to help them in their service of the other members of the Mystical Body. She it is who summons them to assist her. As it is her special and proper work, no one is able to take part in it save by her gracious permission. Let those who attempt to serve their neighbor, and who yet narrow down the place and privileges of Mary, give a thought to the logical consequence of the doctrine of the Mystical Body. Still more, this doctrine has its lesson for those who profess to receive the scriptures, but who at the same time ignore or decry the Mother of God. Let such persons recall that Christ loved his Mother and was subject to her (Lk 2:51), and that his example obliges the members of his Mystical Body. "Honor . . . your mother." (Ex 20:12) By divine command, they must render her a filial love. All generations are bound to bless that mother. (Lk 1:48)

As no one can even attempt the service of his neighbor other than in the company of Mary, similarly no one can discharge this duty worthily except by entering to some degree into the intentions of Mary. It follows that the more close the union with Mary, the more perfectly is fulfilled the divine precept of loving God and serving one's neighbor. (1 Jn 4:19-21)

The special function of legionaries in the Mystical Body is to guide, console, and enlighten others. That function cannot be adequately discharged without a realization of the position of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. The place and privileges of the Church, its unity, authority, growth, sufferings, miracles, triumphs, its conferring of grace and forgiveness of sin, can only be appreciated by understanding that Christ lives in the Church and through it continues his mission. The Church reproduces the life of Christ and all the phases of his life.

Each member of the Church is summoned by Christ its head to play his part in the work of the Mystical Body. "Jesus Christ" - we read in the Constitution Lumen Gentium - "by communicating his spirit to his brothers and sisters, called together from all peoples, made them mystically into his own body. In that body the life of Christ is communicated to those who believe . . . As all the members of the human body, though they are many form one body, so also are the Faithful in Christ. (cf 1 Cor 12:12) Also in the building up of Christ's body there is a diversity of members and functions" . . . The spirit of the Lord gives a vast variety of charisms inviting people to assume different ministries and forms of service . . ." (Christifideles Laici The vocation and mission of the lay faithful in the Church and in the world., Pope John Paul II, 1988).

To appreciate what form of service ought to characterize legionaries in the life of the Mystical Body we look to Our Lady. She has been described as its very heart. Her role, like that of the heart in the human body is to send the blood of Christ coursing through the veins and arteries of the Mystical Body, bringing life and growth with it. It is above all a work of love. Legionaries then, as they carry out their apostolate in union with Mary are called to be one with her in her vital role as the heart of the Mystical Body.

"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you', nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you'." (1 Cor 12:21) Out of this let the legionary learn the importance of his share in the apostolate. Not only is he one body with Christ and dependent upon Christ, but likewise Christ, who is the Head, is in a true sense dependent on him; so that even Christ, our Lord, must say to the legionary: "I need thy help in my work of saving and sanctifying souls." It is to this dependence of the head on the body that St. Paul refers when he speaks of filling up in his own flesh what is wanting of the sufferings of Christ. (Col 1:24) This striking expression does not suggest that Christ's work was in any way imperfect, but simply emphasizes the principle that each member of the body must give what it can give towards the working out of its own salvation and that of others. (Phil 2:12)

Let this teach the legionary his sublime vocation in the Mystical Body. It is to supply what is wanting to the mission of our Lord. What an inspiring thought for the legionary: that Christ stands in need of him to bring light and hope to those in darkness, consolation to those who are afflicted, life to those who are dead in sin. It goes without saying that it must be the legionary's place and duty to imitate in a quite especial manner the surpassing love and obedience which Christ the head gave his Mother, and which the Mystical Body must reproduce.

"As St. Paul assures us that he fills up the sufferings of Christ, so we may say in truth that a true Christian, who is a member of Jesus Christ and united with him by grace, continues and carries to completion, by every action performed in the spirit of Jesus Christ, the actions which Jesus Christ himself performed during the time of his peaceful life on earth. So that when a Christian prays, he continues the prayer of Jesus during his life on earth. When he works, he makes up what was wanting to the life and conversation of Jesus. We must be like so many Christs upon earth, continuing his life and his actions, doing and suffering all in the spirit of Jesus, that is to say in holy and divine dispositions." (St. John Eudes: Kingdom of Jesus)

Handbook of the Legion of Mary

"The scriptures show us one of the highest of heaven's nobility sent in visible form to announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation. Mary was asked to become the Mother of God by an angel because by her divine motherhood she would hold sovereignty, power and dominion over all angels. 'It can be said,' writes Pope Pius XII, 'that the Archangel Gabriel was the first heavenly messenger of the royal office of Mary.' (Ad Coeli Reginam). Gabriel is honored as patron of those who undertake important missions, who bear important news for God. He bore God's message to Mary. In that moment she took the place of all mankind and he was representative of all the angels. Their dialogue, which will inspire men to the end of time, made a treaty on which will arise 'new heavens and a new earth'. How wonderful, then, was he who spoke to Mary; how wrong it is to reduce his role to one of mere passive recitation. He had been fully enlightened and gave evidence of the widest possible resource. Reverent to Mary, he met fully every enquiry she made, for he was God's spokesman and trustee. From the meeting between Gabriel and Our Lady came the renewal of creation. The new Eve reversed the ruin wrought by the first Eve. The new Adam, as the Head of the Mystical Body which includes the angels, restored not only mankind but also the honors of the angels tarnished by the false angel." (Dr. Michael O'Carroll, C.S.Sp.)

Handbook of the Legion of Mary