Cardinal Sean Brady has praised the role of the Legion of Mary in Irish society. Speaking at the National Legion of Mary pilgrimage at Knock Basilica in County Mayo, Cardinal Brady said that the founder of the Legion of Mary, Servant of God Frank Duff, “was a man ahead of his time.”
He added, “'he opened the way for the Legion of Mary. He did so at a time when the role of the lay faithful still had to struggle for full recognition. Frank Duff's message has much to teach us in our present situation. His genius was to translate doctrine into action.”
“Today we are confronted by a question; it is not are you rich or poor as if one or the other would make us morally better. The question is not how much do you own but how much do you care.”
Cardinal Brady went on to say that, “like St Francis of Assisi and Padre Pio, Frank Duff cared. He cared enough to want to do his utmost to share the compassion of Jesus Christ with all especially the poor.”
Cardinal Brady also told the congregation that several Popes have written about the Legion and that Frank Duff's favourite statement was that made by Pope Paul VI. It said, “What I like most about the Legion is that it empowers the little people to become apostles.”
Cardinal Brady said, “I would say it empowers not just the little people but all people who care.”
The Legion of Mary is a catholic lay organisation that was founded in Dublin by Servant of God Frank Duff on September 7 1921.
Frank Duff died in November 1980.
SIC: CIN/IE