My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am delighted to be here with the Legion once again, celebrating all that Mary means to us — and all that we mean to Mary. It has been a long and a difficult year, but we are sustained by the love of God and by the prayers of his saints and, in particular, by the prayers of Mary, our Mother, our Queen, and our Consolation.

At this time each year our thoughts turn to the Servant of God, Frank Duff. In founding a movement of lay people, dedicated to apostolic work and devoted to Mary, Frank Duff’s vision was relevant, is relevant, and will remain relevant. As he saw, our works of charity cannot be separated from our prayer life: the practical and the spiritual come together in the life of a Christian. This is why our charity is not grudging and not condescending: it is an extension of our love for the Lord and for his mother.

When Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the greatest message ever heard in human history, his first word was ‘Rejoice!’ We can well imagine the young girl’s wonder and fright, but the angel reassures her: ‘Rejoice, for God himself is with you!’ As Mary hears that she will give birth to the King who will reign forever, and that she will do so while remaining a virgin, joy slowly mounts up in her. In her acceptance speech we hear something of the happiness of every young woman who is told she is with child, but we hear too the sheer joy that God has come to visit his people and their salvation is near.

Last month the Holy Father wrote us all an Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, the Rosary of the Virgin Mary. The Pope always ends his teaching documents with a brief prayer to Mary. Now, he writes an entire letter, proclaiming the Year of the Rosary and encouraging all who love Our Lady to persevere in their prayers and good works.
‘With the Rosary’, the Pope writes, ‘Christian people sit at the school of Mary.’ And of course, the lesson Mary teaches us is simply Jesus, simply love of her divine Son. All of the wonderful work the Legion does takes place in the context of this ‘prayer-school’. In praying the Rosary we share ‘Mary’s memories’ and in remembering her Son we are encouraged to persevere in charity for his sake.

To enkindle enthusiasm for the Rosary the Pope offers us five new mysteries. He suggests we contemplate: Christ’s baptism and his first miracle at Cana, his proclamation of the Kingdom of God and his Transfiguration, and finally his institution of the Holy Eucharist. I know how dear Marian prayer is to the members of the Legion and I do hope that this new document from the Holy Father will help us all in those moments of prayer we share with Mary and her Son.

So I congratulate all legionaries on this anniversary day. I thank you all most sincerely for the charitable works you undertake and for the evangelical example you offer to us all. With you, I give thanks to God for the life and the vision of Frank Duff. I ask that the Lord deals mercifully with him and with all departed legionaries. Please God, the Legion will remain strong in our Archdiocese and will attract new members, so that we are ready and enthusiastic for the next ten years, and beyond that, for the centenary celebrations in 2021.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.