The Legion of Mary
The Praesidium of Our Lady Queen of Confessors, Kettering
Who Are We?
The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.
What Do We Do?
Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced programme of prayer and service. We visit the elderly, house bound, sick of the parish in home and hospital. We also visit the bereaved and welcome new parishioners to the Parish. Two of our members visit young couples who have presented their new born babies for Baptism and go through the order of procedure with them explaining the meaning and importance of Baptism. They have found the young couples very appreciative of this contact and support.
How Does It Work?
Members meet at St Edward’s Presbytery for prayer, planning and discussion. We then do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of our spiritual director.
Who Can Belong?
The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who:
• Faithfully practice their religion;
• Are animated by the desire to participate in the Church’s apostolate through membership in the Legion.
• Auxilary Membership is open to those who wish to associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name.
How Do I Start?
For more information, contact Ann Machell on 01536 512497 email: parish.stedwardkettering@northamptondiocese.org (please state the name of the person you wish to contact at the beginning of the message) or speak to any member of the Legion of Mary.
Devotions to Our Lady
The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal is a call to each of us to walk in the love of Christ and his mother Mary and to give totally of ourselves, following God’s way, not the way of the world.
History of the Medal
Between July and December 1830 Our Lady appeared three times to Sr. Catherine Laboure, a novice nun of the order of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac at their motherhouse in the Rue du Bac, Paris. On July 18th she requested that Catherine establish a Confraternity of the Children of Mary (That request would eventually be fulfilled by Catherine’s confessor in 1840).
On the 27th November, Catherine saw a vision of Our Lady standing on a half-ball (the world), crushing a serpent (Satan) with her foot. Rays shone down from her open hands and Catherine heard a voice saying “These rays of light are the symbols of the graces that the Blessed Virgin obtains for those who ask them of her”. The words “O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee” framed the figure. The picture then appeared to reverse and became a vision of the letter M (symbol of Mary) superimposed by the cross of Christ, and the Sacred Hearts of Mary (pierced by a sword) and Jesus (surrounded by a crown of thorns). Surrounding them were twelve stars representing the apostles, and through them the Church. Catherine was then instructed that she should make a medal based on this vision and that those who carried a blest medal and said the short prayer would enjoy the special protection of the Mother of God.
In December Our Lady appeared one last time to Catherine repeating the request for a medal. Sr. Catherine told her confessor, Fr. Aladel, who was initially sceptical and forbade her to consider the matter. In January 1831 Catherine finished her novitiate and moved to the Hospice of Enghien on the east side of Paris. When Fr. Aladel finally mentioned the matter to the Archbishop he was told to have some copies of the medal made. Distribution of the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, began in 1832. By 1834 large numbers of conversions and healings had been attributed to the intervention of the Blessed Virgin and the medal had become popularly known as “The Miraculous Medal”.
By the time Catherine died in 1876, millions of medals had been struck. She never told anyone other than Fr. Aladel of her vision of the Blessed Virgin, and continued her vocation and the rest of her life in anonymity. She was canonized in 1947 and her feast day is November 25th.
Novena in Honour of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.
Oh God who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (say three times)
O Lord Jesus Christ, who has vouchsafed to glorify by numberless miracles the Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculate from the first moment of her conception, grant that all who devoutly implore her protection on earth, may eternally enjoy Your presence in heaven, who, with the Father and Holy Spirit, live and reign, God, forever and ever.
Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who for the accomplishment of Your greatest works, has chosen the weak things of the world, that no flesh may glory in Your sight; and who for a better and more widely diffused belief in the Immaculate Conception of Your Mother, has wished that the Miraculous Medal be manifested to Saint Catherine Laboure, grant, we beseech You, that filled with like humility, we may glorify this mystery by word and work.
Amen.
Memorare
Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother; to you we come; before you we kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your clemency hear and answer them.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never-failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favours we ask during this Novena, if they be beneficial to our immortal souls, and the souls for whom we pray.
(State your intentions privately)
You know, O Mary, how often our souls have been the sanctuaries of your Son who hates iniquity. Obtain for us then a deep hatred of sin and that purity of heart which will attach us to God alone so that our every thought, word and deed may tend to His greater glory. Obtain for us also a spirit of prayer and self-denial that we may recover by penance what we have lost by sin and at length attain to that blessed abode where you are the Queen of angels and of men.
Amen.
An Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of your affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward you. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Saviour, keep us close to you every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever.
Amen.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. (3 times)
Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal by Pope John Paul II
You are blessed among all women! Blessed are you who have believed! The Mighty One worked marvels for you! The marvel of your divine motherhood! And in view of it, the marvel of your immaculate conception! The marvel of your “let it be done to me”!You were so continually associated to the whole work of our redemption, associated with the cross of our Saviour; your heart was pierced, at the side of his heart. And now, in the glory of your Son you unceasingly intercede for us, poor sinners. You watch over the church whose mother you are. You watch over each of your children. You obtain from God, for us, all these graces symbolized by the rays of light coming from your open hands. If only we dare to ask them from you and come to you with the confidence and simplicity of a child. And so you guide us unceasingly toward your Son Jesus.
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