SOME ASPECTS OF LEGION GOVERNMENT
"The government, local and central, of the Legion shall be carried on by its councils, whose duty in their respective spheres shall be to ensure unity, to preserve the original ideals of the Legion of Mary, to guard the integrity of the Legion spirit and rules and practice as set forth in the official handbook of the Legion, and to spread the organisation. The Legion in any area will be as good as these councils wish to make it." (Handbook: Government of the Legion)
For the benifit of councils and, in particular, of council officers, it may be useful to draw attention to some aspects of Legion government as follows :
  1. PRE-COUNCIL MEETING : Experience has shown that a monthly meeting of the officers of a council (pre-council meeting) is invaluable for the effective functioning of a council. The agenda for the pre-council meeting might include some or all of the items mentioned below :
  2. SPIRITUAL FORMATION : Promotion of Praetorian membership - is the Legion Breviary (or other) available? Retreats; Doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ and the True Devotion to Mary - through study of the Legion handbook, etc
  3. PLANNING : Frequency of reports from affiliated praesidia and councils; Visitation of praesidia and councils; Extension; Legion Functions - Acies, Annual General Reunion, Congress.
  4. EXTENSION : Knowing the strength of the Levion in the council area - in each parish and each diocese; having a map of the area; Planning systematic approach to parishes and dioceses without the Legion; Selecting legionaries for this work - for a day or a weekend, a week or a month, or longer; Planning approach to Parish Priests to seek permission; Arranging for help from other legionaries to back up the work of the Extension workers; Helping new praesidia in initial stages
    5. .
  5. ELECTIONS OF COUNCIL OFFICERS : Giving notice in advance; Consideration by council officers of possible candidates (this does not imply, of course, any pressure on officers to agree on one candidate); Correct procedures to be followed; Ratification of elections of officers of affiliated councils to be considered.
  6. VISITATION OF PRAESIDIA AND COUNCILS : Planning visitation and giving due notice; Selecting legionaries to make the visits; Considering reports on the visits and taking whatever follow-up action may be necessary.
  7. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS OF PRAESIDIA : Keeping record of terms of office; Consideration of prospective officers and consultation with Spiritual Director and President of praesidium; Interviewing prospective officers.
  8. FINANCE : Control of all financial transactions; Annual Audits in pracsidia and councils; Signatures of at least two officers on cheques desirable.
  9. LEGION LITERATURE: Availability and distribution; Promotion of the Maria Legionis; Distribution of Concilium Bulletin.
  10. SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS OF COUNCILS : Appointments by Bishops
  11. DUTIES OF OFFICERS: Specific duties officer.
  12. CONSIDERATION OF WORKS: Apostolate in Meeting urgent needs: Tackling difficult work, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: It should he remembered that it is the council (not the council officers) which is the governing and decisionmaking body.