The Legion of Mary Acie: Our Lady's Troops Pass in Review

Today was the Legion of Mary Acie for all the praesidia in the area (the name for the individual groups). The word Acie is Latin for an army arranged in battle formation. Nothing has ever emphasized to me so much the idea of the "Church Militant" as seeing these individual groups of legionaires lined up behind their individual banners honoring the woman Fr. Norman Weslin of the Lambs for Christ has always called "our 12-star general." I belong to the praesidium of St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Woodstock, Our Lady Help of Christians. All the others have their own separate names honoring Mary under her different titles. Today we formed and passed in review for Our King Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady, our Queen and General.

If you read any history about war prior to the 20th century, you know that on the battlefield the opposing forces are greatly encouraged if they can defeat a group and "steal their colors," i.e., gain their insignia or their banners. At the Acie we march behind our banners honoring the Mother of God and making our annual promise as we put our hands on the Legion ensign (the Vexillum Legionis) and express our fealty to Our Lady saying, "I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours."

Among the several hundred participants today were many children who belong to the Junior Legion. They came forward and promised themselves to the Mother of God, first making their obeisance to Our King exposed in the monstrance on the altar. What an impressive ceremony! And how encouraging to see so many young people in the Church devoted to doing Our Lady's work!

And then we celebrated with a potluck supper.

I have been a Legion Auxiliary for several years, but this was the first time I could attend the Acie. I thank God for belonging to a group devoted to serving the Lord through His Immaculate Mother. Using that humble woman to defeat the forces of evil must be the greatest blow to Satan's pride possible. He, who would not bow to Jesus, will be crushed through the actions of a humble Virgin. He isn't worth the attention of the King Himself. How that must make Satan gnash his teeth!

Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!