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To bring Christ to the world through Mary
- Vero Gutierrez
- 15 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Vero Gutiérrez
Assistant Editor
Four days before the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, members of the Legion of Mary gathered at Saint John the Evangelist Cathedral in Boise to celebrate and, above all, to renew their identity, mission, and commitment. Father Germán Osorio, the movement’s spiritual director, expressed this during his homily.
The annual meeting began with the Holy Rosary and Mass. During this opening session, Father Osorio expressed his joy at gathering as a united family under the loving care of our Blessed Mother.
He affirmed that the Legion of Mary’s mission is simple yet profound: to bring Christ to the world through Mary.
“Just as Mary did at the Visitation,” Father said, “we are sent out—not to stay comfortably where we are, but to reach those who are forgotten, isolated, or in need of hope.” The Legion is not just a group, but a movement of evangelization. We visit the sick, accompany the lonely, teach the faith, and pray with and for others.
Wherever a Legionary goes, Mary goes. And wherever Mary goes, Jesus is present.
He also insisted that the Legion of Mary’s mission is not based on numbers or recognition. Rather, it is based on faithfulness—one soul at a time, one family at a time, one act of love at a time.
After the Eucharistic celebration concluded, Father Osorio and the Legion of Mary members held a working meeting at the cathedral.
Every year, Father Osorio, the spiritual director, gives a brief talk to inspire the legionaries to continue participating actively in Our Mother’s army.
This year, he reminded them that their struggle as legionaries focuses on three fronts.
First, they must fight against the serpent, the symbol of evil. They are called to crush its head by rescuing souls from the devil’s influence.
Second, they must fight against the world, particularly secularism, which seeks to exclude God from public and private life. They must also combat the indifference and despair that lead people to feel abandoned by God.
Third, they must fight against corrupt nature—that is, the self, pride, and selfishness.
Finally, he urged them to become living images of Mary.
Teresa Ramírez, president of the Curia Madre de Cristo, said that ACIES is the most beautiful day in a legionary's life. She also noted that the Curia is blessed to have Father Germán Osorio as its spiritual director. His presence has significantly impacted the members’ fidelity and commitment to their praesidia and the Curia.
The members of the Legion of Mary pray daily: "Who is she who rises like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, resplendent as the sun, formidable as an army arrayed for battle?"
Ramírez emphasized the importance of renewal, identity, mission, and commitment among the legionaries.
She clarified that identity is not what the world says you are, but rather the identity each legionary acquires through work done for Our Most Holy Mother.
According to Ramírez's interpretation of the spiritual director’s message, the mission must be the same as that of Our Mother Mary: to fight against the devil, the world, and ourselves in order to lead our souls and the souls of those we encounter to Jesus and eternal salvation.
He emphasized that all Legionaries must remain steadfast in their commitment and never abandon the fight. No matter how many obstacles they encounter, Our Mother is always present to guide them and give them courage.
“Imagine that during this month of Acies, all the Legionaries of the world proclaim this same promise, filling Heaven with one voice saying, ‘I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have.’” In conclusion, Norma Duarte from the Our Lady of the Mystical Rose Praesidium in Nampa commented that the most important thing is the promise to renew what they have already promised to the Blessed Virgin Mary—to renew themselves in grace so they can carry out their mission of evangelizing.
“To renew ourselves is to grasp the meaning of our promises—namely, to unite ourselves with Mary in order to connect people to God.”
For Norma Duarte, it was deeply meaningful to witness Eva and Deacon Jerry Pera renewing these promises at this gathering, as they were one of the couples who originally established the Legion of Mary in this area. They serve as an example of perseverance and demonstrate how, through unity, the Legion of Mary can continue to grow, she added.
Lucy Sánchez—of the Nuestra Señora del Tepeyac, Praesidium and Vice President of the Curia—emphasized: “As Legionaries, we have gathered to renew our identity as a community, much in the same way that priests gather at the Chrism Mass to renew their priestly vows.”
Likewise, she highlighted the importance of preparing for the ACIES once again this year in order to renew their identity, mission, and commitment to wage battle against the Evil One.
Finally, he said: “As Christians, we are followers of Christ, and we profess our faith through our service to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our mission is to evangelize and make known who the Lord is through our work, and our commitment consists of acting solely for God, being His children and soldiers of Mary.”
