Story by Reagan Scott
LINCOLN (SNR) - Dedicated to seeking union with Mary and imitating her humility and faithfulness in serving Christ, the Legion of Mary serves the Lincoln Diocese with works of mercy, promotion of the rosary Sacred Heart enthronement, perpetual adoration and the Miraculous Medal.
The Legion of Mary was founded by Servant of God Frank Duff in Ireland in 1921. The organization, which now has chapters in 170 countries, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in September next year.
The Legion of Mary was established in the Lincoln Diocese in 1957 and as of this May, had 109 active members and 1,346 auxiliary members across 17 praesidia—local chapters in the diocese. (Praesidium is the Latin word used to refer to a detachment of the Roman Legion.) Sixteen praesidia are comprised of adults while the 17th is a junior legion in Plattsmouth, with 13 members under the age of 18.
Praesidia can be found in Nebraska City, Hastings, Holdrege, Lincoln, McCook, York, Utica and Plattsmouth. The Legion is in the process of establishing a new praesidium in Aurora.
Dee Gaeta, a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth, is the president of the Legion of Mary in the diocese. She is serving for a sixth year, the last year of her second term as president. She will step down in May.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Gaeta said.
Active members of the Legion meet once a week where they pray the rosary and Tessera, (the Legion prayers), and report on works done for the week. Each active member of the Legion commits to two hours of spiritual works of mercy each week.
Last year, active members of the Legion went on 3,548 nursing and retirement home visits, 464 hospital visits, 384 prison visits, gave 525 rides to Mass and conducted 115 Bible studies and RCIA classes. This is in addition to organizing religious events and completing other spiritual works of mercy.
“It’s all about spiritual works of mercy,” Gaeta said. “The goal of the legion is the glorification of God through the sanctification of its members.”
Gaeta mentioned that Duff said as lay people, “we have an apostolate too.” She said it can’t only be the priests who are conducting these spiritual works of mercy because there’s not enough of them.
“I joined because John Paul II talked about how it’s every Catholic’s job to go out and evangelize, and the Legion of Mary gives me an avenue to do that,” Gaeta said.
Auxiliary members of the Legion, while not required to attend weekly meetings or commit to two hours of spiritual works of mercy, pray the rosary and Tessera every day.
There are no fees to be a member of the Legion and any practicing Catholic able to receive the sacraments can be an active member, while any practicing Catholic, even if they aren’t able to receive the sacraments, is able to be an auxiliary member.
Gaeta said that really, members of the Legion seek to help people know and love God as they do.
She said, “Of course, we have the Blessed Mother and Holy Spirit and the graces that come from them. We can’t do it on our own, they have to do it for us.”
Anyone who is interested in joining the Legion of Mary can contact the president of their local praesidium or contact Gaeta via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find their closest chapter.
