FRANK DUFF AND THE LEGION ESTABLISHMENT.

    What a humble begining that on the evening of September 7th 1921 with a group of Catholic women and  Fr. Michael Toher of Dublin Archdiocese, Francis Michael Duff founded the first branch of the  Legion of Mary called a praesidium.    

Servant of God Francis Michael Duff was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 7, 1889. The eldest  child of a wealthy family. He is best known for bringing attention to the role of the laity during the Second  Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church, and for founding the Legion of Mary. He attended Blackrock College and  entered the Civil Service at the age of 18 and had a distinguished career.  His free time he at first dedicated to sporting activities, but at the age of 24 he joined the Society of  St. Vincent de Paul where he was led to a deeper commitment to his Catholic faith and at the same time he acquired  a great sensitivity to the needs of the poor and underprivileged.    

He  Along with a group of Catholic women and  Fr. Michael Toher, a priest of the Dublin Archdiocese, he formed the first branch of what was to become the first  praesidium of the Legion of Mary at Myra House, Francis Street, Dublin Ireland, at 8p.m. on September 7, 1921.  From that date until his death, November 7, 1980, he guided  the world-wide extension of the Legion with heroic dedication. He attended the Second Vatican Council as a lay observer. 

In 1916, aged 27, Duff published his first pamphlet entitled "Can we be Saints?" In it he expressed the conviction that all without exception are called to be saints, and that through Christian faith all persons have available the means necessary to attain such sainthood.  In 1917 he came to know the Treatise of St. Louis de Montfort on the True Devotion to Mary, a work brought to his  attention the importance of Mary in the life of the laity. 

On September 7, 1921 Frank Duff founded the Legion of Mary which was initially knwon as "Association of Our Lady of Mercy". This is an Association of Catholics who, with the sanction of  the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces (who is fair as the moon, bright as the sun, and - to satan and his legionaries - terrible as an army set in battle array), have formed themselves into a  Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers.  Here we will explore some of those early traditions which are the roots of the present day Legion of Mary. What was it  like at that first meeting?  It was not a thought-out organisation. It sprang up spontaneously.

There was no premeditation in regard to rules and  practices. A suggestion was siply thrown out. An evening was fixed, and a little group came together, unaware that they were to be instruments of most loving Providence.  The ladies had not been doing the hospital visitation yet. Before the Legion started, Frank Duff had been working away  at a lot of personal tasks and one of those was the visitation of that hospital. He was doing that very work up to the  time when the Legion took it over and then he dropped from it.  Actually his presence at those early meetings constituted a sort of difficulty inasmuch as they were declaring on the  first night that they were not going to take in men for the present. The reason was that they were meeting on  St. Vincent de Paul premises and if they started recruiting men, they were certainly entering into a competition with them.  They were eagerly looking for men. No doubt the man who would join them would be equally willing to join the St. Vincent de  Paul Society. Well, competition with them in those circumstances was out of the question. That was going to be the limiting  condition. As long as that would be the result of bringing in men, they would not bring them in. But, most definitely laid  down was the fact that the Legion of Mary was not to be a women's organization alone. 

Since at that time, Frank was the only male member, he was there officially as a Tribune. Has that office passed from  the Legion's ranks? Not completely because it remains on in name. The name is retained with a different function.  At that time they were seeing the benefit of having an experienced man present at the branch of the Legion. They put  it down on paper at a very early stage that such was a desirable thing and that every praesidium should have in it a  man experienced in the system of the city, the social and charitable organizations, and that he should be a member with the title of Tribune.  Later on when circumstances changed and there would very possibly be men in every praesidium, that name was transferred  to different set of duties. Nowadays it means a person, either a man or a woman, who is acting as spiritual director of  a praesidium at the direction of the Spiritual Director. In other words, supposing, as it happens in many places of the  world, a priest has many praesidia under his care, he would appoint somebody who would act, as far as possible, in his  place and that office is now known as the Tribune.  What about the expression Spiritual Guide which was used by some Legion groups? This new title (Tribune) supersedes the  title “Spiritual Guide” because Spiritual Guide assumes too much. It's an arrogant sort of title if you think it out.  The office does not carry the state and standing of a priest. The Tribune is, in a peculiar sort of way, a shadow of  the original idea of the Tribune who was to be an odd man out in the praesidium but one who was really justified. It's  a shadow of the old idea. Or perhaps the old idea was the shadow of something more important that developed later. 

Frank remained on in that first praesidium for a very long time. In the first year four praesidia came into existence  and he attended the meetings of all those four for a while. For a very long time he attended the parent meeting.  Father Toher and Father Creedon were on the scene and as the praesidia began to come into existence, they more or less divided them up among themselves trying to have at least one of them present at every meeting.  When the first praesidium started outside Francis Street, Frank moved onto it in the capacity of Tribune.  He continued to repeat this idea as new praesidia came into existence, transferring over to the new one and that meant  at one stage, his dropping out of Myra House. They were always more or less all right because they had Father Creedon or  Father Toher. But Frank did continue with them for a number of years and then only parted company later.  

Frank Duff's insight into the role of the Blessed Virgin in the plan of Redemption, as also into the role of the lay faithful in the mission of the Church, are reflected in the official handbook of the Legion of Mary.  He died on the evening of November 7, 1980 aged 91 years. His Cause for Beatification was introduced by  His Eminence Desmond Cardinal Connell, the then Archbishop of Dublin, in June 1996.  The Legion of Mary operates throughout the world.
Today between active and auxiliary (praying) members there are in excess  of 10 million members worldwide.  

15 Promises of The Blessed Virgin Mary to Catholics Who Faithfully recite The Holy Rosary Daily.

Besides the Indulgences attached to the Rosary, Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who devoutly pray the Rosary.

1.         Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2.         I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3.         The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell; it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

4.         It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal Things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5.         The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish.

6.         Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of Eternal Life.

7.         Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8.         Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in Paradise.

9.         I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10.       The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory in Heaven.

11.       You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary.

12.       All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13.       I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.

14.       All who recite the Rosary are my Sons, and brothers of my Only Son Jesus Christ.

15.       Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Saint of the day: St. Giles

Despite the fact that much about St. Giles is shrouded in mystery, we can say that he was one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. Likely, he was born in the first half of the seventh century in southeastern France. That is where he built a monastery that became a popular stopping-off point for pilgrims making their way to Compostela in Spain and the Holy Land.

In England, many ancient churches and hospitals were dedicated to Giles. One of the sections of the city of Brussels is named after him. In Germany, Giles was included among the so-called 14 Holy Helpers, a popular group of saints to whom people prayed, especially for recovery from disease and for strength at the hour of death. Also among the 14 were Sts. Christopher, Barbara and Blaise. Interestingly, Giles was the only non-martyr among them. Devotion to the "Holy Helpers" was especially strong in parts of Germany and in Hungary and Sweden. Such devotion made his popularity spread. Giles was soon invoked as the patron of the poor and the disabled.

The pilgrimage center that once drew so many fell into disrepair some centuries after Giles' death.

Patron Saint of:

Beggars

Disabled

Our Lady of Guadalupe

According to tradition, on December 9^th, 1531, the virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She instructed him to tell the bishop to build a church on the site. Three days later she appeared again and told Juan Diego to take some flowers to the bishop. When he presented them, roses fell out of his cloak, and beneath them was this painted image of the Lady.

Today the cloak is displayed in the Basilica of Guadalupe nearby, one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world.
The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image, with the titles "Queen of Mexico",  "Empress of the Americas", and "Patroness of the Americas"; both Miguel Hidalgo (in the Mexican War of Independence) and Emiliano Zapata (during the Mexican Revolution) carried flags bearing the Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Guadalupe Victoria, the first Mexican president changed his name in honor of the icon.

Cassandra

Cassandra beautiful and elegant, favorite of her parents among the two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Obidiegwu of Owerri North, her mother being a native of Ankpa in Benue state had fallen in love with her father while they were serving as youth coppers 19yrs ago in Otukpo, Benue state while they served in the Local Government headquarters.
Cassandra so beautiful though only 19 was the cynosure of all eyes and full of life,
Just gained admission into Imo State University Owerri to study sociology, the truth of this story is that Cassandra today lies wasting in Imo State prison instead of Imo State University and it hurts my heart as I write this story.
This story is based on a true life story and Cassandra is still in prison as at the time of this writing but the names in this story are not the actual names of the the people in this story.
Cassandra had suitors who were asking for her hand in marriage, some were pledging to take care of her education while they were married. Yes the idea was good to her owing to the fact that her parents could not actually afford to take care of her education, and so she had to make a choice among the many suitors who came to ask for her hand in marriage because to her, faithfulness to her would be spouse means the world to her.
Andrew, dark and good looking had always charmed my lady with simplicity and kindness trying to make sure she got the best in life, he had eventually visited the parents of Cassandra and informed them of his intention of taking Cassandra to the altar to be his bride.
Preparations were put in place for the traditional marriage between Cassandra and Andrew, in the usually way for women asebi ladies were already putting together clothings for their day of dancing and merriment when the sad news came.
Andrew was shot dead last night, Andrew and Cassandra had gone out last night for dinner and on their way home they stopped a chemist shop to buy paracetamol, and when they had entered into their Mercedes Benz to go home, what happened next was like in a movie.
A dark colored SUV drive by, the driver side rear window down while someone from the inside shot three times through the passenger side of the Mercedes Benz shattering the side glasses, the SUV drove off immediately, Cassandra was safe but Andrew was hit.
Help came and Andrew was rushed to a nearby hospital, he was still alive and conscious for a day and he gave up and joined his ancestors at an early age of 38. Before Andrew died he had stated while still dying in hospital with regards to the incident exonerating Cassandra in any way for what had happened to him.
Mrs. Ngozi Andrew Azubuike came pointing accusations on Cassandra that she had killed her husband. It was then Cassandra knew that Andrew had a wife and two boys, Andrew had kept this from her for the six months they had dated during which he proposed to her.
Using the word shocked or confused I would not actually know how to describe what Cassandra felt like hearing that this man whom had been so wonderful had such a big secret he kept away from her.
Cassandra was arrested by the police and she gave statement of the event of the night before, Andrew’s widow is bitter and is bent on making Cassandra pay for the death of her husband and is laying murder accusation against this young would be university student.
Cassandra was the target of the bullet and not Andrew, his wife Ngozi sent the assassins to prevent his husband from getting married to Cassandra, and she confronted Cassandra personally that since the bullet meant for her (Cassandra) hit her husband, she would have to suffer for it.
As at the time of this writing, Cassandra has been in the prison 2years, fasting and praying that God Almighty will send angels like he did to release Paul and Silas while they were in prison.
The faith of a young woman who dreamt of being a university student but ended up in Owerri prison. Will she be able to go to school again? Maybe someone will come to her rescue, maybe justice should be quicker because I believe that the truth will eventually win when the case is over in court.
Write your comments please.

Our Lady of Zeitoun

Our Lady of Zeitoun, Also known simply as El-Zeitoun, Zeitun or rarely Our Lady of Light, was a mass Marian apparition that occurred in the Zeitoun district of Cairo, Egypt, over a period of 2–3 years beginning on April 2, 1968.


Apparition
The first apparition at Zeitoun was recorded on the evening April 2, 1968 when a Muslim bus mechanic called Farouk Mohammed Atwa, who worked across the street from the church of Saint Demiana in Zeitoun, thought that the apparition was a woman attempting suicide by jumping from the structure. Two other men also noticed a white figure on the top of the church

The sighting was reported to the police. Crowd begun to gather on the event site and the police attempted to disperse it. According to the police, the sighting was just a reflection of the light from the street lamps However, the crowds viewed the sighting as a clear apparition of Saint Mary, and so the attempts by the police to disperse the crowd were unsuccessful. The event itself ended in few minutes.

A week later on April 9 the phenomenon reoccurred for a few minutes and since then apparitions became quite frequent, sometimes repeating two-three times a week . The appearance of the lights continued up to 1971. Many healings and miracles were reported during the time of the apparitions.

The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Pope of Alexandria, Kyrillos VI appointed a committee of high-ranking priests and bishops to investigate the matter, headed by Bishop Gregorios, bishop of postgraduate studies, Coptic culture and scientific research. On May 4 Kyrillos VI issued an official statement confirming the apparitions.

They were also confirmed by the Jesuit Father Dr. Henry Habib Ayrout, and by Rev. Dr. Ibrahim Said of the Protestant Evangelical Ministries. Nuns of the Society of the Sacred Heart also witnessed the apparitions and sent a detailed report to the Vatican, resulting in the arrival of an envoy on April 28 who also saw the apparitions and sent a report to Pope Paul VI.

The apparitions were also witnessed by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and captured by newspaper photographers and television. Investigations performed by the police could find no explanation for the phenomenon. No device was found within a radius of fifteen miles capable of projecting the image, while the sheer number of photographs from independent sources suggests that no photographic manipulation was involved.

Having been unable to produce an alternative explanation for the luminous sightings, the Egyptian government accepted the apparitions as true.

CATHOLIC HYMN BOOK: Hymn 310

HELP, LORD, THE SOULS


Help, Lord, the souls that thou hast made,
the souls to thee so dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sin committed here.

These holy souls, they suffer on,
Resign’d in heart and will,
Until thy high behest is done,
And justice has its fill.

For daily falls, for pardon’d crime,
They joy to undergo
The shadow of thy Cross sublime,
The remnant of thy woe.

Oh, by their patience of delay.
Their hope amid their pain,
Their sacred Zeal to burn away,
Disfugurement and stain.

Oh, by their fire of love, not less
In keenness than the flame;
Oh, by their very helplessness;
Oh, by thy own great Name.

Good Jesus, help! Sweet Jesus, aid
The souls to thee most dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sins committed here.