June Allocutio 2025
“That they may be one”
Fr. Paul Churchill, Concilium Spiritual Director
The Holy Trinity we honour today is an undivided Unity of three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Pope Leo has been speaking of unity over the last month because that is his fundamental mission: to work for unity in the Church given Our Lord’s words, “Father, that they may be one as you and I are one.”
In his address of the many lay apostolic groups who met him in the Vatican recently, he kept to that theme of unity. Let me quote him in part. “Unity and mission are two essential aspects of the Church’s life and two priorities of the Petrine ministry … All of you constantly experience the spiritual communion that unites you. It is the communion that the Holy Spirit brings about in the Church. It is a unity that has its foundation in Christ, who draws us to himself and thus unites us with one another ... Seek to spread everywhere this unity that you yourselves experience in your groups and communities, always in communion with the Church’s Pastors Draw close to all those whom you meet, so that your charisms may ever be at the service of the unity of the Church, and be ‘a leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity’ (cf. Homily, 18 May 2025) in our world, so torn by discord and violence”.
This desire and challenge of unity is so important that it was the first task Frank Duff gave to all councils of the Legion. Let me quote the Handbook. The very first article in Chapter 28 about the governance of the Legion reads, “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 … “ It goes on to mention other duties but I am struck by that first objective: unity (See also Statutes art. 14). Very often we pass it by quickly but it is the first duty of all governing bodies. Now the fact that the Pope wants us to work with him on it then, there is no room for doubt.
There is something even more serious. I was struck by words Our Lord said this week in a Gospel passage. “If you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother …” (Matt 5:24-25). Note that word “first”! You may have gifts to offer, but first work for unity. Pope Leo spoke first about unity before mission. And the Handbook mentions unity as the first duty of all councils before anything else. Let all officers everywhere, presidents first, leaving aside for the moment any other gift they have to offer, be agents for unity by their friendly disposition to all they serve while encouraging full and honest sharing so that any potential conflict can be dealt with.
Given the fact that so many personalities make up the Legion of Mary membership, and given the divergences of space and culture across the breadth of our planet, it does require attention and effort if unity is to be kept. The history of the Church shows so many splits and separations that the risk of tensions and disunity will be there always.
One reality however that will be a great help to us all is this: Our Lady, our heavenly Mother. A mother is so often the centre of unity in the home and family. The love for her children and the love of the children for her is so effective in helping family unity. And in the Legion it will be no different. Let us all keep close to our Mother Mary and we will stay close to one another.
Children however will fight and squabble and fall out. Throughout the Handbook are a variety of admonitions and advices on how to help keep the unity of the Legion. Harmony must reign supreme. “The keynote of any Legion meeting should be to win over, not to vote down. When differences of opinion are found to exist, those who are obviously in the majority will do well to exhibit a complete patience. If needed a decision should be postponed to another meeting, and indeed again and again where necessary so as to allow a full and mature consideration. Members should be made acquainted with every angle of the question. All should be encouraged to pray for light. It is not the victory of an opinion which is at stake, but a humble quest of God’s will in the matter. Thus it will commonly be found that unanimity has come about” (article 35 Statutes; see also Handbook Ch. 28, nn22-25).
One real risk is of letting problems fester. St. Paul said, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26). Best to confront and sort out a problem from the start before it develops into a nasty sore or even an incurable disease. That is why Sts. Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem before they began their first mission journey, to sort out the problem of so many gentiles wanting to join the Church (Acts 15). So no surprise that the Handbook says bluntly, “The very essence of a legionary council is its frank and free discussion of its business and problems.” And it encourages everyone to share what he or she feels on a matter, to work towards harmony by honest sharing and then listening in humility and charity and working towards a lasting solution that brings peace to the community. Clearly each Council has its responsibilities at its level to try and work for unity. And the presidents and officers have a responsibility to encourage the members to be frank and honest so that we can deal with something as soon as we can before any grave rift develops.
I mentioned Our Lady earlier. As a mother she would not like to see conflict between her children. So I’ll end by drawing attention to Chapter 39, n.35 of the Handbook where Pope Paul VI is mentioned. “Finally in order to set in a revealing light her maternal and unifying duty towards all the members of the human family, his holiness confers on Mary the significant title ‘Mother of Unity’. “She is the mother of grace and unity so that without her souls will not find their way”.
Let us all unite with Our Lady as the Mother of Unity and work with her to help forge bonds of unity throughout the Legion.
