Legion of Mary - Acies 2019 - Aligned in Battle Array

The Acies is the great central annual function of the Legion, according to the handbook it is to be held around the 25th of March, the feast of the Annunciation, which commemorates the Incarnation, when God became man and totally dependent on our Blessed Mother. In a sense, what God did at the Annunciation, we do at the Acies. He entrusted himself to Mary for nine months in her womb, he consecrated himself to her care. And this is primary purpose of the Acies, isn’t it. To renew our consecration to Mother Mary, to allow ourselves to be nurtured by her and to be protected by her.

The word, Acies, as I’m sure many of you know, is a Latin word. Like many of the latin terms used by the Legion of Mary, it has militaristic origins. The Acies was the term to describe the army when it was set in battle array. In contrast to praesidium, which is a small military outpost or garrison, at the Acies all the local Legion “outposts” gather as an army set in battle array under the patronage and banner of the Virgin Mary, to renew their love and devotion to her for another year. And just as the handbook says that the grace is given to perform the assignment each week at the praesidium meeting, so the grace for the legionary’s upcoming year’s battle against evil is given at his attendance at the Acies. The importance of this is emphasized in that section of the handbook which states that if any legionaries could attend the Acies but do not, they have little or none of the spirit of the Legion in them, and are no asset to the Legion! Hence we can see why the Legion considers this to be the most important event of the entire Legion year. 

The Roman Legion was a disciplined army clad in military array. Mary’s legionaries put on the armour of God and promise to do battle with the forces of evil. Mary was central to God’s plan of salvation, and Her role is ongoing in the church. So legionaries act in close union with her in a wide variety of activities: in prayer, in your acts of devotion, in your charitable works such as visiting the sick and comforting the grieving, in your evangelization efforts, spreading our wonderful Catholic faith.

Just last night, I was talking to my Aunt who told me that the night before my grandmother died, this last August, the Legion of Mary came to visit my grandmother. You prayed with her and sang "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman" with her, and truly lifted her spirits and brought her much consolation and peace in her final hours. For this I will always be grateful to you.

By your prayers, by your works of charity, by your evangelizing efforts, the Legion drives back the enemy who seeks the corruption of souls. To perhaps even regain territory that has been lost. I’ve only been pastor here at St. Ignatius of Antioch for three months, and every week, I am deeply impressed to here the reports of the good holy works accomplished by the Legionaries here. And no doubt, all of you, in your own parishes are such a force for good, that I hope you continue to let your light shine, and continue to draw new members, for this good and holy work.

In the book of Genesis, we hear how God set an enmity between the woman and the serpent, hinting at Our Lady’s role in bringing about an end of the reign of Satan in this world. And today, at this holy gathering, you have recommitted to being her instruments, her servants, her slaves, as St. Louis Marie de Montford would say, in this battle.

The section of the handbook concerning the Acies concludes with a quote from St. Alphonsus Ligouri, who writes “Mary is an object of terror to the powers of hell. She is ‘terrible as an army set in battle array’ (Song 6:10), for, like a wise Commander, she well knows how to dispose her power, her mercy, and her prayers for the confusion of the enemy and for the benefit of her servants.”

The language of armies and battle arrays and the portrayal of Mary as Army Commander might seem a little…intense, but these ideas remind us of the great spiritual war in which the Church is engaged, and the discipline needed, and the grace needed, to be effective in this war of wars. Your holiness is needed. Your holy works are needed. And your devotion to Our Lady and your obedience to her command is needed.

As Mary gave her Fiat to God at the Annunciation, as we will celebrate tomorrow, may you be blessed and full of grace as you give your fiat to God in your consecration to Mary today. Your efforts are vitally important in the Church’s mission, and I pray that through Our Lady, God will bless you all with new vigor, holy inspiration, and divine protection in your fidelity to the Mission of the Legion for the glory of God and salvation of souls.