About the Legion of Mary

The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation, under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary's and the Church's work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with about 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. The Legion of Mary has been active in the United States (USA) since 1931, has been approved by 7 Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.

Members of the Legion of Mary become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service in a family atmosphere. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, visitation of the sick or aged, Catholic education, visiting the newly baptized, visiting families, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the pastor. The Legion of Mary is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor.

Members meet weekly for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then members do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director.
The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who:
  • faithfully practise their religion;
  • are animated by the desire to fulfil their role in the Catholic Church's apostolate through membership of the Legion;
  • are prepared to fulfil each and every duty which active membership of the Legion involves.
The Tidewater Curia of the Legion of Mary is a Catholic, family organization composed of  Catholics who serve Jesus Christ in imitation of Mary, Our Mother.  (Tidewater Virginia USA). The Tidewater Curia of the Legion of Mary includes  Legion of Mary praesidia in the Tidewater Virginia area (including those in Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake Virginia).  The Tidewater Curia of the Legion of Mary is attached to the Arlington, Virginia Regia of the Legion of Mary, which is itself attached to Concilium Legionis Mariae (the governing body of the Legion of Mary).  Under the Queenship of Mary, members of the Legion of Mary work and pray in  obedience to Jesus Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  
Updated November 8,  2009.  Reviewed by Arlington Regia (VA, USA) - Oct 2007.  
The Tidewater Curia of the Legion of Mary covers the regions 1, 2, 3, & 4 of the Richmond Virginia Catholic Diocese, representing all Legion of Mary groups in: Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Williamsburg, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Franklin, Smithfield, Wakefield, Fort Monroe, Gloucester, Hampton, Mathews, Middlesex County, Norge, Quinton, Poquoson, West Point, and Yorktown, Virginia (USA). The Tidewater Curia is attached to the Arlington Regia (VA, USA). 
If you do not live in Tidewater, Virginia (USA), there may still be a Legion of Mary in your area.  Please contact us, and we can check for you.  Please pray for us!