Cardinal Stephen Chow urged members of the Legion of Mary to move beyond rule-bound faith and respond to people “thirsting for love and dignity” as the Catholic lay movement marked its 105th anniversary.
The cardinal made the appeal during a bilingual Mass on Sept. 6 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Hong Kong, where about 1,500 legionaries gathered and hundreds more followed by livestream from the Diocese Centre, according to the Sunday Examiner.
Cardinal Chow warned against reducing Christianity to a list of obligations or treating the Legion of Mary Handbook as an end in itself.
“I encourage you to let yourselves incarnate, like that of our Lord, into the human experiences of today,” said Cardinal Chow. “How can you as a community, collectively and creatively respond to the cries of those who are thirsting for love and dignity, in Hong Kong and beyond? My sisters and brothers, you are well capable of that.”
Cardinal Chow also reflected on the day’s reading from Ezekiel, in which God calls the prophet to serve as a watchman for his people.
He said legionaries carry a similar responsibility but cautioned that watching over others should not turn into harsh judgment.
“Fraternal correction should first be carried out in private,” said Cardinal Chow. “The purpose of correction is to offer struggling brothers or sisters an opportunity for awareness and repentance, while allowing us to grow in understanding and empathy toward them.”
He said strength lies not in enforcing rules but in remaining humble and open to the Holy Spirit while protecting the spiritual well-being of the community.
Cardinal Chow also looked back on the history of the Legion of Mary, founded by Frank Duff in Dublin in 1921, noting that no movement survives 105 years without enduring difficulties from within and outside.
The anniversary gathering brought together members of the Hong Kong Regia, Comitium and Chinese- and English-speaking curiae from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.
Father Timothy Wan Kwok-kwong, spiritual director of the Hong Kong Regia, also urged members not to lose heart when their apostolic work appears to produce little visible result.
Drawing from a chapter of the Legion Handbook titled “Never Despair,” Father Wan said the movement was not ultimately about accomplishing tasks but about growing in holiness, with active service serving as a means of sanctification.
Father Cyril Cheung Lok-tin, spiritual director of Curia Regina, stressed that legionaries are called to seek self-sanctification by identifying with Mary while looking outward to everyday life and bringing the faith into a secular society.
More than 30 priests and spiritual directors from curiae across Hong Kong joined Cardinal Chow at the anniversary Mass.
The celebration also included the Rosary in Chinese and English, the Legion’s Catena Legionis, concluding prayers and the singing of the Legio Hymn.
