The Handbook encourages occasional visitation (p 103), and personal contact (p 89). The Regia has determined this obligation should be met at least, repeat, at least, annually, and that the visitation should be done in some systematic way. As with other forms of visitation, it should be assigned, done in pairs, employ the master - apprentice approach. Because this is a very important duty, it seems to call for the specialized attention of some highly spiritual members of the praesidium who will pursue it in the spirit of the “elder children”. Ideally, all auxiliaries will be visited in their homes because this provides the opportunity to spend some time with them, in order to thank them for their prayer support, to provide an additional Tessera or a large print one for those in need, to explain the great benefits of membership in the Rosary Confraternity, to encourage subscription to Maria Legionis, to give them copies of the Frank Duff, Edel Quinn and Alfie Lambe prayer leaflets and explain the benefits of the prayers to and for our potential saints, to explain the concept of True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin and Total Consecration, to try to recruit for active membership and to ask them to recruit for active and auxiliary membership, to explain and encourage adjutorian membership, and finally and most importantly to determine whether they are faithfully praying the Legion prayers daily.
When should be visits be done? If the praesidium has a large number of auxiliaries, then it is a good idea to be working on this all year round. For those praesidia doing door-to-door evangelization, some will automatically be encountered during the normal course of the work. It is important for the members to know where the auxiliaries live on the street they are working so they can have the proper materials with them, and be ready for an auxiliary visit. Some praesidia concentrate their efforts during the cold weather season, when doing door-to-door is difficult. Whatever work a praesidium does, it is important to combine auxiliary visits with other work so as to be able to complete two hours of work. For example auxiliary visits with door-to-door, new parishioner visits, newly Baptized baby visits, shut-in visits or with Pilgrim Virgin visits.
Should appointments be made beforehand? As a general rule, no, making appointments is not Legion policy. The Legion does not attempt to set up appointments for the obvious reason that it would be impossible to maintain a time schedule on calls. On occasion, it is apparent that someone is in the home, but either can't hear the door bell or the knock or is leery about answering the door. In this situation it is allowed and even recommended to use a cell phone to call telling them you are with the Legion of Mary making annual visits, and are at their door.
How long should the visit be? The visit need not be lengthy. Care must be taken not to wear out the welcome. However, it would be a terrible waste if the primary reason for the visit, to determine whether they are faithfully saying the Legion prayers is not ascertained. Accomplish as much as possible in the time allowed. While it is good to be social with our legionary brother or sister, the primary purpose of the visit is spiritual. A visit lasting more than 30 minutes is probably too long, but there may be extenuating circumstances.
After a reasonable number of attempts (four or five) to visit, it may be necessary to make personal contact wherever possible on a non-assigned individual basis, preferably before or after Mass. Try to give sufficient time for a relaxed conversation. At a minimum thank them for their prayer support, offer a new Tessera, and determine whether they are faithfully saying the Legion prayers, but try to include all the steps above.
An auxiliary event of some sort is a good way of getting closer to your auxiliaries and will provide the opportunity to make personal contact and be spiritually uplifting. Each praesidium should plan an auxiliary event annually. Consideration should be given to linking the event with another Legion event such as the November Mass for deceased legionaries, or on the anniversary of the death of one of the potential Legion saints or this year with the centernary of Edel Quinn (14 September). This is a wonderful opportunity to have the Spiritual Director present a short talk on the Rosary Confraternity, True Devotion, adjutorian membership and so forth, as well as to socialize and to make that all important personal contact.. The event need not be expensive, but something tasteful should be offered.
When all else fails, as a last resort, try to contact them by telephone to arrange a visit. If telephoning fails, a letter should be written to inquire about their health, and to ask them to call to arrange a visit. If there is no response to the letter in a reasonable amount of time (90 days in case they are away for an extended period), it must be assumed they have either moved away or are no longer interested in auxiliary membership, so they should be removed from the rolls.
Is there a recommended system? There are many ways to solve this annual requirement. One way is to divide the total number of auxiliaries among all or some of the members. These members will be responsible for the annual visit, for periodic contact and for a telephonic invitation to the Acies. Those members whose primary work is with juniors, CCD, prison ministry or something that hinders their opportunity to visit auxiliaries, should receive a fewer number of auxiliaries or possibly none at all.
What to do if the auxiliary is not faithfully saying the prayers? Ask if they would like to try again. If so, put them on 90 day probation, and visit them again after 90 days. If they say they can't or are not interested, then they should be removed from the rolls.
Only assigned visitation is Legion work.
By Dennis G. Monroe
Arlington Regia President