Today’s handbook reading concludes the chapter of the officers of the Legion of Mary, talking about the role of the treasurer.
In all cases, we realize that each office is called to imitate Our Lady in every duty that they carry out. The president should follow Mary's role in the Holy Family as a nurturer of His members. He or She, like Mary, must be a person of action and yet, remain hidden, humble and always faithful to God, speaking as little as possible during the meeting. The vice president should follow Mary’s role in assisting the president and welfare of all the members of the presidium, just as she was always on a lookout and helped Jesus and Joseph in Nazareth, or when she helped out the bride and bridegroom at the wedding of Cana when the wine ran out, or when she ran with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. He or she should be anxious about the souls of those around him, ready to jump in any opportunity to help out. The secretary, in-charge of keeping minutes and records, parallels Mary who kept all of the things, both good and bad, both what she understood and what she did not, in her heart; and who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write and proclaim the greatest hymn of praise which we recite daily; The Magnificat.
Today, we read on the roles of the Treasurer of the Legion. From first glance, the reading may seem like just a set of instructions on what the treasurer does. In fact, the reading is the shortest amongst all the officer roles! Despite this, the Treasurer has a crucial function in the praesidium, taking charge of the financial responsibilities which include managing the funds, ensuring proper collection during meetings, and maintaining accurate records of all transactions. These tasks may seem administrative, but they are foundational to the smooth functioning of the praesidium and, by extension, the entire Legion.
The role of the Treasurer holds a deeper spiritual significance. In the words of St. Albert the Great, “Mary is the cellarer of the whole Trinity, for she pours out and gives the wine of the Holy Spirit to whomsoever she wills and to the extent that she wills.” Just as a cellarer manages the distribution of provisions in a monastery, the Treasurer ensures the proper distribution and stewardship of the presidium's resources. Moreover, St. Peter Julian Eymard reminds us that “Mary is the treasurer whose treasure is Jesus Christ. It is he himself whom she possesses, he himself whom she gives.” Mary, in her humility and obedience, perfectly managed the greatest treasure — her Son, Jesus Christ. She didn't hoard this treasure for herself but generously shared Him with the world, even offering Him up to the cross.
I mentioned just now that each officer should strive to imitate Mary’s virtues and roles. The treasurer is no exception. Mary is referred to as the Mediatrix of All Graces, as in our prayers. Popes Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Pius XI, and Pius XII have all referred our Lady as the Mediatrix of all Graces. Pope St. Pius X even refers to her as the treasurer of all graces.
As the Treasurer of all graces, Mary is not just a passive recipient but an active distributor of the gifts she receives from God. She carefully and lovingly dispenses graces to those who seek her intercession, always mindful of each person's needs and always in accordance with God's will. In a similar way, the Treasurer of the praesidium is entrusted with the responsibility of managing and distributing the praesidium’s resources, ensuring they are used effectively to further the mission of the Legion. Just as Mary exercises her role with a deep sense of responsibility, care, love and generosity, the Treasurer must also carry out their duties with these same virtues. This means being attentive to the needs of the praesidium, using funds wisely, and always acting in the best interests of the group and its mission. The Treasurer, then, becomes a channel through which the material resources of the praesidium are transformed into spiritual fruit. Just as Mary, the greatest of all stewards, gave Jesus to the world, the Treasurer helps the praesidium to responsibly use its resources to bring the love of Christ to others. This work, though it may seem behind the scenes, supports all the Legion’s apostolic efforts. Every cent collected and spent, every account carefully kept, is not just a financial task but a spiritual one — ensuring that the Legion's work can continue and flourish.
Ordinary Legionaries are not exempt from the imitation of Mary. They must look at their officers as role models who lead them to Mary, who lead us to Christ. With the whole praesidium working in union with Mary, all of us are able to bring Christ to other people.
Mary, Mediatrix and Treasurer of all Graces, pray for us!
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