THE JUNIOR LEGION
" ...it should be regarded as a necessary part of the system of each senior praesidium to conduct a junior praesidium." (Handbook 14:22) Senior praesidia which do not have junior praesidia attached might give serious consideration to the above words. Obviously, some praesidia experience difficulty in this matter, particularly, in regard to providing senior officers for a junior praesidiutn. Due weight should be given, however, to the value of the junior Legion to young people and every effort should be made to overcome the obstacles which lie in the way. The following words, taken from the Papal Exhortation, "Christifideles Laici", which are quoted in chapter 36:1 of the handbook, should be an incentive to senior praesidium in this regard:
"....young people are and ought to be encouraged to be active on behalf of the Church as leading characters in evangelisation and participants in the renewal of society:' (CL 46) The following are just suggestions in regard to some steps which might be taken by a senior praesidium towards setting up a junior praesidium:
  1. Consideration by the praesidium;
  2. Consultation with the senior Curia and with the junior Curia, where one exists;
  3. Consultation with the Parish Priest and school authorities;
  4. Set a date for the first meeting;
  5. The members of the praesidium pray for this intention and invite their auxiliary members to pray for it also;
  6. A small hand-out might be prepared inviting young people to consider membership;
  7. The praesidium canvasses young people in their area through visitation of homes, schools and recreation areas;
  8. In the course of home visitation, as well as speaking to the young people they meet, the legionaries inform parents of the proposal and explain to them the value of Legion membership to their children;
  9. One of the scnior members is asked to take on the Presidency of the new junior praesidium. If possible, a second senior member should be asked to become Vice President;
  10. Consideration should be given to a programme of works for the juniors.
The following points are taken from chapter 36:1 of the handbook on the subject of Junior Praesidia:
  1. Praesidia for persons under 18 years may be established with the approval of of the Curia and subject to any special conditions which may be deemed necessary;
  2. It is to be regarded as an essential condition that at least the President should be an adult and a second adult officer would be desirable. If these senior legionaries remain members of the senior praesidium, the work of officering the junior praesidium satisfies their work obligation;
  3. The purpose (in setting up a junior praesidium) is not primarily the doing of a certain amount of useful work, but the training and spiritualising of its members....;
  4. No junior who has reached 16 years should be given work which would not be accepted from seniors;
  5. A minimum of one hour's work may junior member,
  6. It would be permissible for a junior to company with a senior legionary;
  7. In suggestions for works for juniors, emphasis is placed on: teaching the Catechism, recruiting for catechism classes, visitation of children in hospital or other institutions, or in their own homes, and visitation of the infirm and the blind and the performing for them of all sorts of needed services.