"Legionary duty requires from each legionary: ... Second, the daily recitation of the Catena" (Handbook 18:7)

composed principally of the Magnificat. Mary's own prayer-, the evening hymn of the Church, "the most humble and grateful, the most sublime and exalted of all the Canticles- (St Louis-Marie de Montfort) As the name implies, this is the link between the Legion and the daily life of all its members, active and auxiliary, and the bond which unites them one to another and to their Blessed Mother. The name is suogestive, too, of the obligation of daily recitation. Let the idea of a chain, composed of links - each link vital to perfection - be to each legionary an admonition against forming a broken link in the Lcgion's chain of daily prayer. Lcgionaries whom circumstances have forced to relinquish active membership (and even those whom less weighty reasons have caused to forsake the ranks) should still keep up this beautiful practice and preserve at least this bond with the Legion unbroken during life " (Handbook 33:6) "I lay special stress on the Magnificat because it seems to me that it may be considered, in a way perhaps not commonly realised, a document of outstanding importance in its bearing on Mary's Motherhood of grace. The most holy Virgin, identified with Christ as we know her to have been from the moment of the Annunciation, proclaims herself the representative of the entire human race, intimately associated with 'all generations,' and bound up with the destinies of those who are truly her own. This canticle of hers is the song of her spiritual maternity." (Bernard, O.P.: Le Mystère de Marie)

"The Magnificat is Mary's prayer par excellence, the song of the Messianic times in which there mingles the joy of the ancient and new Israel. As Saint Irenaeus seems to suggest, it is in Mary's canticle that there was heard once more the rejoicing of Abraham (cf Jn 8:56) who foresaw the Messiah, and there rang out in prophetic anticipation the voice of the Church . . . And in fact Mary's hymn has spread far and wide and has become the prayer of the whole Church in all ages." (MCul 18) (Handbook 18:10)

The picture is a most complete, in fact an astonishing showing forth of the devotional outlook of the Legion. 3. The legionary prayers are made visible ... 4. The Catena is represented as to its name by the chainborder ... Truly befitting the antiphon is the portrayal of Mary, coming forth as the morninv rising, fair as the moon, bri;ht as the sun, terrible as an annv set in battle array. On her brow she bears a brilliant star, to mark her who is the true Morning Star, bathed from the first in the beans of redeetning grace and heralding the dawn of salvation. The Magnificat is represented by its opening verse, the everpresent thought of Mary's mind. appropriately set in letters of fire above her head. The Mignificat sings of the triumph of her humility. It is no less then than now the will of God to depend upon the humble origin of Nazareth for his conquests. By the ageney of those united with her he continues to accomplish great things for his name. The versicle and response are those of the Immaculate Conception a primary devotion of the Legion, which is expressed in the crushing of the serpent. The words set in the border: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head." (Gen 3:15) have the same reference. The picture shows this undying warfare: Mary and the serpent; her children and the serpent's offspring; the Legion and the powers of evil, which fall back scattered in defeat. The Catena prayer is that of Mary, Mcdiatrix ol All Graces, Mother of God and Mother ol all men." (Handbook 25)