From the Handbook…
Members are not at liberty to vary rules and practices as they choose. The system described is the Legion system. Each variation, however slight, makes others inevitable, till presently a body is in existence which indeed bears the name, but possesses little else of the Legion; and which the Legion would not hesitate to disown, even though work in itself valuable were being done.
Experience has shown that the name of an organisation has little definite meaning for some persons. For they regard it as a virtual tyranny if they are not permitted to cover with the name of a standard organisation some composition of their own minds. Sometimes “modernisers” proceed to alter almost everything in the Legion while retaining its name. Can they not see that such an illegal transferring to their own possession of the established position and membership of the Legion would be the worst sort of depredation because it is in the spiritual order.
Moreover, this ingenious picking of parts, which too-clever men often indulge in, never succeeds in capturing a quality of sweetness and inspiration which was the real power of the original, so that the usual result of this species of surgery is a corpse. But at the very best, what is created is a beautiful machine and nothing more. When poor results or failure follow, there is a heavy responsibility to be faced.
The various councils of the Legion exist chiefly for the purpose of preserving intact the Legion system. At all costs they must be true to the trusteeship committed to them.
“The system of the Legion of Mary is a most excellent one.” (Pope John XXIII) “You must accept the whole, or reject the whole; reduction does but enfeeble, and amputation mutilate. It is trifling to receive all but something which is as integral as any other portion.” (Cardinal Newman: Essay on Development)
