Latin Legion Words – Pronunciations and Plurals

(and some English Legion words as well)

Acies (AH-chee-ace); plural is Acies (AH-chee-ace):  the great annual re-consecration of Legionaries to Mary.

Adjutorian:  an auxiliary who attends daily Mass and receives Holy Communion and who recites an approved Office at least twice a day.

Allocutio (ah-lo-COOT-see-o); plural is Allocutiones (ah-lo-coot-see-OH-nace): a talk by the Spiritual Director.

Auxiliary: a “praying member” of the Legion who recites a daily rosary and the prayers of the Tessera.

Catena (ca-TAY-na): the “Chain” of the Legion.

Comitium (co-MIT-see-um); plural is Comitia (co-MIT-see-a): a council governing two or more Curiae.

Concilium (con-CHILL-ee-um): the highest council of the Legion.

Curia (COO-ree-a); plural is Curiae (COO-ree-ay): the lowest Legion council.

Exploratio Dominicalis (ex-plo-RAHT-see-o do-mi-ni-CAHL-iss); plural is Explorationes Dominicales (ex-plo-raht-see-OH-nace do-mi-ni-CAHL-iss): a “Sunday Search for Souls” project done by a praesidium or sometimes by a few praesidia.

Incola Mariae (IN-co-la ma-REE-ay); plural Incolae Mariae (IN-co-lay ma-REE-ay): a Legion worker who moves to another town (often in a foreign country) to extend the Legion.

Maria Legionis (ma-REE-a lay-jee-OH-niss): the magazine of the Legion of Mary.  Translates to “The Legion’s Mary.”

Patricians: a Catholic discussion group run by the Legion.

Peregrinatio pro Christo (pe-re-gree-NAHT-see-o pro-CRESS-to); plural is Peregrinationes pro Christo (pe-re-gree-naht-see-OH-nace pro-CRESS-to): a Journey for Christ, usually for two weeks, usually to a distant place (often a foreign country).

Praesidium (pray-SID-ee-um); plural is praesidia (pray-SID-ee-a):  a local group (or “outpost”) of the Legion of Mary.

Praetorian: an active member of the Legion who recites the full Legion prayers and the rosary every day, attends daily Mass with Holy Communion, and who in addition, recites an approved Office at least twice a day.

Regia (RAY-jee-a); plural is Regiae (RAY-jee-ay): a higher council of the Legion, similar to a Senatus.

Senatus (se-NAH-tus); plural is Senatus (se-NAH-toose): a higher council of the Legion governing a region.

Tessera (TESS-e-ra); plural is Tesserae (TESS-e-ray): a small folder containing the Legion prayers.  It identifies anyone in the world as being a Legionary.

Vexillum (vek-SILL-um); plural is Vexilla (vek-SILL-a):  the Standard of the Legion.

NOTE:   A member of the Legion of Mary is styled a “Legionary” and not a “Legionnaire.”  Legionnaires are members of the Foreign Legion.  Legionaries are members of the Legion of Mary.