Frank Duff was born in Dublin, Ireland, on June 7, 1889. He was the eldest of seven children.
In 1913 he joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and was greatly influenced by the spirit of the Society. As a member, he gradually came to have a great love for the poor and underprivileged in whom, as in everybody he met, he recognised and honoured Christ.
In 1916, aged 27, he published his first pamphlet “Can we be Saints?”. In it he expressed one of the strongest convictions of his life, namely, that all without exception are called to be saints and that through our Catholic faith we have available all the means necessary to attain this.
In 1917 he came to know the Treatise of St. Loui Marie de Montfort on the True Devotion to Mary, a work which changed his life completely.
On September 7, 1921 Frank Duff founded the Legion of Mary. This is a lay apostolic organization at the service of the Church, under ecclesiastical guidance. Its twofold purpose is the spiritual development of its members and advancing the reign of Christ through Our Lady.
The Legion, which is to be found in over 168 countries, has in excess of 3 million active members and many more auxiliary (praying) members.
In 1965 Pope Paul VI invited Frank Duff to attend the Second Vatican Council as a Lay Observer, an honour by which the Pope recognized and affirmed his enormous work for the lay apostolate.
On November 7, 1980 Frank Duff died. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland.
In July 1996 the Cause for his Beatification was introduced by the then Archbishop of Dublin, now His Eminence Desmond Cardinal Connell.
Prayer for the Beatification of the
Servant of God, Frank Duff
God our Father,
You inspired your servant Frank Duff with a profound insight into the mystery of your Church, the Body of Christ, and of the place of Mary the Mother of Jesus in this mystery.
In his immense desire to share this insight with others, and in filial dependence on Mary, he formed her Legion to be a sign of her maternal love for the world a means of enlisting all her children in the Church’s evangelizing work.
We thank you Father for the graces conferred on him and for he benefits accruing to the Church from his courageous and shining faith.
With confidence we beg you that through his intercession you grant the petition we lay before you…
We ask too that if it be in accordance with your will, the holiness of his life may be acknowledged by the Church for the glory of your Name,
through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Favours attributed to his intercession should be notified in writing to:
LEGION OF MARY, DE MONTFORT HOUSE,
MORNING STAR AVENUE, BRUNSWICK STREET,
DUBLIN 7, IRELAND
with ecclesiastical approval