Bishop Coll: Frank Duff’s vision was for our hearts and minds to be more Christ-like

Bishop Niall Coll said during a homily for the annual Legion of Mary pilgrimage to Knock Shrine that Frank Duff envisioned baptized men and women actively participating in the mission of Christ.

Speaking at the pilgrimage, Bishop Coll noted that Duff believed renewal starts when people rediscover their identity through baptism and when faith is visible in daily life. He stated that Duff viewed baptism as a calling rather than just a ritual.

The bishop described how Duff founded the Legion of Mary in a Dublin room in 1922 to help Catholics deepen their prayer and serve those in need. Coll said Duff's primary achievement was his belief that ordinary people could allow Christ to work through them to achieve extraordinary results. He added that Duff's focus on the participation of all baptized members reflected principles similar to modern Church discussions on synodality.