membership is open to all baptised catholics. after visiting a praesidium a few times, one can join the legion as a probationary member for three months. then, a decision is made on whether to join the legion as an active member permanently. during the probationary period, probationary members learn about the legion system by reading the "handbook of the legion of mary" and its active works by listening to reports of active works undertaken by fellow legionaries. at the end of probationary period, members say an oath of "legion promise", a pledge of allegiance to the holy spirit and to mary, and become apermanent active members.