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{{Short description|Sect}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Army of Mary|Legion of Mary}}
The '''Community of the Lady of All Nations''', also known as the '''Community of the Lady of All Peoples''' or the '''Army of Mary''', is a [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Marian]] [[sect]] that has been condemned as [[heresy#Catholicism|heretical]] by the [[Catholic Church]].

It was founded in 1971 by Marie-Paule Giguère in [[Quebec]] as a prayer group. It was formally approved as a Roman Catholic "[[Pious Association (Catholic canon law)|pious association]]" in 1975, but was rescinded by the [[Archbishop of Quebec]] after Giguère announced herself the [[reincarnation]] of the [[Blessed Virgin Mary]].

==History==
Marie-Paule Giguère was born in {{ill|Sainte-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin|fr|lt=Sainte-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin,|display=yes}} Quebec, Canada on 14 September 1921. In 1944, she married Georges Cliche; they divorced in 1957. Their five children were placed [[Out-of-home placements and trauma|out-of-home]].

Marie-Paule claimed to have heard celestial voices since the age of twelve. After visiting a small [[Veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church|Marian shrine]] on the edge of [[Etchemin Lake|Lake Etchemin]] in 1971, Marie-Paule is said to have received a revelation directing her to creating an Army of Mary ({{lang|la|"Armée de Marie"}}) as an alternative to the existing [[Legion of Mary]]. Founded as a prayer group in 1971, it was recognized in 1975 by the Archbishop of Quebec as a pious association.<ref>[https://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/1010/What-is-the-Army-of-Mary-What-do-they-believe "What is the Army of Mary?", ''Arkansas Catholic'', Diocese of Little Rock, October 6, 2007]</ref> A Quebec priest, Philippe Roy, joined the movement and became its [[Spiritual direction|spiritual director]], and over the next ten years the association began to expand.

In 1971 Giguère learned from French author Raoul Auclair of alleged apparitions in [[Amsterdam]] and the purported messages of the [[The Lady of All Nations|Lady of All Nations]]. Giguère met visionary Ida Peerdeman in Amsterdam in 1973.<ref name="vsu">[https://wrldrels.org/2016/10/08/army-of-mary/ Margry, Peter Jan. "Army of Mary / Community of the Lady of All Peoples", World Religions and Spirituality Project, Virginia Commonwealth University, October 28, 2013]</ref>

In 1977, due to another revelation to Marie-Paule, the "Militia of Jesus Christ" was introduced in Canada and connected to the Army of Mary. The Militia was a new [[chivalric order]] created in France in 1973 for stimulating Marian devotion and doing social work. A number of members of the "Army of Mary" joined the "Militia of Jesus Christ".

In 1978 Giguère introduced herself as the (mystical) reincarnation of Mary.<ref name=vsu/> Giguère published her spiritual writings ({{lang|la|"Vie d'amour"}}) in 1979. In 1981, the "Army of Mary" movement changed its name to the "Family and the Community of the Sons and Daughters of Mary", and in 1983 began construction at Lac-Etchemin of a world center for the Army of Mary and the Militia.<ref>See for a thorough overview of the movement: Peter Jan Margry, "Mary's Reincarnation and the Banality of Salvation: The Millennialist Cultus of the Lady of All Nations/Peoples", in: ''Numen, International Review for the History of Religions'' 59 (2012) pp. 486–508</ref>

At present,{{when|date=August 2020}} the Community of the Lady of All Nations declares itself separate from the Church and non-Catholic. It is an independent Neo-Marian, [[Ecumenism|ecumenical]] group, open to interreligious dialogue. Its liturgy integrates "The Heritage of Humanity" (excerpts from books and sacred texts of other religions and thinkers).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

After a series of newspaper articles regarding the beliefs expressed in her writings, the new Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal [[Louis-Albert Vachon]], withdrew the approval of his predecessor, and on 4 May 1987 declared the movement [[Schismatic (religion)|schismatic]] and disqualified it as a Catholic association due to its false teachings. He asked the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] to review Giguère's writings. Then-Cardinal Ratzinger (later [[Pope Benedict XVI]]) concluded that the movement was in "major and very severe error". The Army was forbidden to organize any celebration or to propagate their devotion to The Lady of All Nations.<ref name="vsu" />

On April 25, 2015, Giguère died in the Residence of the Lady in Lac-Etchemin.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

==Beliefs==
Members of the group believe their late foundress Giguère was the [[reincarnation]] of the [[Virgin Mary]].<ref name=cna/> This has caused controversy as it is contradictory to the Catholic belief there is no reincarnation, and the [[dogma]] that [[Assumption of Mary|Mary was assumed]] soul and body into heaven by God. Therefore, Mary's soul is inseparable from her body and were she to appear, it would be as herself and not as a reincarnation.

Father Eric Roy, superior-general of the Sons of Mary (an affiliate of the "Army of Mary") said Giguère did not claim to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, and that the Québécois woman "received graces" from the Virgin Mary and God. According to Roy, "The Virgin Mary took possession of her soul. I would rather say it that way."<ref name=cbs/>

==Position of the Catholic Church==
On February 27, 1987, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith declared the writings of the movement to be in "major and severe error".<ref name=vsu/>

===Canada===
In June 2001, the [[Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops]] issued a negative doctrinal judgement stating that the group was not a "Catholic association".<ref name=ca>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=3d091048-5392-483a-a8c1-0d57a9f0c4f1|title=Army of Mary cast out |date=September 12, 2007|access-date=24 December 2016|via=Canada.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090729/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=3d091048-5392-483a-a8c1-0d57a9f0c4f1|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The bishops cited "spurious new doctrines that are without foundation in Scripture or Tradition".<ref name=roten>{{cite web|url=http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/ArmyOfMary.html|title=University of Dayton|access-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003093339/http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/ArmyOfMary.html|archive-date=3 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 26 March 2007 the Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal [[Marc Ouellet]], declared that "The Army of Mary has clearly and publicly become a schismatic community and, as such, a non-Catholic association. Its particular teachings are false and its activities are not able to be frequented nor supported by Catholics".<ref name=levada>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/decl_excomm_english.pdf |title=Levada, William Cardinal. "Declaration Regarding The Movement, "The Community Of The Lady Of All Nations," And Of Its Works: "The Army Of Mary", "The Family And Communities Of The Sons And Daughters Of Mary", "Les Obalts-Patriotes", "L'Institut Marialys", Congregatio Pro Doctrina Fidei, 11 July 2007 |access-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504170442/http://www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/decl_excomm_english.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On July 11, 2007, the [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] issued a declaration of [[Excommunication in the Catholic Church|excommunication]] against the group for heretical teachings and beliefs after a six-year investigation. The declaration was announced by the [[Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops]] on September 12, 2007.<ref name=cna>{{cite web|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/10381/army-of-mary-excommunicated-by-the-vatican|title=Army of Mary excommunicated by the Vatican|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0%2C22049%2C22416507-5006506%2C00.html Church excommunicates 'Army of Mary'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528112500/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0%2C22049%2C22416507-5006506%2C00.html |date=May 28, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2519/1214/lang,eng/|title=Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - Army of Mary incurs excommunications|access-date=24 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528112504/http://www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2519/1214/lang,eng/|archive-date=28 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Archdiocese of Ottawa–Cornwall|Archbishop of Ottawa]], Terrence Prendergast, appointed mediator in 2003 by [[Pope John Paul II]], said "It’s a kind of [[cult]]. I think they are very much under the sway of the foundress."<ref name=ca/>

===United States===
On September 28, 2007, Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, [[Apostolic administration|apostolic administrator]] of the [[Diocese of Little Rock]] in the [[United States]] (per the July 11 [[Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]]) stated that six nuns in the jurisdiction were [[excommunicated]] for heresy (the first in the diocese's 165-year history). The six [[nun]]s, members of the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]], refused to [[recant]] the [[doctrines]] of the Community of the Lady of All Nations (Army of Mary); one of them, Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, 82, said they will still live on [[convent]] property, which they own.<ref name=cbs>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-catholic-nuns-excommunicated-for-heresy/ "6 Catholic Nuns Excommunicated For Heresy", ''CBS News''/AP, 27 September 2007]</ref>

A spokesman for the Army of Mary called the excommunication of the nuns and other members of the sect an injustice.

== See also ==
* [[The Lady of All Nations]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.communaute-dame.qc.ca Official site]
*[http://www.arkansascatholic.org/article.php?id=1013 Six Arkansas nuns excommunicated for supporting heresy. Women operate Hot Springs day care] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821022033/http://www.arkansascatholic.org/article.php?id=1013 |date=2009-08-21 }}, ''Arkansas Catholic''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120504170442/http://www.cccb.ca/site/images/stories/pdf/decl_excomm_english.pdf Text of the declaration of excommunication]—[[PDF]]
*[http://www.cccb.ca/site/Files/armyofmary.html Doctrinal Note of the Catholic Bishops of Canada concerning the Army of Mary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504170432/http://www.cccb.ca/site/Files/armyofmary.html |date=2012-05-04 }}

{{Beliefs condemned by the Catholic Church}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1971]]
[[Category:Christian religious orders established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:People excommunicated by the Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Independent Catholic denominations]]
[[Category:Reincarnation]]
[[Category:Mary, mother of Jesus]]
[[Category:History of Catholicism in Quebec]]
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1970s]]

Community of the Lady of All Nations - Revision history

~2026-93894-6 at 20:00, 11 February 2026