Community of the Lady of All Nations
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
.It was founded in 1971 by Marie-Paule Giguère in
History
Marie-Paule Giguère was born in
Marie-Paule claimed to have heard celestial voices since the age of twelve. After visiting a small Marian shrine on the edge of Lake Etchemin in 1971, Marie-Paule is said to have received a revelation directing her to creating an Army of Mary ("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.[1] A Quebec priest, Philippe Roy, joined the movement and became its 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 Lady of All Nations. Giguère met visionary Ida Peerdeman in Amsterdam in 1973.[2]
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
In 1978 Giguère introduced herself as the (mystical) reincarnation of Mary.[2] Giguère published her spiritual writings ("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.[3]
At present,[when?] the Community of the Lady of All Nations declares itself separate from the Church and non-Catholic. It is an independent Neo-Marian, 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]
After a series of newspaper articles regarding the beliefs expressed in her writings, the new Archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal
On April 25, 2015, Giguère died in the Residence of the Lady in Lac-Etchemin.[citation needed]
Beliefs
Members of the group believe that its late founder, Marie Paule Giguère, was the
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 Quebec 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."[5]
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".[2]
Canada
In June 2001, the Catholic Bishops of Canada issued a negative doctrinal judgement stating that the group was not a "Catholic association".[6] The bishops cited "spurious new doctrines that are without foundation in Scripture or Tradition".[7] 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".[8]
On July 11, 2007, the
United States
On September 28, 2007, Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas administrator (per the July 11
A spokesman for the Army of Mary called the excommunication of the nuns and the other members of the sect an injustice.
See also
References
- ^ "What is the Army of Mary?", Arkansas Catholic, Diocese of Little Rock, October 6, 2007
- ^ a b c d Margry, Peter Jan. "Army of Mary / Community of the Lady of All Peoples", World Religions and Spirituality Project, Virginia Commonwealth University, October 28, 2013
- ^ 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
- ^ a b "Army of Mary excommunicated by the Vatican". Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ^ a b "6 Catholic Nuns Excommunicated For Heresy", CBS News/AP, 27 September 2007
- ^ a b "Army of Mary cast out". September 12, 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016 – via Canada.com.
- ^ "University of Dayton". Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ^ "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" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
- ^ Church excommunicates 'Army of Mary' Archived May 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - Army of Mary incurs excommunications". Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
External links
- Official site
- Six Arkansas nuns excommunicated for supporting heresy. Women operate Hot Springs day care Archived 2009-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, Arkansas Catholic
- Text of the declaration of excommunication—PDF
- Doctrinal Note of the Catholic Bishops of Canada concerning the Army of Mary Archived 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine