The Army of Mary is a Catholic-based religious group, founded in Quebec, Canada, in 1971 by Marie-Paule Giguere. Giguere, in the group's publications, claims to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary.
Fast Facts:
- Official name: Community of the Lady of All Peoples
- No. of members (est.): 20,000-25,000
- Core beliefs: Belief in divine visitations by Virgin Mary; Mary spoke "through" founder Giguere
- Date founded: August 28, 1971
- Founder: Marie-Paule Giguere
- Country of origin: Canada
- Holiest Site: Shrine of Our Lady of Etchemin, Quebec, Canada
- Major Pilgrimage: Lourdes
Key Dates
- September 14, 1921: Marie-Paule Giguere born in Quebec
- 1958: Giguere receives visions from God
- August 28, 1971: Army of Mary founded at Shrine of Our Lady of Etchemin in Quebec
- March 10, 1975: Army of Mary officially recognized by Cardinal Maurice Roy, Archbishop of Quebec
- June 4, 1978: National feast day of Army of Mary first celebrated
- 2000: Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger denounces Army of Mary beliefs as "gravely erroneous"
- September, 2007: Some members of Army of Mary excommunicated after ordaining priests without permission
