Army of Mary

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

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