Marie-Paule Giguère
Founder of a condemned Marian sect.
Marie-Paule Giguère was a Canadian woman who founded the Community of the Lady of All Nations, also known as the Army of Mary, a Marian sect later condemned as heretical by the Catholic Church. She claimed to have received revelations and, in 1978, introduced herself as the mystical reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, leading to the movement's eventual excommunication.
- Died
- 14 April 2015
Lore & Background
Marie-Paule Giguère was born in Sainte-Germaine-du-Lac-Etchemin, Quebec, Canada on 14 September 1921. She married Georges Cliche in 1944 and divorced in 1957; their five children were placed out-of-home. Giguère claimed to have heard celestial voices since age twelve. In 1971, after visiting a small Marian shrine on Lake Etchemin, she said she received a revelation to create an Army of Mary as an alternative to the Legion of Mary. The group began as a prayer group in 1971 and was recognized by the Archbishop of Quebec as a pious association in 1975.
In 1971 Giguère learned from French author Raoul Auclair of alleged apparitions in Amsterdam and the messages of the Lady of All Nations. She met visionary Ida Peerdeman in Amsterdam in 1973. In 1977, following another revelation, the Militia of Jesus Christ was introduced in Canada and connected to the Army of Mary. In 1978 Giguère introduced herself as the mystical reincarnation of Mary. She published her spiritual writings, 'Vie d'amour', in 1979. The movement changed its name in 1981 to the Family and the Community of the Sons and Daughters of Mary, and began construction of a world center at Lac-Etchemin in 1983.
Reader's Guide
Marie-Paule Giguère's significance lies in her founding of a movement that the Catholic Church deemed heretical and schismatic. Her claim to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary directly contradicted Catholic dogma, which holds that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven and cannot be reincarnated. The movement, initially approved as a pious association, had its approval rescinded in 1987 after Giguère's writings were reviewed by Cardinal Ratzinger, who found them in 'major and very severe error'. The group was eventually excommunicated in 2007. Giguère's legacy is that of a controversial figure whose teachings led to a break with the Catholic Church and the formation of an independent, ecumenical community that integrates texts from other religions. The case illustrates the tensions between private revelation and institutional authority, and the consequences of doctrinal deviation within a major religious tradition.
Did You Know?
- Marie-Paule Giguère claimed to have heard celestial voices since the age of twelve.
- She divorced her husband Georges Cliche in 1957, and their five children were placed out-of-home.
- Her movement was excommunicated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 11, 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Marie-Paule Giguère?
She was a Canadian woman who established a Marian religious group called the Community of the Lady of All Nations, a movement also referred to as the Army of Mary. The Catholic Church ultimately declared the group's teachings heretical and excommunicated its members.
What did Marie-Paule Giguère claim about her own identity?
In 1978 she publicly presented herself as a mystical reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, saying she had received direct divine revelations. This self-proclaimed embodiment of Mary became the theological core of her sect.
What happened to the Army of Mary after its founding?
The Catholic hierarchy condemned the community as heretical and proceeded to excommunicate its adherents. The group's teachings were formally rejected, and it has since been cited as a cautionary example in discussions of unauthorized Marian claims.
When did Marie-Paule Giguère die?
She passed away on 14 April 2015. At the time of her death, her legacy remained defined by the condemned status of the community she had built around her Marian claims.
Why is Marie-Paule Giguère frequently discussed in paranormal and religious-studies circles?
Her case is a recurring reference point for scholars and enthusiasts examining modern false mysticism, unauthorized revelations, and the boundaries the Catholic Church draws around Marian devotion. She is consistently highlighted as a founder whose self-proclaimed divine identity led directly to formal ecclesiastical censure.
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