The Catholic Register: Religious ‘army’ devoted to virgin Mary declared schismatic

QUEBEC CITY, Canada (The Catholic Register) – A small religious movement that follows a woman who claims to be the reincarnation of the blessed virgin Mary has been declared schismatic by a Canadian cardinal.

Once a pious association authorized by the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Quebec City and other parts of eastern Canada, the Army of Mary began to stray from the flock in the 1980s and had its teachings condemned by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2001.

Then it went a step too far when it ordained five deacons at its headquarters, Centre Spiri-Maria, outside Quebec City on Jan. 7.

In a pastoral statement released April 26, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec City declared that the priest who did the ordinations had no authority, under canon law, to do ordinations. He said the act represented a final act of defiance toward the Roman Catholic Church.

“This last gesture is one of extreme gravity because it breaks openly the communion with the Catholic Church,” he said in the statement that was translated from the French by The Catholic Register. “These ordinations are thus invalid; they constitute a severe injury inflicted on the church.”

“The Army of Mary has become clearly and publicly a schismatic movement and thus a non-Catholic association. Its particular doctrines are false and its activities cannot be frequented or supported by Catholics,” the cardinal said.

Its priests and deacons can no longer exercise any ministry in the territory of the archdiocese of Quebec and the sacraments of confirmation, penance and marriage administered by them are invalid due to the fact that they have no jurisdiction,” Cardinal Ouellet said.

The cardinal also said the Army of Mary’s priests and deacons are prohibited from presiding or concelebrating any liturgies in Catholic premises in the archdiocese.

The Army of Mary, founded by Marie-Paul Giguère, has over the years drifted away from traditional Catholic teachings. Among its claims, which have been deemed by the Catholic Church to be false, is that Giguère is the reincarnation of Mary, mother of God, and that she is co-redeemer with Christ.

It also defied orders from the official church when it built its chapel and headquarters at Lac Etchemin, Canada.

In 2001, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a doctrinal note to point out the errors of the Army of Mary and urge its members to renounce membership in the group.

The Army of Mary has become clearly and publicly a schismatic movement and thus a non-Catholic association.

Not to be confused with the Legion of Mary:

The Legion of Mary

WHAT IS IT?

The Legion of Mary is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with well over 3 million active members in almost every country of the world. It has been active in the United States since 1931, has been approved by the last 6 Popes, and was endorsed by the Second Vatican Council. The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works include door-to-door evangelization, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting the newly baptized, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the pastor. The Legion is, in essence, an extension of the heart and hands of the pastor.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in a family setting. Then they do two hours of definite work each week in pairs and under the guidance of their spiritual director.

WHO CAN BELONG?

The Legion of Mary is open to all Catholics who:

Faithfully practice their religion;
Are animated by the desire to participate in the Church's apostolate through membership in the Legion;
Are prepared to fulfill each and every duty which active membership in the Legion involves

HOW DO I START?

The first step is to be a guest at a meeting of the Legion of Mary. Guests are always welcome and can go on one of the work assignments with an experienced member if they choose. If there is no Legion of Mary in your parish, you can participate in a group in another parish until you can start one of your own with the assistance of other Legionaries and in cooperation with the pastor.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFO?

For more information, ask any member of the Legion of Mary or contact the parish office to obtain the name and telephone number of a point of contact for the nearest Legion of Mary Praesidium.

A small religious movement that follows a woman who claims to be the reincarnation of the blessed virgin Mary has been declared schismatic...

2089 Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him."

Throw in heretical and apostate too, I think they've earned it.

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