A small yet fervent sect claiming to possess the true Catholic doctrine, led by a man who declared himself Pope.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Catholicism (not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church)
Founder: Michel Collin (Pope Clement XV)
Founded: 1936 (took it’s current form in 1962)
Location: Canada
Size: Several hundred members
Other Names: Order of the Mother of God, Order of the Magnificat of the Mother of God
Website: ommi.org
The Apostles of Infinite Love is a religious group with a history that intertwines visions, disputed papal claims, and controversies, marking its journey as an offshoot of traditional Catholic beliefs and practices. Founded by Michel Collin, a French priest who proclaimed himself Pope Clement XV after a vision in 1935, the group aimed to restore the house churches of the apostolic times, focusing on the adoration of the Sacred Hearts of Christ and Mary. Collin’s vision of Christ consecrating him as a bishop, and later, a grand vision in 1950 where God the Father placed a papal tiara on his head, set the stage for the foundation of the Apostles of Infinite Love.
The group’s headquarters were established on a farm near St-Jovite in the Laurentian Mountains, Quebec, after acquiring it in 1958. Despite being considered merely “pious laymen” by the local bishop, the Apostles of Infinite Love played a significant role in the religious landscape, emphasizing the importance of the apparitions at Fatima and expressing shock at the Holy See’s decision not to disclose the Third Secret of Fatima. The interaction between Gaston Tremblay and Michel Collin, which led to Tremblay being named as Collin’s successor, highlights the complex theological and prophetic narratives that the group embraced. Tremblay, meeting Collin in 1961, was convinced that Collin was the “Pope of Fatima,” a title underscoring the group’s end-times theology.
In its early years, the group faced opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, leading to its founder Collin being reduced to lay status in 1951. Despite this, Collin and his followers continued to expand their vision, buying land in Clémery, Lorraine, to build the “Small Vatican,” and making several public assertions of Collin’s papal status. By the 1960s, the group’s presence had grown significantly, with an increasing number of followers joining the Canadian community, leading to the construction of a large monastery intended to be self-supporting.
The Apostles of Infinite Love’s faced more serious controversies starting in the 1970s, as people came forward with allegations of abuse within the community. From 1978 to 2001, the Apostles of Infinite Love were embroiled in legal battles over accusations including rape, extortion, and sexual abuse, culminating in a large-scale police raid in 1999, involving 100 officers, on their reclusive community in St. Jovite, Quebec.However, the public prosecutor dropped all charges against Jean-Gaston Tremblay in 2001 after a 34-year investigation.
The rejection of the world and anticipation of an apocalyptic future have also attracted criticism, particularly from the Francophone press, which has often labeled the Apostles as a cult. Additionally, the city of Brébeuf’s decision in 2005 to expropriate the land of the religious community underlines the ongoing legal and societal challenges faced by the Apostles of Infinite Love.
Despite the legal and societal challenges they have faced over the decades, the Apostles of Infinite Love persists in its religious endeavors and practices. Today, the group continues to maintain a presence in various parts of the world, including North and South America, Europe, and Africa.
