Important dates in the History of the Movement

• 1939-1945
• 1947
• 1950-1969: Expansion
• May 1970
• June 1973
• February 1975
• September 1976
• enom 1982 onwards
• 1988: 7th International Gathering at Lourdes (France)
• 1992: Decree of Recognition (Provisional)
• 1994: 8th International Gathering at Fatima (Portugal)
• 1996: Death of our Founder
• 1997: Fiftieth Anniversary of the Charter
• 2000: 9th International Gathering in Santiago de Compostela (Portugal)
• 26th July 2002: Decree of Recognition by the Pontifical Council for the Laity
• January 2003: John-Paul II talk to the movement responsibles during ROMA meeting
• 2006 : 10th International Meeting of the Teams of Our Lady in Lourdes (France)

1939-1945

Other teams were formed during the Second World War. The depth and breadth of their reflections increased. At the end of this phase, the magazine "L'Anneau d'Or" (The Gold Ring) first appeared: it was to make known to numerous couples throughout the world the experience of the little groups and the spirituality which they were developing.

1947

After the end of the war, the groups of couples multiplied. The need for unity and structures, laid down in a "Rule" began to be felt. It led to the drawing up of the "Charter of the Teams of Our Lady". Despite its dated wording, this document is still valuable today in that it presents the essential objectives of Team members: the wish to live their Christian marriage and and deepen their faith with the help of a team. To this end, the Charter proposed a number of proven means: conjugal and family prayer; regular dialogue in the sight of God as a couple; monthly team meeting to pray and share together; a personal rule of life; and a spiritual retreat.

1950 - 1969 : Expansion

The Teams of Our Lady, now based on the Charter, grew rapidly in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Then it crossed the language barriers and the oceans. It started in Brazil and Luxembourg in 1950; Mauritius and Senegal in 1953; Spain, Canada, Portugal in 1955 ; Great Britain in 1956 ; Germany and the United States of America in 1958; Austria and Italy in 1959 ; Australia and Columbia in 1961 ; Madagascar and Vietnam in 1962; Lebanon and Ireland in 1963; Japan and French-speaking Africa in 1968; India in 1969. ; Syria in 1970 ; Ecuador in 1983 ; Poland in 2001... The expansion of Teams of Our Lady beyond France faced the movement with two options: either to become a federation of national movements, or to be a single international movement. After reflection, the second option was adopted.

May 1970

But life does not stop. The second Vatican Council and the profound transformation of the world and of the Church were a challenge for the Teams of Our Lady. The opportunity for a review and a new start came with an International Gathering in Rome in 1970. There, two thousand couples, from twenty-three countries, lived five days of fraternal love and had an exceptional spiritual experience. And, on that occasion, Pope Paul VI confirmed, in a beautiful address, the fundamental inspiration which had been present at the start of the first teams: namely, that human love is a path to holiness: and the couple, special image of its Creator, united by the sacrament of Marriage is the "gentle smiling face of the Church"; from this stems its own vocation and specific witness to the world.