Conversion story of Alphonse Ratisbonne
(a Church approved apparition)

A Challenge that Changed His Life
"This marked the dawn of a new life for me" (Alphonse Ratisbonne)

A simple challenge paved the way for a young Jewish aristocrat who mocked Christianity, to become a sincere disciple of Jesus Christ. One who would exhibit a long and loving devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1841, Alphonse Ratisbonne was a student of law (31 years old), engaged to marry, living to enjoy life, yet passionately devoted to his fellow Jews. Still he wrote, "In the midst of all this abundance, there was an emptiness in my heart: something was wanting." He detested his older brother, Theodore, who had become a Christian in 1827, and 3 years later a priest! Alphonse was only 16 years old then; but he considered Theodore's behavior revolting and said, "I hated him in his own person and in his profession." So badly did Alphonse come to dislike the thought of Christianity that he would scoff at the mere mention of the word.

It was now the year before he was to wed. And, as it was a family custom, he took some time for travel – deciding to visit Marseilles, Naples, Malta, and later to return home (to Strasbourg, France) by way of Constantinople. He made it to Naples and was proceeding to depart to Malta when Providence had other plans. . . His ship to Malta had broke down and travelers would have to sail in another vessel departing January 20^th. Thus, his first day and week of the New Year (1842) was a sad one spent alone in Naples. Alphonse dearly missed his family and friends, and found no friend, nor much to do. He wished no more of these unhappy days, so considered a side trip to Rome to at least keep busy. Nevertheless, he determined to return to Naples, to board the ship sailing to Malta on January 20^th.

In Rome, things looked brighter. Several "chance happenings" took place: he met a friend of his boyhood and afterward dined with him and his father, the Baron M. de Bussieres (a Protestant who had become devout Catholic and who, ironically, knew Alphonse's brother, Theodore). A few days later, through a course of events M. de Bussieres would challenge Alphonse when the young man boldly declared, "A Jew was I born, and a Jew shall I die."

"Well then, since you are so strong-minded and so sure of yourself," said the baron to Alphonse, "promise me to wear something I am going to give you."

"We shall see. What do you mean?"

"It is only a medal." Then the baron showed him a Miraculous Medal. After some conversation, he challenged Alphonse to wear it and placed it around his neck. Alphonse laughed in response, but did not refuse it. Nothing, he thought, could change his adamant beliefs.

"Now," said the baron, "you must not shirk the rest. Each morning and evening you must say the Memorare, a very short and effective prayer written by St. Bernard in honor of Our Lady."

To Alphonse the proposal seemed outlandish, but amusing, "Very well! I promise I will say your prayer; if it does me no good, at least it will not do me any harm!"

From January 16^th to the 19^th, Alphonse found himself in the company of the baron. They went together sightseeing the 'eternal city', and all of its awesome and historical sites; but also, of course they stopped to view many Catholic buildings, churches, and masterpieces of art. The baron took every opportunity to introduce religion, openly and strongly. Alphonse perceived this enthusiastic Catholic was hoping to make him a convert, but the young man only laughed it off. He did, however appreciate seeing the pope in the Vatican (at least once in his life). And to keep what seemed to him a frivolous challenge, he continued to wear the medal given to him and to pray the Memorare every evening before retiring to bed.

It was now January 18^th. The baron was concluding, "Ratisbonne has not advanced one step in the direction of the truth. His nature is to mock; his thoughts are ever bent on the things of the earth." On this day the baron seemed particularly sad, depressed, and generally less talkative than usual. Alphonse did not know the real cause was because a good friend of the baron had died the night before. He thought the baron's silence was due to some feeling of discouragement at his own lack of response to the baron's efforts to convert him. But he also knew, it would be just another day or 2 before they said their "good byes." Alphonse was ever intent on his return to Naples, though he had received news that his ship leaving for Malta would not depart until the 22^nd.

On the night between the 19^th and 20^th, Alphonse awakened from his sleep "to see before me a large cross of a special shape without the body of Christ being attached to it." Later, he identified this cross, as the same cross on his Miraculous Medal. The next morning after breakfast, as he was leaving a cafe, the carriage of M. de Bussieres was passing. The baron invited Alphonse to join him for a ride, and Alphonse agreed with pleasure. Soon the baron asked if he would mind a stop at the Church of St. Andrea della Frate (St. Andrew) where he had an errand to do. He told Alphonse to wait for him in the carriage. But Alphonse preferred to get out in order to see the church. So, the baron proceeded to explain that within, preparations were being made for a funeral, for his friend who had suddenly died just a few days earlier. As both entered the church, the baron said, "Do not be impatient,' as he went to a private section of the church, 'I shall be no more than a few minutes."

Alphonse relates, "The Church of Saint Andrew seemed to me small, poor and forgotten. I felt as if I were alone in it. There were no works of art to draw my attention. I walked about aimlessly, without seeing anything to arouse a thought. I can recall only that a black dog sprang into my path... but soon he was gone! Then the church itself seemed to disappear; and I saw nothing at all... or I should say, O my God, that I saw one thing alone!"

"How can I speak of this? No! Human words cannot even try to convey what is beyond expression... When M. de Bussieres recalled me to myself, I was in tears and was unable to answer his questions... But I seized the medal that was on my breast and I fervently kissed the image of the Virgin... Oh! It had indeed been she! I did not know where I was; I did not know if I were Alphonse or someone else. I felt so deep a change in me that I believed myself to be another; I sought to regain my consciousness of self, and I could not... I was not able to speak; I did not wish to discuss what had happened; I felt within myself something so solemn and so sacred as to require me to ask for a priest."

The baron's absence had been no more than 10 or 12 minutes. He returned to find Alphonse on his knees before St. Michael's chapel. After touching him 3 or 4 times, Ratisbonne then turned to the baron with a face covered with tears; he joined his hands and said in an indescribable way, "Ah, how this man has prayed for me!" As they slowly left the church, Alphonse kept on kissing his Miraculous Medal, which was wet with his tears. "How happy I am. How good God is! How great are the graces of happiness! How we should pity those who do not know this!" A little later, he was grasping the arm of the baron, asking to see a 'confessor' so that he might learn when he could be baptized. The baron, so astonished by Ratisbonne's words and behavior, immediately took him to a priest.

Grasping his medal and kissing it, Alphonse, carefully explained to the priest, "I had been in that church for only a very brief time when all at once I felt myself in the grip of a disturbance impossible to describe. I raised my eyes; I could no longer see anything of the building. All the light seemed as if it were concentrated in some of the chapels, and in the midst of its shining there stood upon the altar the Virgin Mary as she is shown on the medal, beautiful, glorious, and embodying at once both majesty and kindness. A force, which I could not resist, drew me toward her. The Virgin made a sign with her hand that I should kneel and she seemed to say: "It is well." She did not actually speak to me, but I understood as if she had."

Back at the hotel where Alphonse was staying, he told the baron, "It was she, herself, that I beheld, in reality; I saw her just as I now see you! But my eyes were unable to bear the brightness of this heavenly light. Three times I tried to look at her face again; but each time I was unable to raise my eyes beyond her hands from whence there poured, just as on the medal, torrents of grace in the appearance of rays of light."

Returning to the priest the next day, Alphonse asked for Baptism, but was temporarily denied. The Jesuit priest wished to consult first with the general of the Society of Jesus. After some hasty, yet sincere, preparation, it was decided that Alphonse would receive Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist upon making a spiritual retreat from January 23-30. This was a case, hitherto unheard of. By a simple sign that declared, "It is well," Our Lady had at once changed his heart and enlightened his mind.

From His Conversion until His Death (1842-1881):
Alphonse never returned to Naples, nor sailed to Malta that year. He remained with the Jesuits. On June 3, 1842 a Roman court of inquiry finished its investigation and a pontifical decree was published stating: "that it is certain, that a true and notable miracle, the work of God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, did produce the instantaneous and complete conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne." By then his life had completely changed: he had lost his inheritance; he was denied by his own; he lost his fiancée'. But also, in June of 1842, Alphonse entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and remained with them for 6 years. Then he withdrew the Order to join his brother, Theodore, as a priest in the foundation of the Congregation of the Priests and Ladies (Sisters) of Zion. Their work was to be the conversion of the Jews.

[Note: Jews who become Catholics often prefer to say 'that as a Jew, they have come into their Post Messianic fulfillment through their Catholic faith.' They believe Catholicism is, in a sense, Post Messianic Judaism. They have come to believe that JESUS is their long awaited Messiah and that He established His New Covenant on earth, through the apostles and the apostolic succession of the Catholic Church.]

Alphonse took the name, Pere Marie-Alphonse and found his way to the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, he acquired what was thought to be the ruins of the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate and established the foundation "the Ecco Homo". He also found the College of St. Peter and monastery of St. John (St. John in Montana). To support these foundations, he became a humble beggar and traveled throughout Europe collecting funds.

Pere Marie-Alphonse admitted that the Virgin Mary chose an instrument as unworthy as himself – so that all the glory would return to God, the Author of all good.

The foundress of the Ladies (Sisters) of Zion once asked him, "Do you still see the Blessed Virgin?"

"She is more and more lovely," he said; and then he bowed his head.

Alphonse Ratisbonne (Pere Marie-Alphonse) died in Jerusalem on May 6^th, 1881. Those who were with him that day claimed that for three minutes before he gave up his soul, "a light shone upon his face, and he opened his eyes which had been continually closed. They seemed full of life, and they expressed at first surprise and then delight. Then he gently dropped his lids and effortlessly, and quietly gave up his soul to God. He seemed peacefully asleep and it was a long while before any sign of death appeared on his face."

He was buried outside of Jerusalem, near the village of Ein Kerem (where his grave may be visited today). In Jerusalem, the Sisters of Zion continue to operate the Convent of "Ecce Homo" with its small museum containing what many believe is part of the Lithostrotos (pavement from the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate). Ratisbonne's College of St. Peter is now called the Ratisbonne Center, an institute for Judeo-Biblical studies. And the Monastery of St. John in Ein Kerem is also referred to as St. John in Montana.

To read an account of Our Lady's appearance to St. Catherine Laboure', and her instructions for the first Miraculous Medal, please click here.