Editor’s Note: This conversion story was originally published in the booklet, The Miraculous Medal, by the Militia Immaculata of Traditional Observance and has been slightly edited.
This account describes how the Miraculous Medal has been a source of precious blessings. Many conversions have been reported as a result.
Alphonse Ratisbonne was a non-practicing Jew who did not even believe in God. In 1842, in bravado and mockery, he allowed a Miraculous Medal to be hung around his neck. He himself would later write: “This marked the dawn of a new life for me.”
Intimately connected to the very beginnings of the Miraculous Medal is the story of the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne (1814-1884), who was born at Strasbourg (Alsace, France). He was the ninth child of a family of bankers, rich and charitable, who were related or allied to the Rothschilds and other wealthy Jewish families. Although Ratisbonne lived among the rich, he was entirely free from the love of money for its own sake. It is said of him, as a striking example of his detachment, that when leaving a hired cab, he would hand his wallet to the driver, urging him to help himself to the price of the journey. Returning the wallet to his pocket, he never bothered to take account of what had been removed.
Grace builds on nature and Alphonse was of a noble spirit, generous and kind of heart. Endowed with artistic talents, he was imaginative and possessed an air of distinction, good looks, and charm. He had a great capacity for loving family and friends.
From Strasbourg to Naples
Towards the end of November 1841, Alphonse set out on an excursion that was to last nine or ten months. This journey included the following destinations: Marseilles, Naples, Malta, and Constantinople; and he was to return to Strasbourg in time for his wedding, set for August of 1842.
Ratisbonne writes: “Before arriving at Naples, the ship put in at Civitavecchia, the port of the Papal States. The cannon on the fort boomed loudly… I inquired the meaning of these warlike sounds in the peaceful lands of the Pope. I was told, ‘This is the Feast of the Conception of Our Lady!’ I shrugged my shoulders and did not disembark.”
In this way Ratisbonne made light of the Immaculate Virgin in the days just prior to his remarkable conversion.
To Rome, by Accident?
The ship on which he was to sail for Malta broke down and remained in dock at Naples. The passengers had to make other arrangements.
Ratisbonne had no desire whatsoever to visit Rome. He refused when Neapolitan friends of the family tried to persuade him to go there after his stay in Naples. His fiancée had expressed the wish that he go at once to Malta, and she sent instructions from his physician positively forbidding him to go to Rome because of the alleged fever in that city. Therefore, he had more than enough reason to deter him from such a visit.
Ratisbonne later mused: “But how did I go to Rome? I find it impossible to explain it even to myself. I left Naples on the 5th of January and reached Rome on the 6th, the Feast of the Three Kings.”
Among the foreign families who then resided in the Eternal City were the de Bussières, from Alsace, and the La Ferronnays, Breton Royalists who were to play an important part by their prayers and zeal in the miraculous events in which Ratisbonne became immersed.
Baron Theodore de Bussières, a convert most ardent in his devotion to the Church, pitied his unfortunate friend and resolved to lose no opportunities of impressing upon him the necessity of becoming a Catholic. He tells us in his journal: “I sought to lead Alphonse to share my own convictions. He retorted, ‘A Jew was I born, and a Jew shall I die.’”
A Medal Worn in Bravado
“‘Well then, since you are so strong-minded and sure of yourself,’ I said to him, ‘promise me to wear something I am going to give you.’ I showed him a Miraculous Medal. In a combination of indignation and surprise, he thrust it vigorously aside. ‘But,’ I said, ‘as you look at things, this should be an indifferent matter in your eyes, while it will give me a great deal of pleasure.’
“‘Oh! It is really but a small matter,’ he cried out laughingly and he began to joke blasphemously.
“Alphonse declares: ‘No sooner was this agreed to, than it was accomplished …’ and he burst out laughing as he exclaimed: ‘Ah! Ha! I am now become Catholic, Apostolic, Roman. It was the devil who prophesied through my mouth.’
“M. de Bussières rejoiced inwardly over his victory, and he tried to take advantage of it. ‘Now,’ I told him, ‘you must not neglect the rest. Each morning and evening you must say the Memorare, a very short and effective prayer written by Saint Bernard in honor of Our Lady.’”
After copying in his own handwriting this beautiful prayer, Alphonse found the unforgettable words of Saint Bernard rolling like ceaseless waves in the darkness of his mind. The Star of the Sea was soon to shine through the fog of his indifference and disbelief.
On Sunday evening the Baron went to dine with his friend, the Comte de La Ferronnays. He spoke of his current project and earnestly commended Ratisbonne to the Count’s prayers.
“Do not worry,” replied La Ferronnays with the confidence of one who knew Our Lady’s power. “If you have him saying the Memorare, you already have him fast!”
La Ferronnays promised to pray for Ratisbonne. Twenty-four hours later he went for a walk to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore where he spent a long time in prayer. Shortly thereafter, he died of a heart attack, but not before confiding to his wife that he had prayed more than 20 Memorares for the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne.
The Apparition of January 20, 1842
Ratisbonne’s visit to Rome was drawing to a close. Only while remaining in the Eternal City did he feel obligated to wear the medal and pray the Memorare, as he had promised.
Ratisbonne writes: “However, in the night between the 19th and 20th, I awoke with a start and saw before me a large cross of a special shape without the body of Christ being attached to it.” Later, he was to identify this cross with the cross of the Miraculous Medal.
“I made attempt after attempt to dispel this picture, but I was unable to avoid it, for turn as I might from side to side, it was ever before me. I cannot say how long this lasted. Finally, I fell asleep again and the next morning on awakening I thought no more of it.”
On the following day, Ratisbonne emerged from a cafe, just as the carriage of M. de Bussières was passing by. The day was beautiful, and with pleasure he assented to join his friend in a drive. M. de Bussières was on his way to the nearby Church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte to make arrangements for the funeral of his dear friend, the Comte de La Ferronnays. He suggested that Alphonse wait for him in the carriage outside. But the latter preferred to see the church.
Ratisbonne relates: “The Church of Sant’Andrea 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, bounding to and fro, impeding my progress … but soon he was gone. Then the church itself seemed to disappear; and I saw nothing at all … or I should rather 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 Bussières recalled me to myself,[1] I was in tears and unable to answer his questions … But I seized the medal which was on my breast, and I fervently kissed the image of the Virgin … Oh! It had indeed been She! I was not able to speak; I did not wish to discuss what had happened; I felt within me something so solemn and so sacred as to require me to ask for a priest.”
To be continued and concluded in Part 2.
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[1] The Baron de Bussières had gone to another part of the church to make the funeral arrangements for his friend, the Count. After an absence of no more than 10 to 12 minutes, he returned, to find Ratisbonne in an ecstasy. Coming to himself, Alphonse exclaimed: “Ah! How this man has prayed for me!” He was referring to the Comte de La Ferronnays, who had just died after praying so fervently for Ratisbonne’s conversion.