Our Lady of Ratisbon

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/our-lady-of-ratisbon.html

December 1: Our Lady of Ratisbon, Bavaria (1842)

One of most famous examples of Our Lady’s bounty in granting favors to wearers of Miraculous Medal occurred less than 10 years after medal had been struck.

Alphonse Rathisbonne was a French Jew who had no religion.
When his brother Theodore became a Catholic & then a priest, Alphonse was filled with aversion.
He was a typical intellectual of 19th century, a worshipper of humanity, who sneered at anything spiritual in his pride & ignorance.

In November 1841, Alphonse found himself in Rome, although his itinerary hadn't called fro a stop in  Eternal City.
There he met Baron de Bussiere.
The Baron urgently requested him to wear Miraculous Medal & to recite daily prayer of Saint Bernard, “The Memorare.”
Alphonse did so in spirit of acceptance & of dare but without slightest bit of faith.

On January 20, 1842, Monsieur de Bussiere saw Alphonse walking along street & invited him into his carriage.
They stopped at Saint Andrea delle Fratee because the Baron wished to see a priest there.
In order to kill time, Rathisbonne entered church.

He was not very much impressed & was walking around rather listlessly.
Suddenly church seemed to be plunged into darkness & all light concentrated on one chapel.
Very much startled he saw there our Blessed Mother bathed in glorious light, Her face radiant.

He went toward her. She motioned with her right hand for him to kneel.
As he knelt, he realized at last the sad state of his soul.
He perceived that mankind had been redeemed through Blood of Christ, & he was seized with a great longing to be taken into Church of Christ.
The blessed Virgin spoke not a word, but these things came to him as he knelt before her.

The next day Alphonse was baptized by Cardinal Patrizi, vicar of Pope Gregory XVI.
The Holy Father as bishop of Rome, ordered an official inquiry & after 4 months authenticity of miracle was recognized.

Alphonse Maria Rathisbonne, as he was named after his baptism, devoted remainder of his life to winning over his fellow Jews to Christ.