When the cynical Alphonse Ratisbonne accepted a dare to wear a Miraculous Medal, he didn’t expect to meet the Blessed Mother herself.
Many are familiar with the expression, “Hurt people hurt people,” meaning that those who have been hurt by others often perpetuate that toxic cycle.
While this truth can often explain the actions of those who have experienced injustice, it can sometimes extend to an excuse for violent or wrongful behavior. An injustice performed in one’s country can lead to violent rioting, even if those protests started out peacefully. A hurtful word can lead someone to harm others in a similar way or even harm themselves.
Have we ever considered that the opposite is also true? That saintly and holy people help make saintly, holy people? That when we respond with mercy instead of anger, we soften the hearts of our enemy? Do we remember that our own prayers and sufferings can redeem the irredeemable?
One such case for this argument is seen in the life of a French anti-Catholic. His life would be forever changed due to the prayers of three men: his brother, his friend, and a complete stranger who gave his life for him.
Alphonse and Theodore Ratisbonne were born in 1802 and 1814, respectively, into a prominent banking family in Alsace, France. The Ratisbonne family was a nominally Jewish household that seemed focused on worldly success, and it would seem that such success was expected of both Theodore and Alphonse. However, at age 22, Theodore met Louise Humann, a devout Catholic and catechist. Under her guidance, he studied the New Testament and other Scriptures and was baptized Catholic in the year 1826. He went on to be ordained a priest just four years later.
Theodore’s conversion came as a shock to his family. For his younger brother Alphonse, this was a betrayal of the worst kind. He took his brother’s conversion as an opportunity to become actively hostile to Catholicism and went so far as to reject his brother, refusing to speak to him.
Though this estrangement certainly wounded Theodore, evidence would point to Theodore not retaliating against Alphonse, but instead doubling down on his prayers for his little brother. These prayers would not fall on deaf ears, and Divine Providence would bring Alphonse to another Theodore — one who would act as a spiritual brother to him while his biological one was shunned.
More: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/barrick-ratisbonne-miraculous-medal
No comments:
Post a Comment