Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31823/d.25.4.5
Ratisbonne’s Conversion Through the Miraculous Medal
Boris Vulić
orcid.org/0000-0002-3517-2502
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia
Abstract
The concessions that are made in conversion have led to the scattering of the whole of conversion and the twilight of the core of conversion as a radical, sometimes sudden event in human life because of the novelty of Jesus Christ. For this reason, conversions are often inconsistent, superficial and neglected. The article aims to point out the radicality and necessity of conversion by presenting the conversion of the Jew Alphonse Ratisbonne to Catholicism, that occurred in 1842 in Rome. This amazing transformation is the greatest conversion through the Miraculous Medal, which is still insufficiently illuminated in our ambience. The second part brings some theological aspects that are always present in the dynamisms of every true conversion. It becomes clear that sudden conversions are possible, that they are intrinsically Christological events which bring fruits for the life of the Church, and which also involve the “missionaries of mercy” – mediators that God puts on the path of conversion of individuals. The first among them is the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is uniquely summarized in the movement the “Militia of the Immaculata”, at the same time describing the gift and task of every baptized person.
Keywords
Alphonse Maria Ratisbonne; Blessed Virgin Mary; Miraculous Medal; conversion; Catholicism; intermediation
Hrčak ID:
190825
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2017.
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