Holy Boldness

The Apparition of Mary to Alphonse Ratisbonne, Domenico Bartolini, 1870. Chapel of the Madonna of the Miracle, Basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Rome, Italy.

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” “Lord, help me.” 

These two sentences in which the Canaanite woman reveals her great faith in who Jesus is and that He can help her. She knew her neediness and did not hesitate to exclaim this to the Lord when she encountered Him. 

The two feasts that precede today celebrate St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I do not think it is a coincidence that St. Maximilian’s feast day is so close to one of the most important Marian feasts on the calendar. He loved our Lady and strongly believed that devotion to her would bring about conversion throughout the whole world. 

St. Maximilian’s first mass was said at a side altar at the Basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte in Rome. He chose this specific church because of a miraculous appearance of Mary, Our Lady of the Miracle, to a man called Alphonse Ratisbonne. Alphonse was born a Jewish man but raised in a very anti-Catholic climate in France. He was traveling around Europe and found himself in Rome, visiting an old friend who happened to be Christian. This friend dared him to wear a miraculous medal, a very new devotion, for a few days while Alphonse was in town. Alphonse took on the challenge mostly to prove him wrong. 

A few days went by and he found himself in the Basilica of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte just to visit and take in the general beauty of the city. It was there, in a side chapel, that the Virgin Mary appeared to him. In his words:

“It was the most holy Virgin Mary, resembling her figure on the Miraculous Medal. At this sight I fell on my knees right where I stood. Unable to look up because of the blinding light, I fixed my glance on her hands, and in them I could read the expression of mercy and pardon. In the presence of the Most Blessed Virgin, even though she did not speak a word to me, I understood the frightful situation I was in, my sins and the beauty of the Catholic Faith."

Alphonse Ratisbonne saw Mary and through her knew who Christ was and his great neediness. He experienced a conversion and soon after was baptized Catholic and became a Catholic priest. He became devoted to helping other Jews convert to the Catholic faith, on fire with the love of Christ and with the knowledge of Mary on his side. 

His faith inspired St. Maximilian Kolbe, who I would argue is one of the greatest saints of our modern times. My son is named after St. Maximilian because of my husband and I’s great love for his example and devotion to Our Lady. Mary is a powerful intercessor and will go to any lengths to bring souls to her son. Our immaculate mother wants to provide opportunities and pathways for her son to work miracles, just like she did with Alphonse Ratisbonne. 

Alphonse and St. Maximilian knew their neediness, just as the Canaanite woman did. They all spoke in boldness of who Christ was and what they knew they needed from him. May we be as bold and trusting of what Christ will do for us, because as Christ says to the Canaanite woman at the end of the Gospel: 

“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” (Matthew 15:28)

Written by Madeline Larson

Image can be found here:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alphonse_Ratisbonne,_Erscheinung.jpg