Marie Theodor Ratisbonne

Marie -Théodore Ratisbonne ( born December 28, 1802 in Strasbourg, † January 10, 1884 in Paris) was a French Catholic priest and founder of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion.

Origin and Youth

Théodore Ratisbonne grew up in a Jewish banking family. The parents were largely assimilated and liberal-minded. Ratisbonne studied law and then settled in Colmar.

Under the influence of the philosophy professor Louis Bautain (1796-1867) in Strasbourg Ratisbonne turned to the Christian faith.

Baptism and Appeals

Ratisbonne was baptized on Holy Saturday, April 14, 1827 by catechetical preparation by Louise Humann. He studied theology and was ordained a priest in 1830. In 1840 he took over a vicar place at the Paris parish of Notre-Dame des Victoires.

On January 20, 1842, his younger brother Alphonse Ratisbonne decided - after a Marian apparition in Rome - to also be a Christian. Theodore Ratisbonne interpreted this as a sign of Mary. Encouraged by his brother, Alphonse, in 1843 he founded the Congregation of "Our Lady of Sion".

Theodore Ratisbonne died on January 10, 1884 in Paris.