He succeeded however in getting Ratisbonne to wear a medal, which the latter accepted reluctantly enough. A few days later they happened to enter the church of S. Andrea delle Frate, and while deBussiere paid a short visit to the nearby monastery Ratisbonne was left alone to look about the church. Suddenly he was seized with an indescribable emotion, and raising his eyes to the chapel of St. Michael where the light seemed to be concentrated, there in the midst of the light the Blessed Virgin appeared full of majesty and sweetness—just as she is represented on the medal. At the same time an irresistible force drew him towards her. She made a sign with her hand that he should kneel, and seemed to say to him, "All is well." In that instant he understood all, and rose a changed man. He had entered the church a devotee of Judaism he left it an humble follower of Him who came to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This apparition took place on January 20, 1842. Several years later Ratisbonne became a priest and devoted his life to the conversion of his former compatriots in Palestine.

THE ASSOCIATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The center of this Association is established at the Mother-House of the Daughters of Charity, Paris.

In the Acta Apostolicae Sedis the following statutes were approved July 8, 1909, by Pius X.

STATUTES

Article 1

The Association of the Holy Medal in Honor of the Immaculate Conception has been established as a living and perpetual memorial of the apparition of Mary Immaculate, which took place (at the Chapel of the Daughters of Charity, Rue du Bac, Paris) in the year 1830, the feast of which is celebrated on November 27. At this apparition the Blessed Virgin herself clearly indicated the design of the commemorative medal that was to be struck. The medal spread and wrought wonders, and thus received from the faithful the title "Miraculous."

Article 2

The end or aim of the Association is to render due honor to Mary Immaculate, first by sanctifying ourselves, and second by contributing to the sanctification of our neighbor by means of the Miraculous Medal. The medal is an efficacious symbol of this double sanctification, by virtue of the promises attached to it by Mary herself.

Article 3