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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 17, 15 August 1884, Page 19

The recent death of the Bey. Father Eatisbonne has created a new interest in his extraordinary conversion, and probably a great many people have been hearing of it now for the first time. By mistake the name jTbeodore was printed for Alpbonse Marie in announcing the event in the Are Maria, ; but our readers were aware that Father Theodore had already been dead some months. These two brothers, both of whom had become apostles after abjuring Judaism, were united in such close frendship that it seems as if death itself could not keep them long apart. Father Theodore was the rounder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, and of the Arch'confraternity of Christian Mothers. Father Alphonse, who co-operated in the works of his brother, directed the Community of Religious of Sion, established in that city. His sudden and miraculous conversion took place, as we stated, ia Borne, at the beginning of the year 1842. At that time be thought of Christianity only to reject it with contempt, mingled with hatred. One day, as he was waiting in the Church of S. Andrea delle Frate for his friend the Baron de Bussiere, who had gone into the sacristy to make arrange, ments for a funeral, he felt impelled to enter the Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel, where a wonderful grace awaited him. The Blessed Virgin appeared to him, surrounded by such brightness and glory that he fell upon his knees, being as it were crushed by an irresistible hand, whilst at ihe same time his soul was so fully enlightened that he "understood all." This conversion made such a stir that the Holy Bee thought proper to take notice of it, and ordered the event to be canonically examined. After a conscientious investigation, Cardinal Patrizzi, June 3, 1812, declared that there was full evidence of " a true and great miracle wrought by God, through the intercession of the Blessed "Virgin."—^ cc Maria-,