Deepertruth: Virgin Mary appearing at Rome Italy in 1842

"I was scarcely in the church when a total confusion came over me. When I looked up, it seemed to me that the entire church had been swallowed up in shadow, except one chapel. It was as though all the light was concentrated in that single place. I looked over towards this chapel whence so much light shone, and above the altar was a living figure, tall, majestic, beautiful and full of mercy. 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.”

Returning from the sacristy, the Baron was surprised to see the Jew fervently praying on his knees before the altar of St. Michael the Archangel. He helped his friend to get on his feet, and took him to the Hotel Serny, where Alphonse was staying, and loosened his cravat so he can breathe. But Alphonse was still sobbing, clasping his Miraculous Medal, murmuring thanks to God. At last he turned to the baron, embraced him, and with a changed face said: "Take me to a confessor! When can I receive baptism, without which I can no longer live?"  So...the baron took him to the Gesu, the Jesuit mother-church, to see Father Villefort. There, Alphonse tried to explain himself, but he was still sobbing so hard that he was unintelligible. At last he calmed down, took the Miraculous Medal from his neck, held it up, and cried: "I saw Her! I saw Her!” Eleven days later, on January 31, he received Baptism, Confirmation and his First Communion from the hands of Cardinal Patrizi, the Vicar of the Pope.