Our Founder

Theodore Ratisbonne

Born 1802, died 1884

The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion was founded in France in 1847 by Theodore Ratisbonne "to witness in the Church and in the world that God continues to be faithful in love for the Jewish people and to hasten the fulfilment of the promises concerning the Jews and the Gentiles." (Const. 2).  

Theodore grew up in a Jewish family and came to the Christian faith as a young man. He was always conscious of the unique relationship between the church and the Jewish people.

In 1842, whilst working as a priest in Paris, he received news that his younger brother, Alphonse, had had an apparition of Mary in Rome. This event confirmed Theodore’s intuition to found the Congregation that would witness to God’s faithful love of the Jewish people.

The congregation grew quickly and foundations were made in 10 different counties in Theodore's life time and is now present in 23 countries around the world. In 1852, he gathered together the first small group of what was to become the men's Congregation of the Religious of Our Lady of Sion.
 

Alphonse Ratisbonne

Born 1814, died 1884

Following the event in Rome on January 20th, 1842, Alphonse was baptised a Christian. Initially he joined the Society of Jesus and was ordained a priest.

In 1852 he felt the call to join Theodore in Sion, and subsequently led the first group of Sisters to Jerusalem in 1855. He established Ecce Homo, Ein Karem and Ratisbonne Institutues in Jerusalem, where he lived until his death in 1884.
 

Louise Humann

Born 1766 , died 1836

Louise Humann was born in Strasbourg. She devoted her life to Christian education and works of charity. Theodore, a young man of 22 years of age met her quite by accident and was deeply impressed by her faith and intelligence. He confided in her about his search for God. Louise guided Theodore to read the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, where he discovered the continuing revelation that “God is Love” and is revealed in the person of Jesus. This understanding influenced his whole life.