The Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Volume 3 Issue 1 December 2018 Little Rose’s Castle Work continues on the Archives and office. In time, it speaking community in the area. renovation of the complex. It is a will be moved into the Annex Also, a display case has been work in progress. when that is completed next year. As with many projects, things set up with plans to contain Little With the summer’s weather take time. Rose’s Breviary, Crucifix, some of and rain, the greenery around the her clothing and handicrafts. In headquarters flourished. Flower The Museum entrance time several other cabinets will also beds were cleaned and a few new Little Rose’s Castle now area in the Castle has statues and be set up to hold books in various plants added for next season. has installed a new street sign various pictures collected from translations that were written on identifying us and making it the past of Little Rose put on her: also to display Novenas in the In mid-September the bed easier for YOU to locate and display. Also, “mementos” for many various languages that were that Little Rose used while living visit us. Currently, we are only those who visit. We are hopeful produced. Just to give you a small on Asylum St. and later decorated open on the First Sunday of to have more of Little Rose’s idea of what is to come. with thorns when it was in Rose the month from 1:00pm- articles put in place in time. Myette’s chapel, was moved from 5:00pm, from 2:30-3:30pm, storage and now resides in the there is a prayer service includ- We have a handout on temporary “domestic chapel”. ing the Rosary & Prayers of Little Rose that is placed at her Reparation along with song. grave and handed out at func- The tower room was We hope to expand our hours tions giving information on her cleaned and racks put into place this coming year. life; it was limited in providing to allow for organization of mate- information to English speaking rial and storage area for extra Work was done in the people only. This has been items such as books, prayer cards old kitchen area and is now translated into Spanish, a step in and other Foundation material. being used as the temporary bringing her life to the Spanish Words From the Foundation President

Rally 2018”, a national program. into the hallway. The word is This is the second year in which getting out that once again there the Foundation participated. is a place people can come to pray and learn more about Little While the Foundation was Rose. declared a tax exempt organiza- From our family to tion by both the Federal and With your generosity, we entities for donation pur- hope the Annex building reno- your’s, we hope poses in 2015, the city of vations will soon be created. Another year is almost Woonsocket was taxing our That area will have a planned you have a buildings. All that changed this capacity of at least a hundred. over, and it has been a very blessed and good one. September and we are now May the upcoming Christ- Merry Christmas listed on the city’s tax roll as mas Season be a joyous one for The Foundation partici- being exempt from city taxes, a you and your family! and a pated in the renewed “St. Jean large financial relief as anyone Yours with “Little Rose,” the Baptist” Festival held in who owns a property knows. Happy New Year! downtown Woonsocket. It was the first time it was held in over Our third “Open House David P. Ethier 70 years. We also now have Sunday with Rosary Prayers” was held on September 4th and possession of the original statue Make yourself familiar with the angels and that was used when the event saw 20 people in attendance, was previously held and it may one even from the Boston area. behold them frequently in spirit; for without be viewed in the Foundation’s A good gathering that showed that completion of the Annex being seen, they are present with you. Museum. building is really needed. The ~Saint On Saturday, October current space for the “domestic 13, we participated in a “Rosary chapel” was full with overflow Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Little Rose was devoted to her and prayed and communicated with My Joy and My Peace Him daily. He was the center of her life. by St. Thérèse

She learned of and became friends with My joy I find in pain and loss, others who would go on to become I love the thorns that guard the rose, saints. One in particular was - Marie- With joy I kiss each heavy cross, Françoise Thérèse Martin, later known as And smile with every tear that flows. “Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the

Holy Face” or “Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.” When clouds the sunny skies o’ercast It is interesting to note that And weary grows my heart the while, there appears to be a distinct parallel be- My joy it is that joy is past, tween St. Thérèse and our Little Rose. And gone my Lord’s consoling smile. They were both referred to as victim souls. Two distinctly different types of My peace is hid in Jesus’ breast: victim souls. One was a victim soul to May His sweet will alone be done! Divine Justice and the other a victim soul had rejected Jesus and try to win those What fear can mar my perfect rest, to Merciful Love. Let that sink in for a souls back to to Him. She would suffer, Who loves the shadow as the sun? moment. but it would be the suffering of compas- Whene’ere He stealeth from my side, Little Rose as we understand, sion as Mary did, also, there at Calvary With many a fond and sweet caress, accepted and suffered great pains in her standing at the foot of the Cross as she body to make reparation for souls and stayed by her Son. In learning about St. I then to Him my love confide win them to Jesus. She offered her suf- Thérèse’s “Little Way” we find that all of With double warmth and tender ness. fering to Jesus as He suffered during His us are capable of consoling the Sacred ‘Tis all for Thee, dear Jesus mine, Passion. Place yourself outside the walls Heart of Jesus and we can choose to do Yea, suffering is my gladsome choice; of Jerusalem at Calvary as Jesus is dying so. By opening our hearts to His love and on the Cross. Envision Him there, all then offering it to our neighbor in mercy My joy on earth—my bliss divine— bloody, bruised and broken. He is a vic- and love. We can ask Mary to lift our Ah, ‘tis to make Thy Heart rejoice! tim soul to Divine Justice. Little Rose smallest pure intention of love up to Jesus’ Since love’s divine, celestial breath chose this path of pain and suffering in Face and thereby console Him. Is all I need my heart to bless, an offering to be in union with Jesus: a Considered by Pius XI as "the What matters life, what matters death? victim soul to Divine Justice. star of his pontificate", she was rapidly St. Thérèse on the other hand, beatified in 1923 and canonized in 1925. Love is my peace, my happiness! knew she could not suffer in this way. In 1927 she is proclaimed Patron Saint of She saw herself too weak and little to the Missions despite not having ever left withstand the pains of Divine Justice. the convent, but she always prayed for Over the course of her short life she too missionaries and it was always her burning intensely loved Jesus. She was drawn to desire to become one. In 1997, Pope John understand that by herself, there was no Paul II declared her a Doctor of the way at all that she could love Jesus to the Church, being the third woman to get that degree that He deserved. She gradually appointment. Previously declared women realized that the only way she could con- doctors were Saint Teresa of Jesus, also a sole the heart of Jesus for so much rejec- Carmelite, and Saint . tion of His Mercy was to ask Him to fill The Feast of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is her heart with all this rejected love and October 1. Built in her honor, the Basili- allow it to consume her. Once filled with ca of St. Thérèse in Lisieux, is the second this love she could then in turn pour out largest place of pilgrimage in France, after Jesus’ Love and Mercy onto those who the sanctuary of Lourdes. Page 3 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ From the Archives ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Who is Uncle George? * HOLY WATER * Little Rose mentions Uncle George several times. In 1931 she gave him a photo of herself to comfort A Means of Spiritual Wealth him for the death of his daughter. George had a very tender relationship with Little Rose. His daughter, Flora Fontaine died in 1929. Holy water is one of the Church’s sacramentals and it remits venial sin. Because of the blessing attached to it, the Holy George-Michel Mathieu, born 1880 was the younger brother of Rose-de-Lima Mathieu Ferron, Church strongly urges its use upon her children, especially when mother of Little Rose. In 1882, their mother died. dangers threaten, such as fire, storms, sickness and other cala- His sister was 14 and it fell upon her to help raise him. He was married with a son when the Ferron mites. Every Catholic home should always have in it a supply of Family moved to the United States and so did he holy water. and his family. Being raised by his sister, they remained close. Holy water has its great power and efficacy from the prayers of

George thought, “Rose was a good girl. She was the Church, which its Divine Founder always accepts with com- suffering incredibly.” He went to see her daily but placency. The devil hates holy water because of its power over if she were too ill, every two days. He believed if him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is of- she was not in heaven, none of us were worthy ten sprinkled with this blessed water. While making the Sign of George died in May of 1966 in Woonsocket, RI and is buried in Precious Blood Cemetery along the Cross reverently say, “By this holy water and by Thy Precious with his wife, Florina Bibeau Mathew who died in Blood wash away all my sins, O Lord.” April 1935. Many people that know of holy water do not take advantage of “Oh Jesus, yes, I love You, and I want without a cloud to love You its great benefits. Why not cultivate its use into a daily routine, more than myself. Oh! It is for You, also teaching our young family members about its availability to my Jesus, that I wish to suffer. us as Catholics? Oh Jesus, it is for You alone, for that would be my heavenly Father’s will.” REMEMBER: - Marie Rose Ferron The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Our Newsletter may also be found on entity and any donations our website. made are tax deductible. roseferronfri.org

If you would like a hard copy. For a donation of $5.00 to cover costs, we will Our Foundation Supporters send it as a hard copy for one year. Everything being done in Little Rose’s name comes from donations from people like you. Laughter is better medicine… Think about making a small sacrifice to help.

Dear Doctor, Albert K. Aubin Lorraine O’Coin My dentures wobble all day long when I am Marc & Patricia Auger Lise Ann Paille talking to my family. What should I do? Richard R. Ayotte Helen Peltier Mrs. Gums Richard Bannister Paul G. Peppler Albert & Robin Beauparlant Raymond Piccirilli Doctor Quacks Reply: Stop talking so much Mary M. Bigham Mrs. Frances Pinto and give all your Gums a rest. Cathy Boisvert Janet & Christopher Mike & Rita Casey Plonka Little Rose Magazine, Vol. 4 Autumn 1968 Leo R. Collard Diane H. Redekas Alfred W. Cronin Judith A. Robitaille A woman riding a bus was anxious not to David & Denise Ethier Timeless Antiques & pass her destination. She pocked the bus Anne M. Gallant Collectibles Photo: Child Jesus Sleeping on Crucifix, driver with her umbrella, “Is that the National Gilles & Christiane Gallant William J. Vieira painted plaster, Aureole of Crown of Bank?” Carl LeClair Donald E. Watson Arthur R. LePointe Robert & Frances Whitman Thorns with 3 Nails, 3¾" x 7¼". No, Ma’m,” replied the bus driver; that’s my Marie L. Magill In Memory of Rosanna stomach.” McHugh Sisters Whitesell Little Rose would give these figures as Elizabeth Montigny Little Rose Magazine, Vol. 8 No. 3 1973 Many wished to remain gifts to visitors. Paulette C. Nickel Anonymous Impressive Donations Check out our Little Rose Book Nook

On our website, roseferronfri.org to see what is available for sale. The list of This Fall the Foundation received two large mosaics available items has to be opened and also serves as the order form. (34”X56”) created in Paris during the early part of the 20th century by Jean Maude. They were placed in the new Our Volunteer Grant Writer Needed Lady of Victory Church located in Woonsocket, RI in the early 1930’s. There is much work needed on the Annex building so the complete Domestic “Chapel of Thorns” can be moved into it. The Foundation could really use someone who is familiar with grant writing so funds can be obtained to pay for the extensive materials needed.

Gardener(s) Needed

The Foundation grounds need maintenance when Spring gets here. While some plants have been planted this year in front, the courtyard needs work. Much can be done with it but it is a very large, time consuming area. If you enjoy yard work and working with plants, please contact our President. As a faithful volunteer uncovering & creating beauty in this special area, may God’s peace- filled rewards follow you in this life and, we pray, into the next!

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Parlez-vous français? We occasionally receive correspondence in French and while we are able to read, we cannot answer back in French. Also some of the literature from the past would be nice to have translated into Polish, Italian, Chinese and Portuguese.

We would like to report that we are now able to provide Spanish information on Little Rose. THANK YOU to two Spanish translators that have come forward! St. Thérèse St. Joan of Arc If you have ideas to bring her name and life forward, please feel free to con- With the close of Our Lady of Victory Church, they were tact the Foundation President, sold and are currently in storage on our grounds until the David P. Ethier by completion of the main chapel in 2019, at which time they EMAIL : [email protected] will be moved to places of honor for all to see. Calling David at 401-568-0349 WEB: roseferronfri.org or on FACEBOOK: Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island PO Box 3441 • 339 Arnold St. Woonsocket, RI 02895

Email: [email protected] WEB: roseferronfri.org

Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

The Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer organization. All donations are tax deductible.