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

Volume 3 Issue 3 June 2019 Here at the Rose Ferron Progress at Our Headquarters Foundation of Rhode Island, we Little Rose keep hearing the same question being asked around Woonsocket and surrounding areas: “Is Little Rose really moving back to Woon- Mary Rose Ferron was born on socket?” We always answer with a May 24, 1902 in Canada. Her parents smile and say, “She Never Left!”. came to Fall River, MA, in 1905. Rose It certainly is a very different became ecstatic about that time and state of transition for her, as now remained so until her death. she will have a much more spacious In 1925, Rose arrived in Woon- area to share her belief in Jesus, His socket, RI. In 1926, the stigmata of the Catholic Church and her love for flagellation appeared. In 1927, those of God. Blessings are continuing!! Much work continues fixing the drainage for the the hands and feet. In 1928, the stig- We want to report the success to be done in the archives courtyard which currently mata of the crown of thorns and then of our most recent fundraiser, held portion of the Annex Build- sits atop asphalt and is not in 1929, that of the heart. In 1930, the stigmata disappeared, but pains were at Savini’s Pomodoro on April ing. Many file cabinets effective. felt more intensely. 13th. A little under 100 attended have been put into place The Foundation hon- and are almost full as mate- ored Little Rose with prayer Ecstasy and stigmata are nothing the event. We do want to apolo- but charisms and in themselves do not gize for the technical difficulties we rial on Little Rose’s life is during the month of May. sorted and organized. Masses were offered in her sanctify. What sanctified Little Rose experienced with the sound of the was her virtuous life; she loved God A new heating/air con- name, prayer events were documentary film clips that was so intensely that she communicated shown. This is a new area for us ditioning unit is in the held and her grave decorat- her Charity when she spoke. Her soul and we will improve over time. A works to be installed, allow- ed with flowers as we re- was adorned with Christian virtues and heartfelt ‘Thank You’ goes out to ing the Annex Building to membered her birthday, the she practiced them with the heroism all who shared their moving testi- heat/cool more efficiently . day she died and the day of a true Victim. monies. Also in the works is she professed her Vows. To learn more, read “She Wears a Crown of Thorns”, available at our Words From the Foundation President Little Rose Book Nook.

visit us. We are located at 339 Arnold curtains, depicting a multitude of thorns, to

St. in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. We include prayers, scripted in a thorn pattern are open the first Sunday and third that is most unique. We are most pleased Saturday of each month. Plan a trip to with the results but also look forward to join us! We ask that you call ahead if the day when the Chapel, in its entirety can

part of a large group. be displayed in one area. It has been a huge effort and work We continue our work efforts in this May was a very prayer-filled month, with of the heart to unpack all that has been area and are very thankful for all donations the Foundation Headquarters main Castle in storage for years now. The process and help we receive towards this goal.

Building being opened each weekend. We has revealed that all was well worth Yours with “Little Rose,” enjoyed visitors, both new and old, some the efforts. Our latest addition to the local and some traveling quite a distance to Castle being the intricately designed David P. Ethier Friends are like Angels who lift us up to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

Page 2 Jean-Baptist Ferron The Little Rose Newsletter

Jean-Baptist Ferron was the son of as a thing of the past and prepared her for Desire and Ademire Philomene Ferron something worse. On hearing him say and born on September 9, 1864, in Que- that it was possible for her father and bec Provence, Canada. On July 17, mother to turn against her, as others had, 1888 he married Rose Delima Syclimo- she immediately called them in. When ne Mathieu in St. Aime de Richelieu, they had come, she looked at Father Boy- Quebec, Canada, and together, they had er and said: “Please repeat what you 15 children. Typical size of a Canadian were saying.” Her parents were standing farming family in the 1800-1900 time around the bed facing Father Boyer, period. Just as in the United States, when he said “You know, it is possible large families were important in main- for her own father and mother to turn taining a farm. Everyone had a chore to against her. Those who have abandoned do to help the family survive. Rose, trusted in themselves as much as A hardy Canadian blacksmith who you do, they thought their affection was brought his family to the United States eternal, but it proved to be as human as for a better life in 1903. St-Germain-de yours is, and see where it has led them!” -Grantham was mostly farm country This comparison displeased them, they with a population of 2,300, situated on felt rather insulted by it, when Father the Canadian National train line at the Boyer added; “You are no better than the time of the move. Settling his family Apostles, they protested louder than you first in Fall River, MA, and in 1925 the statues; I watched him, as he took them do, and they all fled when their interest family moved to Woonsocket, RI, away one by one; at last, he came to the was at stake.” By that time, they had where in 1932 he was still listed in the Sacred Heart (it was the last one left in drawn closer to Father Boyer, the mother city directory as a blacksmith. the room); he looked at it as a last fare- was trying to squeeze in a word, but Rose’s father had the floor and he meant He was impulsive by nature, but well and finally sat down before it, and Continued on Page 3 endowed with Christian virtues. His began removing the nails that held the religion made him kind and his jovial pedestal to the floor. Before the third spirit gave him a sociable disposition, nail was out, a shout and a bang was but neither of those traits were ever heard, he threw down the hammer; the able to smother his impulsive nature; floor was still vibrating with the blow, he was not domineering, but was made when he leaped to his feet, repeating: self confident by the strength and vigor “Never!...Never!!”…and forgetting he acquired as a blacksmith. himself, he gesticulated and exclaimed: A man of clean morals, a man of “It is going too far!... That statue is go- prayer, a man of deep Faith. The fol- ing to stay here...here” And he muttered, lowing gives us an idea of his religion saying: “If it is all right to have statues and character. To please the icono- in churches, it can’t be wrong to have clasts or rather prevent their criticisms, them here” and he walked out of the he was induced by a priest to remove room determined that the statue of the all the statues from Rose’s room. He Sacred Heart would stay there.” And to explained a few days later, why that of his credit, the statue remained in Rose’s the Sacred Heart was still there: “You room, showing thereby that a Christian know it has long been a habit in my who loves Christ and has a deep faith in family, when the evening is over and Him, never despises His symbols, any the people are gone, to gather in Rose’s more than one who loves his country room and to say our night prayer before will despise its flag. the statue.” It was clear he wanted that On another occasion, Father Boyer statue to remain there. But Rose has a witnessed a scene that was no less inter- more detailed version of it; she drama- esting. Rose was in her room, having tized the incident and made a real story just emerged from the trials of being of it, “Father was slowly removing the abandoned and betrayed. He spoke of it Volume 3, Issue 3 Page 3

Continued from Page 2—Jean Baptist Ferron The Virtue of Faith to keep it, and he finally finished in a most emphatic way, saying: “Father, that cannot be . Faith provides us with deep convictions which greatly strengthen our will, and faith . . I have not lost my head yet . . . Nor do I ever keeps before our eyes the eternal reward that will be the rich fruit of the suffer- intend to lose it. “ Father Boyer replied “That ings of the moment : Then with St. Paul, we say, “I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come,” and like him we rejoice, is true, you have not lost your head yet, but you even in the midst of tribulations, for each of these, if patiently borne, will earn for us a have too much of it!! . . . It was on that account further degree of God’s vision and of God’s love. that St. Peter was in danger and finally dis- owned his master.” Faith is likewise a source of comfort when we have the misfortune of losing our During the conversation, Rose was pointing dear ones. We are not among those who sorrow without hope. We know that death out the weakness of those who trusted in them- is but a sleep, to be soon followed by the resurrection, and that through death we selves, when her father’s self-reliance began to merely exchange a temporary dwelling for an everlasting mansion. give way, for there was a tremor in his voice and tears began to stream down his cheeks; Our chief consolation is the doctrine of the Communion of the Saints. While then he braced himself, grasped his beads and awaiting the day when we shall be reunited to those that have departed this life we shook them with his rugged and nervous hand. are even now bound to them by the most intimate ties in Christ Jesus. We pray that “Father”, he said, “The Mother of God will their time of trial be shortened and their entrance into Heaven hastened; they in their turn, now assured of their salvation, ardently pray that we may one day join them. never allow that . . . I will wear out these beads before that happens . . .” Those words were Excerpts from the book "Virtues and Glories of Little Rose.” said with such a deep faith and they rang with so much sincerity, that they show the man as he was, for if his self-confidence was great, his trust in prayer was still greater.

By prayer they protected themselves; had the Apostles done the same, had they followed the recommendation of Our Lord, they would Portion of Editorial by Eugene Szynkowski, Little Rose Magazine Spring 1965 never have fallen away. From the example of Little Rose’s life as learned from Father

Parts taken from the book entitled "She Wears a Crown of Thorns" Boyer’s book, people learned and practiced virtue; they written by Reverend O. A. Boyer, STL. learned to accept their daily crosses without complaint and to offer these things to God in reparation, thus pleasing God and becoming spiritually stronger themselves. They learned to have greater respect for priests and to pray for them more because Rose called them “Other Christs” and asked people to pray for priests. Families began to pray together because the Ferron family prayed together in Rose’s room. People learned to understand and pray for others instead of judging them. Glory Be to the Father to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As What does all this add up to? Countless prayers have been it was in the beginning is now said with the resultant increase in reparation and devotion to and ever shall be. World Our Lord’s Passion, His Precious Blood and Sacred Wounds. without end. Numberless graces received and many, many souls brought Amen. closer to God because a girl named Rose Ferron lived and a priest named Father Boyer told us about her in a book. Page 4 The Little Rose Newsletter

On January 31, 1947, Jean- vault and coffin. Baptiste Ferron, died at the age Two priests from of 80. The place for his casket outside the state, The was only a few inches from Rev. Emile Leonard Rose’s grave. The gravediggers from Ville La Sale, noticed the soil next to her Montreal, and the casket had fallen away from it, Rev. Adrien Fortin of disclosing the fact that boards Enfield, NH, who around it had deteriorated viewed the body be- considerably. fore its committal to Today when a person’s the vault and two coffin is placed into the other witnesses all ground, it actually goes into a concur in a statement concrete, metal or plastic liner to the Woonsocket or vault for protection and to Call that the body protect the ground from col- was in an advanced lapsing and marring the ap- stage of decomposi- pearance of the cemetery and tion and was not to making it harder to maintain. be shown to the pub- Some are open at the bottom lic. to allow contact with the earth and some On July 9, 1947, her grave was excavated and The following day, the new casket was are solid bottoms. her remains moved from the deteriorating coffin again exhumed and transferred to the cem- Unlike today, where a burial vault is into a new coffin that had been obtained. A etery’s winter vault. Her body was further required by most cemeteries, they were heavy downpour fell that day, in a great crowd examined, cleaned and redressed. Father not required at the time of Little Rose’s of people gathered in hopes of catching a Boyer stated to the Woonsocket Call July burial. The coffin was placed directly into glimpse of her remains as she was lifted from 10, 1947, that the chest of “Little Rose” the ground and in time, it was to decay, the original coffin and placed into the new one. was solid and that attempts to peel flesh along with the person’s remains and No one thought the number of people who from her hands were fruitless. Her gar- again become part of the earth. Ashes to would be present would be so great. Some of ments, which he described as “intact” had ashes, dust to dust. the people who were attending were able to turned a brownish hue. When the two gravediggers, Adelard obtain pieces of the old coffin as mementos A private autopsy was conducted by Dr. Beaudoin and Arthur Forgette, saw the along with soil that had been up against her James T. Fallon, state pathologist, in the opening, having known something of the coffin. Several spectators who caught a glimpse presence of three city doctors, two clergy- holiness of Rose during her lifetime and stated that the body was in a preserved state. men and four other witnesses. His final the reports of great favors having been A representative of Fournier and Fournier conclusion was that in his opinion the pre- received through her intercession since Home who was in charge of the process stated sent state of decomposition of the remains her death, they could not restrain their that the body was “in the process of decomposi- was normal. Three other doctors who desire to see her body. They stated that tion.” She was then interred again in the new were there concurred with his testimony. they were able to see inside the coffin and that she was preserved with face and Incorruptible Saints flesh firm and the bones “holding togeth- Bodies that undergo little or no decomposition, or delayed decomposition, are sometimes re- er” according to the Woonsocket Call. ferred to as incorrupt or incorruptible. Incorruptibility is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox She was then reburied. Father Boyer belief that Divine intervention allows some human bodies (specifically saints) to avoid the normal heard of the report in May, and verified it process of decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness. Not every saint, however, is with various people involved. He ar- expected to have an incorruptible body and not all parts of the body need to be incorruptible for ranged for her disinterment for the pur- the total remains to be declared incorruptible. Although incorruptibility is recognized as super- pose to examine the remains and placing natural, it is no longer counted as a miracle in the recognition of a saint.. them in a new coffin and vault. Volume 3, Issue 3 Page 5

Brother Anthony Casso, M.S. LaSalette Brother, April 13, 2019 Fundraiser 52 years religious life coming up September 2019. Our second fundraiser was a success a few tunes, to include Happy Birthday beginning with a wonderful chicken din- and Roll Out the Barrel. People danced Played his accordion at ner that included salad, shells, french the polka and the music was thoroughly Rose Ferron Fundraiser 2019 fries as well as rosemary potatoes. Com- enjoyed by all in attendance. Denise Ethier watches on. plete with cake and song for all April Our informative guest speaker, Pau- Birthdays. lette Nickel, gave her insight into her The tables were decorated with a many years working for Little Rose and beautiful fresh pink rose centerpiece gave much encouragement. A few other Everything being done along with heart shaped ribboned pic- testimonies were given on the impact tures of Little Rose as favors. Each guest Little Rose has had, some bringing tears in Little Rose’s name was given 2 free raffle tickets, giving to the listeners. comes from donations them a chance to win their choice of 14 Preview clips of the Documentary that from people and door prizes. the Foundation is working on producing As a special treat, a person in attend- was shown. It is a work in progress and businesses like you. ance brought their accordion and played we will strive to improve as we go along. Think about making a Laughter is better small sacrifice to help. medicine…

Dear Doctor – I’m having trouble with my liver. What should I do? Miss Jaundice Dr. Quacks replies – Try frying on slower fire and smother in onions.

Dear Doctor – I’m forty nine, beautiful and glamorous, but I’m so tired of all the men chasing me. What should I do? Miss Humble Dr. Quack replies – Stop living in the past.

Previously printed in the Little Rose Magazine Page 6 For God and Country The Little Rose Newsletter Emil Joseph Kapaun - Servant of God Further information on this soldier/priest, his life and how his case is Chaplain Kapaun was born on April 20, 1916, (Maundy progressing can be found at the official site Thursday) on a farm three miles southwest of Pilsen, Kansas, a https://fatherkapaun.org/father-kapaun farming community that never had a population greater than 100. His parents Enos and Elizabeth (Hajek) Kapaun were of Bohemian extraction. His parents graced him with one sibling—Eugene, born almost 8 years after he was. He was a willing worker as a youth who was assigned chores such as gardening and weeding on the family farm. Pilsen was founded in 1874 and named to honor the city of Plzeň of Bohemia by Bohemian immigrants. The area was settled in the 1870s and 1880s by 46 Bohemian families of Czech and German descent who purchased their land from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. He graduated from Pilsen High School in May, 1930. Ka- paun also graduated from Conception Abbey Seminary College (College of New Engleberg; Conception Seminary College) in Con- ception, Missouri, in June 1936, and Kenrick Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1940. Four months after his arrival, he was captured, by Chi- nese soldiers, during the Battle of Unsan near Unsan, North Ko- On June 9, 1940, Kapaun was ordained a Catholic priest at rea. He and other members of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry what is now Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. He celebrated Regiment taken prisoner on November 2, 1950, and marched 87 his first Mass at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen, miles (140 km) to a temporary prison camp at Sombakol near the Kansas. In January, 1943, Kapaun was appointed Auxiliary Chaplain permanent camp (Prison Camp 5) at Pyoktong, North Korea. At at the Herington Army Airfield near Herington, Kansas. In Decem- the camps, he dug latrines, mediated disputes, gave away his own ber, 1943, he was appointed Pastor of St. John Nepomucene Catho- food, and raised morale among the prisoners. He was noted lic Church to replace Fr. Sklenar who had retired. He served in the among his fellow POWs as one who would steal coffee and tea Pilsen area under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita. (and a pot to heat them in) from the guards. In 1944, he entered the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps and Kapaun developed a blood clot in one of his legs besides served in India and Burma where he ministered to U.S. soldiers and having dysentery and pneumonia. Weakened, he managed to local missions covering a 2,000 mile territory by jeep. He was pro- lead Easter sunrise service on Sunday, March 25, 1951. He was so moted to Captain before leaving the Chaplain Corps in January, weak that the prison guards took him to a place in the Pyoktong 1946, to do graduate study at Catholic University in Washington, camp they called the "hospital", which was really a place where DC. He later returned to the service and was ordered to Korea in he was left alone without any help and left to die of malnutrition 1950, was assigned to duty as Chaplain of the 3rd Battalion, 8th and pneumonia on May 23, 1951. Kapaun was buried in a mass Cavalry Regiment and within a few weeks he earned the Bronze Star grave near the Yalu River. for heroism in action. His main complaint was lack of sleep for sev- eral weeks at a time. He constantly ministered to the dead and dy- In 2013, Father Kapaun was awarded the Congressional ing while performing Baptisms, hearing Confessions, offering Holy Medal of Honor by President Obama. Communion and celebrating Mass from an improvised altar set up Several miracles have been attributed to prayers made on the front end of a jeep. He constantly would lose his Mass kit, through Father Kapaun. In 2008, the Cause for Beatification and jeep, and trailer to enemy fire. He told how he was thoroughly con- Sainthood was officially opened. Investigation of possible miracles vinced that the prayers of many others were what had saved him so continues. In 1993, Pope John Paul II declared him a Servant of many times. God. This the first step toward possible canonization. Volume 3, Issue 3 Page 7

her for her powerful intercession to who this person was and her impact strengthen my faith and live a holy on the world. April 24, 2019 received from email life the best I can. I view impact as a huge and very “I wanted to let you know that I fin- Thank You again for this book—it significant thing because having an ished reading, ‘She Wears a Crown has really changed my life. May impact on someone means you’ve of Thorns,’ on Good Friday. I can- God and Little Rose Ferron, bless affected someone’s life, for either not put into words how much of an you.” better or worse. It’s really interest- impact this book has made on me. I Daniel Ramirez, ing because maybe one day it’s not just can’t believe she has not been Colorado, US so good, but then years down the declared a saint, because she is a line you see why this happened and

saint to me. how it furthered me as a person. March 30, 2019 It’s cool to see because you never She suffered so much for souls and Commentary during know how you’re going to make for the love of Christ, what she went filming of “Rose” through was beyond belief and your mark on the world and in the “Little Rose is a very interesting per- shows how much our Lord suffered in case of Little Rose Ferron, she was son and historical figure in Rhode His Passion. I am going to read this blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ and Island history. book again; my faith has been performed miracles for countless made stronger by what Little Rose Now before working on this docu- people and made fools, I guess you Ferron went through as a victim soul. mentary, I really didn’t know who could say, into believers through I am going to pray that soon she this person was, but through this I these miracles, which is outstanding!” got to learn and gain experience on will become a saint and to pray to Evan Fortier, Student Videographer RI

Remembering Rose Myette Our Foundation Supporters

It was on August 4, 2014 Joseph Arsenault Michael McMahon that Little Rose’s cousin, Rose Constance Audette Behiye Merolla Myette, passed away at the Marc & Patricia Auger Paulette C. Nickel age of 102. Germain Bianchi John O’Donnell Jacqueline Blanchette Lise Ann Paille She followed Little Rose’s Cathy Boisvert Helen Peltier instructions all her life, creating Leo R. Collard Paul Peppler the beauty of a Chapel that Stephen Cuomo Janet Plonka Nancy Edembo Mr. & Mrs. Steve Seyster the Foundation now preserves. David & Denise Ethier Barbara Tessier Her burial spot now remains Jane Gauvin Timeless Antiques & unmarked. One day the Foun- Ted & Lorraine Gregoire Collectibles Reba Holtzman In Memory of dation would like to Marcel Laliberte Rosanna Whitesell acknowledge her place of rest. Sharon Lamar Carl LeClair Many wished The victory that conquers the world Renee Lisa to remain Marie L. Magill Patricia & Agnes McHugh Anonymous is our faith. 1 John 5:4 Available in our Little Rose Book Nook roseferronfri.org/little-rose-book-nook For Thoughts and Prayers

“She Wears a Crown of Thorns.” By Rev. O. A. Boyer, S.T.L. This is a definitive work by her biographer in hard cover consisting of 364 pages We pray and we ask you also to please pray published in 1951. It tells the story of her life and includes some testimonies from fervently for more vocations to the priesthood. people who have obtained favors through her. They have never been read and are in perfect condition with dust covers. Suggested Donation is $25.00 plus $5.00 P&H.

“She Wears a Crown of Thorns.” By Rev. O. A. Boyer, S.T.L Published by the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island, 2017, soft cover, The Decree of Pope Urban VIII 241 Pages, a reprinting true to the last printing made in paperback of the 1958 edition with several additional photos, includes Little Rose’s story and testimonies In obedience to the decrees of Pope Urban VIII and other of favors received. Suggested Donation is $15.00 plus $4.00 P&H. sovereign Pontiffs, the “Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island” declares that the graces and other supernatural “My Heart Speaks to Thee” facts related in this presentation as witnessing to the The Life of Marie Rose Ferron—Little Rose” sanctity of Servants of God, other than those canonized Written by Wanda Sadowski and first printed in 1964 by Little Rose Friends or beatified by the Church, rest on human authority in Detroit, MI. In 2015 the Foundation had a Third Printing produced. A soft cover booklet consisting of 22 pages concerning her life with illustrations. alone; and in regard thereto, as in all things else, the Suggested Donation is $4.00 plus $2.50 P&H. Foundation submits itself without reserve to the infallible judgement of the Apostolic See which alone has power “Virtues and Glories of Marie Rose Ferron” and authority to pronounce as to whom rightly belong the A reprint of the 1984 book originally printed by the “Friends of Little Rose,” character and title of Saint or Blessed. in Detroit, MI consisting of 130 pages of selected articles and testimonies that appeared in the “Little Rose Magazine” issues from 1965—1979. Suggested Donation is $15.00 plus $4.00 P&H. If you have ideas to bring her name and life forward, please feel free to contact the Foundation President, Our Newsletter may also be found on our website. David P. Ethier by roseferronfri.org EMAIL : [email protected] For donation of $5.00 to cover costs, we will send it as a hard copy for Calling David at 401-568-0349 one year. Please provide your mailing address. WEB: roseferronfri.org or on FACEBOOK: Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

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Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

The Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island is a 501c3 nonprofit, all volunteer organization. All donations are tax deductible.