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

Volume 5 Issue 1 December 2020 The year 2020 has in some ways suffered for us. made time appear to stand still. The As the Bible tells us, when an halting of worship during the Lenten angel of the Lord appeared to the season of 2020 made it feel like we shepherds, the glory of the Lord were to endure a never ending lent. shone around them, and they were Despite that, we find ourselves look- terrified. But the angel said to them, ing at the calendar and realizing “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you Christmas will soon be here. tidings of great joy that will be for all One thing has remained constant the people. For this day, is born to here at the Rose Ferron Foundation you a Saviour, Christ the Lord. Glory - our commitment to prayers of repa- transcending time and space. Specifi- to God in the highest; and on earth ration every Friday and first Sunday of cally, prayers of reparation take us to peace to men of good will.” the month. We have tried to accom- the foot of the cross of as He is Through the reading of Sacred modate those who cannot attend in crucified. There we stand with His Scripture we can transcend time and person by posting our prayer program mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and space. We can see, along with the on our website. If you would like a see what sin has done. Only by being shepherds, a tiny, helpless, newborn copy, we can mail one to you for a present to Jesus in prayer, can we Baby Boy and together bear witness to small donation. offer our love to soothe and console the King of Love born on Christmas All forms of prayer have a way of Him and give thanks for all He has day for each one of us. Words From the Foundation President The Two Trinities

Ave Maria! first Sunday of the month. Please plan a trip to join us if you are able. Fixing and stop- I have always prayed the “Litany ping leaks appears to of Humility” with my family. See have been the theme page four to read portions of writings for this third quarter by my son Paul when he was sixteen. of 2020. Our next Additionally, devotion to Little Rose door neighbor installed a much-needed directs one to know the great drain pipe to direct water away from importance of humility. our building instead of towards it; Buildings are made of matter and breaking ground in our courtyard to human beings have corporeal bodies; remove old asphalt to allow for proper both decay over time. When God drainage; we repaired and purchased sent Jesus to us on that first Christ- “Light of the World” new windows to stop the leaking of mas day, He freely gave to man His drafty, cold air so our heating system Divine Nature, elevating us toward a can be more effective. higher nobility. In this way we be- As we fix the leaks in our building, come Divine through Jesus—an we continue to pray for the leaks in amazing thought to realize and our Catholic family as reported in this ponder as we celebrate this Advent “Christmas also reveals the full meaning of issue on page two, an article on Faith and Christmas season! every human birth, and the joy which accompa- and the Family. All of us can help in Yours with “little Rose,” nies the birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the repair of those leaks by our contin- the foundation and fulfillment of joy at every ued prayers. We remain open and David P. Ethier child born into the world.” ~ Pope St. John Paul II have a prayer service every Friday and Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter Roses, Thorns & Prayer This story has run the course of cause, even torn clothing if they catch just about a hundred years as of this just right. When you add this togeth- writing. Marie Rose Ferron accepted er with our Thorn Tree, you see the her suffering to include a crown of “never enough thorns” that Little thorns . She asked her third Rose spoke about, continues on here cousin, Rose Myette, to created a do- at her Foundation in Woonsocket, mestic “chapel of thorns.” The prayer Rhode Island. of the Rosary is the glue that binds The relocation of our 'Domestic this story together. One evening after Chapel of Thorns' is ongoing and ever the Ferron and Myette families prayed changing as we progress with needed the Rosary in 1928, when Little Rose building improvements. If you have was 27 and Rose Myette was 17, Little visited us in the past two years, the Rose looked at Rose Myette and said: next two years promise to be a com- “Rose, I have a lot of work for you to pletely new experience as we expand. do. And it’s going to take a long time. It is a slow process that comes with all And there can never be enough so overgrown as to become, well, a the pains of pruning a rosebush filled thorns!” “thorn in your side”...pun intended. with thorns. There you have it roses and roses The Rose Ferron Foundation of One thing that stands firm is our and thorns and thorns linked amid Rhode Island’s courtyard came with a commitment to praying the Rosary on prayer. Pain and beauty, joy and suf- few of these unruly rose bushes. In the first Sunday of the month, and fering joined as only prayer can. the process of trying to control the every Friday as time and construction If you have ever grown a rose growth, it takes a lot of time and dedi- allow. Please consider a visit to join bush, you know that either it will die cation to pruning—not to mention the us for prayer and to view our progress. the very first year or two, or become cuts and scrapes that those thorns will We ask that you call ahead to confirm.

Once upon a time in our little city More importantly why have they of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, there abandoned Jesus as He was present in Former St. Ann’s Church, was a Catholic “parish family” that the Blessed Sacrament inside those Woonsocket, RI belonged to a church named St. churches? Perhaps the answer lies in Ann’s. Its two giant towers were our culture’s current degradation of called the “Towers of Faith and the family as a whole. Family” and could be seen from vari- Let this be a wake up call to all ous points in the city. It was indeed a remaining faithful Catholic families to most beautiful church with frescoes pray, pray, pray! Pray for Little Rose painted on the ceiling similar to those to intercede and bring back those who of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. are far from their former church fam- Unfortunately there is no longer a ilies. Our Mother Church is suffering “parish family” there; the church has but there is much power in prayer. been sold to an artist group which We are reminded of La Sentinalist maintains it as a secular institution. Movement that took place within the Sadly, this story is repeated Canadian population during Rose’s throughout our city of Woonsocket. lifetime. There was a great difference ~ Many of our Catholic churches, of opinion which led to members of Little Rose, please intercede for us including Little Rose’s former the Church being excommunicated. now as we pray that all hearts have a Catholic “parish family” of Holy Little Rose was asked to suffer for deep conversion back to the love of Family Church, have either closed or them and did so. All eventually God and Our Lord and Savior, Jesus mergers have taken place. returned to profess their obedience to Christ, and Holy Mother Church Where have the families gone? the . throughout the world. Amen. Volume 5, Issue 1 Saint Francis & the Nativity Page 3 the Infant Jesus in His arms!! The In 1223, on Christmas Eve, a townspeople marvel as Infant Jesus is man who we now know to be St. placed in the manger. All are silent. Francis was drawn to the idea of Was it an instant or an eternity? God trying to re-create the scene as it has once again been revealed to simple must have looked on the night Our townfolk as joy and wonder filled the Lord was born. Can we visualize night. him going around the town of We do know from many writings Greccio asking townfolk if he could about this first re-creation of the borrow a donkey here and couple Nativity of Our Lord that many in lambs there? Can we imagine the attendance, including Francis himself, expressions on their faces when he did see the Holy Infant Jesus. Later in asked them to bring their animals life, Francis would receive the wounds with them to celebrate midnight of Jesus in his feet, hands and side. Mass in a stable on the hillside? If it Jesus was brought to life through were not for Francis’s popularity as a Francis from birth to crucifixion. holy man with an unusual preaching Francis preached that “the safest style, many in the area could have remedy against the thousand snares thought he may had gone mad. he only have that little manger surround- and wiles of the enemy is spiritual joy.” Instead, we must consider, that love ed by animals—leaving each person in Perhaps here, as we think about his for Francis coupled with a curiosity attendance the ability to enter into the first Christmas creche, we see his to know what he was up to had scene with their senses - feeling the chill; reasons for wanting to bring to life the gotten the best of them. Lo and smelling and hearing the animals; seeing real event of the birth of Our Lord to behold, they found themselves the stars. experience it with all his senses. At traveling with their livestock in the We can picture a small child in the Christmas, it is the infant Christ who is middle of a cold, star-filled night front row with a tiny doll in her arms again born in human hearts, we are toward a stable. with Francis leaning over her asking if he reminded that here God is presented to Next, we can sense Francis could borrow her doll to place it in the us as a helpless, tiny Babe. Truly we preparing the area by gathering hay manager as Baby Jesus. When the little can each experience the true joy and for the manager at the center of the girl agrees and places her doll in Francis’ peace of Christmas as we ponder our stable. We wonder, did he actually arms, he cradles it as if it was a real baby. own Nativity scene that we create ask some of the townspeople to As he is bringing it to the manger, some- inside our homes and most importantly portray Mary and Joseph? Or did thing happens when, suddenly, it really is in our hearts. Newly Acquired from the Holy Family Christian belief in the power of relics (the physical remains of a holy site or holy person, or objects with which they had contact) is as old as faith itself. Relics were more than mementos. The New Testament refers to healings of people that were touched by Christ or His apostles. The body of the saint provided a spiritual link between man and God: “Because of the grace remaining in the martyr, they were an inestimable treasure for the holy congregation of the faithful.” Our museum has a reliquary that includes relics of many of the great Saints: St. Paul, Apostle, St. Thomas, Apostle, St. Jude Thadaeus, Apostle, St. Anne, St. Monica, St. Francis Xavier, St. Therese of Infant Jesus, St. John Vianney, Pope St. Pious X, St. Ve- ronica and St. to name a few. Our newest additions are pieces of the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the cloak of Reliquary containing relics of the Veil St. Joseph, the Manger and of the True Cross. All came to us with paperwork verifying of the Blessed Virgin Mary, cloak of St. their authenticity. Both of these came from Patricia and Agnes McHugh, previously dis- Joseph and of Jesus’s Manger. played at Flora Lemire’s Chapel—Flora is one of Little Rose’s sisters. Page 4 The Little Rose Newsletter Ad Majorem The Secret of Knighthood For the Greater - Excerpts from the writings of Paul Ethier Glory of God Dei Gloriam may be found in the most profound The word Chivalry, and the power of prayer. Essentially, terminology often associated with it rather than the usual practice of derive from the French word praying for what we want, which is Chevalier, which translated means a often against what God wants for mounted knight. Over time, this us, we have a list of human failures word became acquainted with the due to Original Sin, which we pray manner and conduct of such mount- to God to help vanquish, and/or ed knights, who were beckoned by overcome. How does Humility tie the Church to Defend the Poor, in with Perfect Knighthood? The Weak, and Defenseless. answer is quite simple, yet so over- Chivalry was a way of life for the looked that we never see it happen. upper class in the Medieval past, Chivalry is something spiritual as guiding men along the lines of pro- well as secular, and in order to priety and social expectation. That attain the highest rewards and reap is, men who were powerful and had the benefits of both natures of the means to defend, were looked at Chivalry, the knight must conquer to defend those who were unable to himself. Conquer his passions. do so themselves. The idea was quite Conquer his lower nature which simple and easy to understand, that seeks to be consoled, gratified, in those who had the ability to defend the most improper and ridiculous the weak and defenseless had the ways. He must learn to silently obligation of doing so. bow his head, and not take the glory of this world for the sake of But alas, human nature is corrupt, the praise and honor he will re- and twisted from its true origins by ceive. means of original sin. Chivalry became a means to abuse the norms The idea of Sacrificial Love, like of proper virtue for the sake of per- unto Christ, the Perfect Knight sonal glory and vice; the cause of who gave his life in defense of the many wars and suffering for the weak, in defense of the sinner, peoples of Christendom. bringing joy to the sorrowful, courtesy towards his oppressors, This being said, we must bring humility when His people wished this into question: Is Chivalry Dead? to crown Him as the Son Of David, Did it ever truly exist? What is the yet most importantly, having cour- necessary remedy to save Chivalry age in championed combat against from the corruption of our failing the great dragon, Satan. human nature? For a Knight to attain true perfection, he must work Knighthood is about humility. against the concupiscence of human Full text may be found on our website at: nature which desires the praise of the www.roseferronfri.org/humility world. The answer to Knighthood’s Perfection is simple: Humility. Humility allows the virtues and the good deeds which are often asso- ciated with the chivalry of knight- hood to flourish into a something supernaturally beneficial, allowing a knight to gain what is most im- portant rather than focusing on the fleeting praise and laud of this world. The finest art of this virtue, Humility, Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 5 During the 70’s and 80’s In the Presence of Rose ticed her father’s self-reliance Father Palm collected many was giving way, for there was a testimonies about Little Rose tremor in his voice and tears be- and also wrote the following gan to stream down his cheeks; in his “Summary of the Life of then he braced himself, grasped Marie Rose Ferron”, regarding his beads and shook them before the many testimonies he me with his rugged and nervous collected: hand. “Father”, he said, “The “All remember Little Rose as Mother of God will never allow if present now before their that, I will wear out these beads eyes: an ever-smiling face in a before that happens” Those pain-racked body. Her words words were said with such a deep still ring in their ears. Many Rose, age 22, with Father Henri Vincent faith and they rang with so much are now drawn to her chapel sincerity, that I shall never forget (at her sister Flora’s), or to her visit with her. “We spoke of Rose,” I them. They also show the man as he grave, as they used to be drawn, said, “And when she heard of the last is, for if his self-confidence was by a strange magnetism, to her events that caused you all so much great, his trust in prayer was still bedside. trouble, she interrupted me saying; greater. By prayer they protected Little Rose never talked about ‘You know, it is possible for her own themselves; had the Apostles done herself. She was interested only in father and mother to turn against the same, had they followed the rec- others: their pains, their problems, her.’” These words were hardly said ommendation of Our Lord, they their welfare, both material and when they were followed by a storm of would never have fallen away.” spiritual. She never complained, protest from Mr. and Mrs. Ferron – See here in the last letter of Little never showed impatience, never they would not believe that such a Rose to Father Leonard, she lived made an uncharitable remark, nev- thing could even be possible for them, only for her Jesus: “For the things of er allowed criticism of others in her they frowned at such a statement and earth I seem to have no heart. But presence, even of those who were still recriminating when I added: do not be mistaken, my heart weeps wronged her so cruelly & unjustly.” “Those who have abandoned Rose, but my lips smile. I love, but in Jesus. To this Father Boyer would trusted in themselves as much as you I seem severe, but for my Jesus. I add Rose’s effect on those she do, they thought their affection was would love to make Him known, loved dearly, to the point of eternal, but it proved to be as human loved, served as St. Cure d ‘Ars.” bringing her own father to tears as yours is, and see where it has led as Rose gently, in the background them!” This comparison displeased of the following story, pointed them, they felt rather insulted by it, him to God. Father Boyer de- when I added; “You are no better than scribes the scene, as he narrates the Apostles, they protested louder in his biography book on Rose, than you do, and they all fled when She Wears a Crown of Thorns: their interest was at stake.” Rose’s fa- “I was in Rose’s room, she had ther finished in a most emphatic way, just emerged from the trials of saying: “Father, that cannot be . . . I being abandoned and be- have not lost my head yet . . . Nor do I trayed. . On hearing me say that intend to lose it. . .” it was possible for her father and “That is true, you have not lost mother to turn against her, as oth- your head yet,” I said, “But you have ers had, she immediately called too much of it!! . . . them in. When they had come, she It was on that account that St. Peter looked at me and said: “Please was in danger and finally disowned his Pope Pius IX canonized St. John Vianney, in 1925. He repeat what you were saying.” I master.” During the conversation, Rose was a French Catholic priest and is the patron of parish began reminding them of a mystic was pointing out the weakness of those priests, also known as Curé d’Ares. The statue pictured here can be seen in our Museum. they knew of; I spoke of my last who trusted in themselves, when I no- Page 6 Little Rose’s Rosary Man The Little Rose Newsletter The following interview took place in a side chapel inside St. Church, Revere, MA, on June 9, 2017 with Carl LeClair, Stephanie Concannon, the author, Deacon Joe Belmonte and his wife, and friend James (Dana) Gustavson all recalling the marvelous route to health in 2012 that Carl attributes to “Little Rose.” Carl is pictured here holding his “Jacob’s Ladder Rosary”, first given to him by Little Rose’s sister Flora. Carl LeClair first encountered Little tery, Carl opened his eyes. Joe laughs Rose while purchasing a lottery ticket and says at that moment, he was ready at his favorite Bellingham, MA shop, to have a heart attack himself. Carl over 20 years ago. Though he lived in recalls hearing Joe’s voice praying the Revere, MA, he had been traveling an rosary before he opened his eyes, alt- hour to Woonsocket once a month to hough he has no memory of the hospi- play Powerball. This is where he dis- tal before that. By the time Joe was covered a prayer card containing a finished, Carl was sitting up in bed. His novena to Little Rose. When he asked family came in the room and he recog- the shop owner where Little Rose was nized each person. He was able to buried, the man directed him down the return home soon after that and has road to Precious Blood Cemetery, only since been in good health. Carl says, one block away. That’s where Carl’s ”My doctor says he is always surprised great devotion to Little Rose began. to see me.” He says, “I would go there once a Upon Carl’s visit to his eye doctor, month to play Powerball and then I he learned of bruising behind his eye would go visit Little Rose.” Carl, a sockets, a sign of oxygen deprivation locksmith by trade, gathered every- funeral home so that they would be in the brain. However, Carl’s memory thing he could about the tiny Stigmatic ready to prepare his body. and men- from Woonsocket. He even met with God, however, had other plans for tal Rose’s sister Flora, who gifted him a Carl. Having been an active member are per- special type of Rosary in which the of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Re- fect. The beads can roll easily through the fin- vere, helping at Masses and distrib- d o c t o r s Doctors, nurses and ambulance driver gers as they hang between two chains. uting communion to the sick, Carl was a who treat- that handled Carl’s case at Mass. This rosary, called the “Stairway to well-loved friend at the church. It was ed him at General Hospital. Heaven” or “Jacob’s Ladder”, became the community who rallied around his the hospi- Carl’s special project as he learned to side that day asking his favorite per- tal had make them himself and gave them son, Little Rose, for help. Fr. George, pictures of away to priests, nuns, and other reli- the pastor, visited Carl, gave him the him on the gious. It would be the same type of Last Rites and prayed for him with Lit- CAT lab rosary dangling from his bedside when tle Rose’s “memento.” James (Dana) b u l l e t i n he woke from a coma years later. Gustavson, a fellow parishioner and board for In March of 2012, at the age of friend, went to visit him in the hospital four years. 70, Carl became sick with what he and heard the bad news from Carl’s D e a c o n thought was an aggressive form of the wife. James said, “I even tried pinch- Joe notes stomach virus, but after spending sev- ing him and there was no reaction. He the signifi- eral minutes in the bathroom, he asked was white as a sheet.” James asked cance of the mystery when Carl woke his son to call for an ambulance. The people in the parish to pray to Little up: The Third Glorious Mystery was paramedics that came to their home Rose for Carl and also began praying Flora’s mystery (Little Rose and her recognized that he was experiencing to her himself. siblings were dedicated to each mys- cardiac arrest. On the way to the hos- Joe Belmonte, who is a deacon at tery of the Rosary at birth) the same pital, Carl’s wife, Virginia, grabbed a St. Anthony’s, also came to visit. He sister who gave Carl his first Jacob’s “memento” of Little Rose. By the time asked the nurse if Carl would be able Ladder Rosary. Now 75, Carl contin- Virgina got to the hospital, the medical to hear him if he spoke to him. The ues his life of service at St. Anthony’s team had already tried resuscitating nurse did not know, but suggested he and his role as husband, father, grand- him twice; however they ended up re- try. Joe explained to Carl that he was father, and his devotion to Little Rose. suscitating him four times after that be- going to pray the rosary and invited Carl was asked to serve as Vice President of fore they were successful. Carl’s cardi- him to pray it silently if he could. He the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island ac arrest was finally stopped, however, wrapped the Jacob’s Ladder Rosary he was in a coma and not expected to and he officially and happily took on that role around Carl’s hands as he prayed. Joe at our August 2017 Board Meeting. recover. Virgina even called the says that during the 3rd Glorious mys- Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 7

My children and their Gram were love personified. Both my children live in California. My daughter and her husband were visiting Rhode Island and New Hampshire with family until Oct 26th for Brendan and Oct 31st for Stacey. My son, David, decided to come to the East Coast and stay for ten days to celebrate my birthday on Oct 25th. This prompted my daughter to delay her return to CA until Nov 4th and fly back with her brother. God, in His mercy, allowed my children, who were so very close to their Gram, to both be in RI for her passing on November 1st. What a grace God gave to my children and Gram’s family that they were all together when she passed. Truly, God has the puzzle made. Believe in His plan! His plan is perfect!!!! Submitted by Edward “Sonny” Goryl, Foundation Director Believe in God’s Timing! “It is better to wait a while and have things fall into place, than to rush and have things fall apart.”

Foundation Supporters O Mary, Bright dawn of the new world, Nadine Barrois Mike O’Neil Mother of the living, to you do we Pauline Belair Lise Ann Paille entrust the cause of life: Kathy Blake Brenda Peter Cathy Boisvert Ray Piccirilli Look down, O Mother, Pricilla Branch Joan Rankin Upon the vast numbers Christine Carr Janet Robidoux of babies not allowed to be born, Jusith Chase Diane Santo of the poor whose lives are made Clara Fontenot Mary Sequin difficult, Jane Gauvin Steve Seyster of men and women who are Norbert Gorny Janet Shinney victims of brutal violence, Maria Greco Kirk Struhart DEAR LITTLE ROSE of the elderly and sick killed by Joy Jennings Donald Watson The sweetest name that heaven knows indifference or out of All for Jesus, she suffered for misguided mercy. Marc & Pat Auger So, that we could love Him more. Grant that all who believe in your Renee Ciambrone Dear Little Rose, I promise I will never rest Thomas Collard Son may proclaim the Gospel of Until I have given you all my best. Yvette Bergeron Handy Life with honesty and love For my love for you is a burning desire Roy-Charles Coulombe to the people of our time. No one but Jesus can put out the fire. David & Denise Ethier Obtain for them the grace Paul & Amanda Ethier to accept the Gospel as a gift Dear Little Rose, I see you in the moon Lorraine Floberg ever new, the joy of celebrating it Maybe, I pray, I’ll be up there soon Dr. Darline Kulhan with gratitude throughout their I love you each day more and more Msg. M. Malnar lives and the courage to bear Anna Mumfrey I pray I meet you at heaven’s door. witness to it resolutely, in order to Steve & Renee Pelletier Dear Little Rose, from you I shall never part Marguerite Wejnert build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth No one can take you from my heart Rose Marie Whipple and love, to the praise and glory Bring me, dear Little Rose, each day Timeless Antiques & Collectibles In Memory of of God the Creator Closer to Jesus, this I pray. Rosanna Whitesell and lover of life. ~ Phyllis Messina Many wished * Prayer ending the Encyclical Letter “The Gospel of Life” to remain Anonymous Evangelium Vitae - Pope St. John Paul II 3/25/1995 Laughter, the better During these days I shall not fail to Hot off the Press: redouble my prayers to the heavenly medicine . . . * Reprint of “Mon Infant, that He may be pleased to keep you from all harm in this world, A beggar appeared at the Coeur Vous Parle” - door of a boy’s reformatory. A especially from the a French translation student opened the door and misfortune of losing the Child Jesus. of “My Heart heard the unfortunate one’s - from St. ’s letters plea. Speaks to Thee” “Has not Fortune ever by Friends of Little If Little Rose has touched your heart, even in the knocked at your door?” asked smallest of ways, please consider sharing your Rose in memory of story with us by visiting us online at: the student. Marie Emily www.roseferronfri.org/share-your-story “He did once,” replied the O’Brien $5.00 or write to beggar; “but I was out. Ever Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island, since, he has sent his daugh- 339 Arnold St, Woonsocket, RI 02895. * Italian translation of ter.” “His daughter!” exclaimed short biography on the Membership Renewal postcards to be mailed soon! Membership shows that there is a the puzzled student. “Who is Life of Marie “Little strong devotion to "Little Rose" she?” Rose” Ferron. Our and a great need to keep her “Why, can it be possible memory alive. If you are not a that you do not know For- Foundation offers for member yet, please consider free. Also offered in becoming a member today! tune’s daughter?” answered the Print member form or signup at: beggar in surprise, “it’s Miss English and Spanish. www.roseferronfri.org/how-you-can-help Fortune, of course.” *Reminder* 2020 has left us with no way to fundraise and we are feeling the pinch. Your continued donations are needed to help us continue our work!!

Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island 339 Arnold Street Woonsocket, RI 02895

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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. Our Newsletter is also found on our website listed above. For $5 donation we can mail out hard copy to address you provide.