The Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Volume 4 Issue 4 September 2020 Many of you may have heard the about renewing for another year. For saying: “There’s a crack in everything, those of you who may have joined in that is how the light gets in.” This is a a month other than September, we line written by Leonard Cohen. will send out reminders via e-mail. Reflecting on this line, as one having a Membership not only supports our devotion to Little Rose, we begin to work but more importantly shows understand what Little Rose and the that there is still a strong devotion to year 2020 had in common. They both “Little Rose” and a need to keep her began in a healthy good way and then memory alive. both were shattered by a sickness that In whatever way our world has entered in. Sickness being the “crack” shifted through these challenging in both. times, we must, as Little Rose did in In our dealings with this change in imitation of, and in union with Jesus, our world, we have sadly decided to embrace what we have to suffer and cancel our fundraiser for this year. in this way God can and will channel We are thinking of different fundrais- the focus on another membership His light in order to fill all our broken ing avenues which we will share in the drive. If you joined as a yearly mem- places with His grace. future. For now we will try to keep ber last September, it is time to think We will persevere and overcome present difficulties. Words From the Foundation President Ave Maria! adding a few new ones. We will keep chipping away at the area making On the Feast of improvements as time and funding the Sacred Heart of allows. Jesus this past June November 27th will be the 190th 19th, we conducted Anniversary of the Medal of the Im- an “Enthronment to maculate Conception, more popular- the Sacred Heart” at the Foundation ly known as the Miraculous Medal. led by a retired priest. What a blessing! Our Lady herself presented the de- During July and August we focused sign to a French nun on this day in our efforts on renovating the Annex 1830 with the words, “Those who room after building repairs were made wear it will receive great graces, espe- to stop water from seeping in. Water- cially if they wear it around their proof paint and waterproof flooring neck.” A story of interest regarding “Light of the World” were set under our existing carpeting. how the medal ties in with redemp- Our first stained-glass window was tive suffering is included in this issue Painting by Charles Bosseron Chambers in 1919. installed in this room! on page three with the Claude New- It is actually a detail of a larger painting of Saint Also during this summer, we’ve had man story. Little Rose understood Joseph holding the child Jesus. Between 1920 and the opportunity to think creatively this and with each medal she gave 1940 millions of copies were sold. about how to further our courtyard’s out would also offer her suffering for use and appeal. A space for a small Jesus spoke to them again, saying, the recipients of the medals. grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Fati- “I am the light of the world. Whoever ma was created, along with more flow- Yours with “little Rose,” follows me will not walk in darkness, er beds, incorporating some plants that were here from previous owners and David P. Ethier but will have the light of life.” John8:12 Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter An Answered Prayer The following is a testimony submitted by Two men dedicated their lives to Cathy Boisvert, one of the Directors of the Rose traveling with this statue and as of this Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island. writing they still have a website: My story of an answered prayer www.passionofjesus.com If you go to begins when my Uncle was diagnosed the site and click on history you can with pancreatic cancer in 2002. He see the picture of Little Rose credited lived in Tennesee and called to ask me with the inspiration for the statue. Peo- for Little Rose’s biography She Wears ple are still very moved by Jesus de- a Crown of Thorns, the one given to picted this way. Little Rose continues me by my grandfather when I was a her work to save souls. teenager. I looked everywhere in my A whole year went by before I home and could not find it. I went to passed a table at the French Heritage every bookstore around - no book on Festival in Woonsocket and a banner Little Rose to be found. I was sad- of Little Rose, caught my eye. I found dened to think that not only could I not out about a newly formed Foundation get the book for my Uncle but even created to preserve her memory and more sad that Little Rose’s life could effects. Still it took me another year be forgotten. I did end up finding her out the book ever again. I wanted to to finally go to a talk they were offer- tri-fold novena pamphlet in my Bible. share Little Rose’s story with others ing on Little Rose. Finally in August of It was during Lent; I began to pray a now that I could. The year was 2003. 2017, I was asked to join the Rose Novena to Little Rose to find this book. My Uncle Frank was not to obtain a Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island The day after I finished the nove- healing miracle from Little Rose, alt- and in September 2017, the very next na, a customer walked into our tax hough, I do believe she did bring us month, they purchased a property. office and gave us a plant. I had nev- much peace and consolation, along Add to all this, soon after that pur- er seen this particular plant before. It with the strength to endure. chase, a donation of SEVERAL HUN- was thorny and had tiny little red Fast forward to the year 2015. DRED She Wears a Crown of Thorns flowers. When I looked it up through On a pilgrimage with my mom and hardcover books by Father Boyer, her a plant catalog my friend had – I friends to Betania II in Medway MA, biographer, published in 1951 was found it and it was called “Crown of we beheld the sight of Little Rose’s received!! I was in a state of awe. Thorns!” I said out loud “Little Rose, Scourged Jesus Statue. I had not seen There was a part of me that wanted that is not funny! You know I meant this statue in 40 years. Low and be- to buy them all! Now her story could the book!” To this day, I still have this hold, behind the statue was a picture continue to work miracles!! plant and it always reminds me of of the designer of the statue, “Little Very funny Little Rose! I did know Little Rose. Rose.” As I looked at her picture, I that prayers aren’t always answered Shortly after this, I turned to the asked her “Little Rose, what do you quite the way we want. Now I also internet and finally found the Aposto- want me to do?” I then was caught up know not to give up because in time, late that Paulette Nickel had set up in in this statue of Jesus as He looked the answer just might show up in a Pennsylvania. Paulette had the book! after being scourged, and heard her very big and unexpected way. I bought ten! I did not want to be with- answer: “Listen to Him.” Marie Rose Ferron In 1986, Father Francois-Paul Deraspe, O.SS.T. encouraged Mrs. Jeanne Savard Bonin to write, in all simplicity, everything she knew concerning the stigmatist of Woonsocket. Mrs. Savard Bonin visited the Ferrons form age 12 to 22 with her sister Aline. Her account is vivid and often touching. Fr. Deraspe relates that this book is an invitation to rediscover the Chris- tian meaning of suffering, the concrete value of the restoration of minds and hearts by faith and love of Christ, crucified and risen. The Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island has recently reprinted this book. Suggested donation is $25.00 Volume 4, Issue 4 Miraculous Conversion Page 3 In 1944, a black illiterate shocked everyone present. man on death row in the State Turning to the sheriff, he then of Mississippi was converted to said, "Sheriff, get me a priest!" Catholicism by putting a mirac- The Sheriff went to the con- ulous medal around his neck. It demned man and asked, "Son, was one that another prisoner what changed your mind?" had discarded. This man was The prisoner responded, named Claude Newman. Hav- "Remember that black man ing no knowledge of religion, Claude – the one whom I hated we can say he was awakened so much? Well he's standing there by the Blessed Virgin Mary. [and he pointed], over in that cor- When our Blessed Mother ner. And behind him with one appeared to him, he was hand on each shoulder is the struck by her beauty. She Blessed Virgin Mary. And Claude asked him if he wanted her to said to me, 'I offered my death in be his mother and if he want- union with Christ on the Cross for ed to be her son; if so, send your salvation.