Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Volume 5 Issue 3 June 2021 St. John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s asks us to offer up all we suffer to Him; in womb at the approach of Jesus as Jesus lie union with Him for all souls. When we join hidden in the womb of the Blessed Virgin our sufferings in this way, as Little Rose did Mary. John recognized Jesus before he with hers, our sufferings have great value. was born. Indeed he was the last of the Jesus also describes John as more than great prophets we read about in the Bible a prophet. He says of John “It is written: and yet in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter ‘Behold I send my angel before thy face, 11, we read how, while John was impris- who shall prepare thy way before thee.’” oned, his cousin Jesus says of him: “Amen, I Even as we now call John a saint—Jesus say to you, that there hath not risen among called him an angel. men that are born of women a greater We shall end with a reflection on the than John the Baptist; yet he that is the Apostle John’s Gospel account of St. John lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater the Baptist: “There was a man sent by than he.” John was unable to unite himself God whose name was John. This man to God in the same way all other Saints Saint John the Baptist came for a witness, to give testimony of that followed him could, because Jesus had the light, that all men might believe not endured His Passion yet. John was Feast Day June 24th through him. He was not the light, but was murdered before Jesus was. Jesus elevated humanity to allow man to to give testimony of the light.” This follows Jesus’ Death and Resurrection opened work together with the Divine. Jesus wants with John’s Gospel account of Jesus, “He the pathway for all to follow Him by tak- us to follow in His footsteps. The sufferings was in the world, and the world was made ing up our own crosses to join to His Cross. He endured lacked nothing in terms of by Him and the world knew Him not. But Our sufferings joined to His become the bringing souls the gift of everlasting life. as many as received Him, He gave them path that leads to union with God and a The important part is that each soul has to power to be made the sons of God, to higher degree of sainthood than John want and choose everlasting life. Jesus them that believe in His Name.” could attain. Ave Maria! issue. Truly it was a beautiful day and As we ended the a blessed event. We are hopeful that month of April 2021, this be the beginning of many more we saw a lifelong devo- events in the near future. tee and promoter of June is the month of the Sacred “Little Rose” move out Heart, though the secular world of Rhode Island and would have us think otherwise. As back to her hometown Catholics we should all consider in Pennsylvania. We bid “adieu” to our offering our hearts to Jesus in a spe- friend, Paulette Nickel, as she wished to cial way this month. He is the One return to her family. We thank her for who gave his own Sacred Heart so entrusting us with the documents of Fa- that we may all be one in the love of “Light of the World” ther Boyer and all other treasures associat- the Holy Trinity. ed with Little Rose that she had gathered Think about consecrating your over the years. We wish her much happi- home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, ness and peace. by hanging His picture or setting up a This past May we gathered at the statue of the Sacred Heart. Contact gravesite of Marie Rose Ferron at Pre- your parish priest to ask him to bless cious Blood Cemetery in Woonsocket. your display. We honored her with fresh roses, prayers Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) is the Italian painter and hymns. We have posted pictures Yours with “little Rose,” who depicted this image of the Sacred Heart of online at Jesus, inspired by Jesus asking St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to give Him the gift of her small heart to be www.roseferronfri.org/honoring-rose-2021 David P. Ethier placed in the furnace of His Divine Heart, before and also included a few on page 9 of this returning to her inflamed by His love. Page 2 Little Rose Newsletter Windows, Doors, Plumbing & Courtyard yard project, the area measuring rubble being cleared away, it was Foundation Building Update: about 125 feet by 50 feet at its decided at our most recent Board Building improvements contin- widest point. Currently the bor- Meeting to rethink this and slowly ued during the first half of 2021, ders have stone flower beds con- make our way around the area, as we purchased updated vintage taining some inherited and some creatively using stone dust as a iron windows and antique wood new flowers - and of course, our base with perhaps various cobble- doors that complement the interior “Thorn Tree.” We were blessed to stone grotto entryways amid of the Castle building, fitting the receive donated labor from Mate- smooth concrete pathways to allow style of a castle. One of the exte- rial Sand & Stone Corp., located in for handicap accessibility. We rior doors is fitted with an antique North Smithfield, Rhode Island. also plan to include concrete patio ringing door bell - no electricity They took the time to break up areas for groups to gather - all to required! Window and door instal- and remove the old pitted and make surroundings beautiful and lation is taking time but is cost ef- multi-layered asphalt with their most useful for future events where ficient as we are doing the labor heavy equipment. They have also we can pray and have celebra- ourselves - all donated time. agreed to donate more cement for tions. We also received notification patio areas going forward. Remember, we are in the mid- from the City that our plumbing We had intended to make the dle of a city and hope to create a coming in from the street will need majority of the area a cement pa- tranquil, peace-filled place where to be updated to code, as is occur- tio-type area with the remaining one can feel closer to God. Why ring City-wide with all commercial entryway into the Castle paved not send in a donation towards the properties in Woonsocket. Labor with asphalt - leaving the farthest cobblestones today? While we will have to be paid out-of-pocket inside area to be filled with loam are unable to mark each stone with since we have no members who for the planting of a vegetable a name, we do plan to install a are talented in this area to donate garden. But, during the lengthy plaque with the name of each per- their time. time of watching the clearing of son who donates 25 stones or more Then there is our Castle court- the area and now finally all the with the heading “In Memory Of.” Memberships support our work allowing us to keep Little Rose’s memory alive. It also shows there is continued devotion to her! At present, the Foun- dation has Membership Donation options of $25.00 for a year membership and $333 for lifetime membership. Monthly Donors are needed to commit to a $33.00 donation each month in honor of the 33 years Jesus and Little Rose spent on earth. Complete this form along with your check and send to: Courtyard view looking in Rose Ferron Foundation of RI, 339 Arnold St, Woonsocket, RI 02895 from street. Name: ____________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________ City, State, Zip: _______________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________ Circle One: Membership Lifetime Monthly Donor Cobblestones One time 1 Year Membership Honor 33 years $10 each Donation $25 $333 $33 $_________ $________ Courtyard view looking out to street. Volume 5, Issue 3 Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Page 3 Margaret was born in 1647 in Burgun- her own community. She eventually gained dy, France, of Claude and Philiberte Ala- the support from the community's confessor, coque. Her father was prosperous and St. Claude de la Colombiere, who declared owned a country house and farmland. He her visions were genuine. Finally, all opposi- died of pneumonia when Margaret was tion from the community regarding Mar- eight. She showed an intense love for the garet's visions ended in 1683 when Margaret Blessed Sacrament and preferred silence Mary became the assistant to the Superior. over typical childhood play. Frequently St. Margaret Mary, who later became known she took comfort in visits to pray before as Novice Mistress, led the convent in ob- the Blessed Sacrament. Because of this serving the Feast of the Sacred Heart pri- she was allowed to make her First Com- vately, and inspired the construction of a munion at 9 years old. Soon after, a chapel built to honor the Sacred Heart. Mar- rheumatic affliction confined her to her garet Mary died a couple of years later, at bed for four years. It was during this time the age of 43, on October 17, 1690, while that she vowed to consecrate herself to being anointed. She spoke the words, "I need religious life. nothing but God, and to lose myself in the During adolescence, however, she Heart of Jesus." changed her mind and Margaret's mother After her death, the devotion to the Sacred Heart remained controversial within started encouraging her to become more “We must never be discouraged or give the Church.