The Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Volume 4 Issue 1 December 2019 Wintertime at the Castle will bring a stop at Little Audrey Santo’s in Worces- slowdown of activities but an increase in ter, MA, and then to the Rose Ferron construction as we continue to rehabili- Foundation of RI. The visit included: tate our secondary building, that we call presentations about Little Rose and our the Annex. In October, a new cement group’s mission and the ‘mementos’ in floor was poured, with many thanks for the Castle - our altar, tapestries, cloth- the donation of the cement. This al- ing and other items. The visit concluded lowed for the floor to be leveled off. A with praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. portion of the roof was also replaced. It was our very first busload and we A revised floor plan was also drawn feel more than ever the need to com- up by our architect. Many thanks for his plete the Annex to allow for more donated time. This allowed us to apply are hopeful to have a beautiful nativity space. Please continue your support. for and obtain the required building scene displayed in this area for the Ad- Every little bit helps. permit. Now we need to focus on car- vent and Christmas seasons. pentry and plumbing to install wooden On November 2nd, All Souls Day, flooring and a much-needed bathroom we had a visit from a tour group called before the installation of the heating “Catholic Footprints Pilgrimages” from and AC units and new walls to complete New Bedford, MA. They created a spe- the front room. As of this writing, we cial Victim Souls day trip, with the first Words From the Foundation President Ave Maria! Advent there is still a love and devotion to greetings are wished for Little Rose. you during this beautiful This September was our fourth pres- Season before Christ- ence at the Annual French Heritage mas. May your prayer Festival held in Woonsocket. Also, dur- times and reflections ing this month we held our first yard increase before the fes- sale fundraiser. In October we held tive Christmas Season ahead. our third Rosary Rally at our head- We are happy to report a total of 48 quarters. This one was different from Memberships and of that number 40 the previous two as we unveiled our joined as Annual Members at $25 a year new “Little Rose Rosary Rally” banner. and 8 as Lifetime Members at $333. On November 2nd, All Soul’s Day, This truly was a boost that allowed us to we hosted a busload of pilgrims from go forward with renovations. Special New Bedford. The tour company thanks and continued prayers for all who showed interest in doing many more One of Little Rose's prayer cards. have joined us as new members. Also, tours in the future. A great sign of Translated: we thank those who continue to donate progress! The Child Jesus is waiting for us at the allowing us to keep moving forward. Manger. Divine Child, I prostrate at the Yours with “Little Rose,” Membership & donations not only sup- foot of Your Manger and from the port us but more importantly show that bottom of my heart, I say: David P. Ethier Jesus, my Jesus, I love you. Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter Little Rose in Fall River People think of Woonsocket, RI, Novena to St. Gerard Majella (1726-1755), when speaking of Little Rose. However, Patron Saint of expectant mothers who was Fall River, MA, was where the Ferron said to levitate, bi-locate and had the ability Family first lived in the United States in to read souls. The same abilities were later 1905, after leaving her birthplace of St. attributed to Rose. Remarkably her hand Germain de Grantham, Québec, Canada. was cured when she took holy water one Rose was three at the time; she was a morning after Mass two years later. In an healthy young girl who liked to sing, run instant it opened and once again she could and play but she was just as ready to freely move her fingers. But her foot never pray. At this young age, she had devo- healed, and for twelve years she was unable tions to Saint Anthony of Padua and to to walk without crutches. When the time the Child Jesus with came that she was no longer able walk and a Cross. she wanted to get to the kitchen or another Father Boyer, room, she would take two chairs and lift author of her biog- and slide herself from one chair to the other raphy, She Wears a until she reached her destination; this being Crown of Thorns, difficult and painful, her family referred to related that around this as her “Way of the Cross.” the age of four, the When Rose would see her sisters Child Jesus appeared and their girlfriends going off to church on to Rose for the first Sunday, she would hear them chattering and time. Years later, Ferron had an ordinary job and his wages laughing from her bedroom window — she when asked about had to supply the needs of a large family. just felt crushed. She wished so much to be the vision, Rose said, When he came home he loved to gather his able to go with them. Rose’s teenage years “I saw Him with a family around him and liked to see them were full of sorrows, sufferings and disap- cross, He was looking at me with grief in dance and sing to the music of his violin. pointments because the affliction of her leg His eyes.” The Rosary was said nightly before turning prevented her from taking part in normal Whenever something was lost or in. activities. misplaced in the home, Little Rose would The Ferron children rarely had such pray to Saint Anthony for his help to things as ice cream or cake. When Little find whatever was lost. Her brothers and Rose would be playing with her sisters and sisters sometimes hid certain articles in friends her mother would give them bread order to see if she could find them. She and butter with a little sugar added – this would say a prayer to Saint Anthony then was their treat. look for the items and she always found At the age of ten, she made her First them. She then thanked Saint Anthony Holy Communion. She had a new white for his help. dress with shoes and stockings to match for When Little Rose was eight years the occasion and later wore it when she old, her piety was such that when she began to receive Holy Communion, wanting attended Mass, she would afterward to always be immaculately clean for her Je- make the Way of the Cross or say the sus. Rosary just as some of the elders did. At the age of twelve, she hired herself As a child, Rose loved to sing. God out to work taking care of a lawyer’s family. gave her a very pleasant voice and she Rose wanted to become a nun and give her loved to sing religious hymns. Later, she whole life to Jesus; since she was too young began to sing in the church choir and to enter the convent, this work would help when she would become unable to walk, her family financially. one of her big brothers would carry her While not wealthy, Little Rose enjoyed up to the choir loft so that she could being with friends, playing as most children At the end of May, 1925, the Ferron honor God with the beautiful voice he do. When she was thirteen that was about family moved from Fall River, MA, to the had given her. When Rose was in ecstasy to change. She became seriously ill as a city of Woonsocket, RI. Rose had been she would at times sing in different lan- result of carrying dinner to her father on a confined to her bed for the past three years guages. slushy early-spring day. During her recov- and only rarely got out of bed with the aid The Ferron’s were a poor family but ery, her right hand and her left foot now of crutches. She could no longer get out of they were rich in faith and love. Mr. seemed paralyzed. She began to make a bed and remained so until her death. Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 3 Preserving Rose’s Thorns When Rose Myette passed Lisieux, in Nasonville, RI, a fellow away in August, 2014, the Domes- parishioner named Marie Magill tic Chapel of Thorns that she and came forward. She told David she her sister Wilda built in their home, had a very large garage that had was in danger of being lost as the just been emptied. She offered it home was willed to Rose’s grand- to him to use for storage for free niece who wanted to sell the house Chapel Location until he could find a permanent quickly. home. One blessing after another The following February in was opening the way for David to 2015, David Ethier, our President, secure the Chapel. was given until the end of the The date was set for the big month to remove the Chapel or move and on March 1, 2015, the purchase the home himself. That heroic effort of moving the Chapel winter was particularly snowy, with and placing it into a garage for snow continuing to fall daily.