The Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Volume 3 Issue 4 September 2019 Many have asked us: “Just what is this Who We Are love of God and bring much joy and peace Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island all to people. At the same time, the Rose Fer- about?” The thoughtful answer to this ques- ron Foundation of Rhode Island submits tion is twofold. On the one hand there is itself, without reserve, to the infallible judg- the history and on the other there is the ment of the Apostolic See which alone has faith. power and authority to pronounce who There are so very many people, even rightly belong the character and title of right here in the city of Woonsocket, who Saint or Blessed. know nothing about who Marie Rose Ferron To this end, we would like to extend an was. It is the Foundation’s mission to inform invitation to all other groups that exist with future devotées not only who she was, but devotion to Little Rose. The invitation is to the history behind her arrival in Rhode Is- join us in our common goals of bringing land. We want to teach about her Christian Marie “Little Rose” Ferron to the next gen- virtues as she practiced them and her love Pictured left to right: Jennifer Bingham, Secretary; eration. Together, we can do so much more of Jesus. Cathy Boisvert, Treasurer; Sharon Lamar, Devotée; by unity than by individuality. Denise Ethier, Director; Paulette Nickel, Member; Little Rose’s story has been around for David Ethier, President; Front: Therese Noury, Denise’s Rose wished to bring souls to Jesus. She close to one hundred years now. At the knew there was nothing greater than that Mom. Not present: Carl LeClair, Vice President; Lise beginning, when she was alive, news which one could accomplish in this life. She Ann Paille and Sonny Goryl, Directors. spread by word of mouth and then, after would do this by prayer and self-sacrifice. her death, by her biography: She Wears a We, at the Rose Ferron Foundation of Part of the Foundation’s mission is to allow Crown of Thorns, written by Father Boyer. Rhode Island, have a mission to keep this others to learn of the greater purpose to Many people were, and are still, moved by memory of her alive. Our Board of Direc- our sufferings when offered to God on her story and many, also, were and are tors consists of a group of devout Catholics behalf of lost souls. Little Rose took on the witnesses to miracles surrounding her inter- with a deep reverence and respect for our sufferings of others and made reparation cession. Since that time, many stories and Catholic Church and its teachings. We feel that she may accomplish God’s Will in her. books about her have been written. that knowledge of her life can only deepen Truly this is her lasting legacy. —————————— Words From the Foundation President —————————— contacting relatives of the Ferron Family open every Saturday from 12Noon until and some of them are also contacting us. 4pm. Also, First Sundays from 12Noon to 4pm with a prayer service at 2:30pm. Why At our headquarters, we were able to begin some landscaping, which included a not plan to stop by! donation of rocks to edge flower beds. Yours with “Little Rose,” Trees had to be removed and new outside plumbing is a big help to keep the flowers David P. Ethier This past quarter has brought us a visit from happy. We are planning the Foundation’s the Mayor of Woonsocket, Lisa Baldelli- first yard sale on September 21st, 9am- Hunt, who was very supportive of our ef- 2pm on Arnold Street, rain or shine. Al- forts. We also hosted two large groups that so, in the works: new membership op- came by appointment, one from New Hamp- tions for our drive, slated for September, shire and one from Connecticut. Members of now $25 for one year or $333 for lifetime the Foundation also traveled to Cape Cod to to help out with expenses. visit long-time devotées and received ‘mementos’ to become part of Little Rose’s We acquired an “Open” flag as a donation physical presence here in Woonsocket. We and with a snap of our fingers, we are now want to mention that we are in the process of happy to announce that we decided to Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter Rose Delima Ferron Rose Delima Syclimone In 1908, during the great migration Mathieu was born on May 3, 1868, in to New England to look for jobs and a Saint-Aimé, Pierre-De Saurel, Qué- better life, the family moved to Fall bec, Canada to Gilbert and Lucie River, MA. In Fall River, she stayed Baudreau-Graveline Mathieu, who home and took care of the family as would eventually have 11 children any wife would do in those days. Her born to them. Rose Delima was ei- task became harder as Little Rose’s ther the seventh or eighth child as she health became worse and eventually was the twin to George Mathieu who bedbound. Mrs. Ferron is said to be a died later at five and a half months loving, sweet, meek, humble and car- old. Her mother Lucie Baudreau- ing woman who lived by all God’s Graveline Mathieu gave birth to her teachings. This is stated in many tes- last son, Georges-Michel Mathieu timonies that Rev. Jean-Baptiste and died less than 2 years after giving Palm, S.J. gathered when he collected birth to him. With the death of her his tape recorded testimonies about mother, it fell upon Rose Delima, Little Rose. along with her two older sisters to There are those who believed raise Georges. She was just 14 years that Rose Delima was a saint, but in old at the time. truth, no more a saint than any moth- On July 17, 1888, at the age of 20, er with a handicapped daughter who she married Jean-Baptiste Ferron in church, two furniture factories, a she had to care for and love. Within Saint Aimé, Québec, Canada, a foundry, two saw mills, a shingle mill the testimonies that Father Palm rec- blacksmith and farmer by trade. By and a grist mill and had a population orded, there is one by Tina Dembeck this time, her two sisters had already of 2,700. of Maryland in which she states that married and so she continued taking The majority of her 15 children for years she had problems walking care of her younger brother Georges would be born here; only two would due to arthritis in her feet. She was who was almost eight years old. be born in Fall River, MA, after the visited through bi-location and told to Georges is the person Little Rose move to the United States. At the come to Woonsocket and wear Mrs. calls “Uncle” in correspondence and time of Anatole’s birth, Rose De Li- Ferron’s slippers. When she put when speaking to people. ma dedicated him to the First Mys- them on she was instantly cured of After the birth of her first child, tery of the Rosary. In time, she had pain. Anatole in Saint Aimé on May 15, additional children and was able to On November 10, 1956, she 1889, the family moved to St. Ger- dedicate each to complete the fifteen passed on to be with her daughter; main-de-Grantham, P.Q., Canada. In mysteries. Marie Rose Ferron was Marie Rose Ferron and her husband 1890, St. Germain-de-Grantham was her tenth child, born in a stable, as Jean-Baptiste Ferron and lies in Pre- on the South Eastern Railway, five Our Lord. She was dedicated to the cious Blood Cemetery in Woonsock- miles from Drummondville, Canada. Crucifixion which played a large part et, Rhode Island. It contained a Roman Catholic in her life. On one occasion, while in ecstacy Rose sang: “O Mary, my good Mother, protect my little mother; it is from her that I learned to love you so much.” Volume 3, Issue 4 Page 3 The First Beatified Seminarian; a Martyr for the Faith Rolando Rivi was born on its edge. While he was praying, to Roberto and Albertina Canovi the young seminarian was killed by Riva, the second of three sons, on gunshots to the heart and head. His January 7, 1931, in San Valentino cassock was rolled into a ball, di Castellarano, Italy. Deeply kicked around and then hung as a religious at an early age, before war trophy on the front door of a going to work in the fields each house. The Communist partisans morning, he attended the celebra- murdered him "in odium fidei" (in tion of the Mass and received the hatred of the faith) because he was Eucharist after he made his First learning to become a priest added Communion. to their extreme hatred of the faith. As a martyr of the faith, a miracle From an early age he was not needed to proclaim Rivi discovered a vocation and entered "blessed." a seminary on October 1, 1942, when he was only 11 years old. That Rivi’s execution was As custom, he wore the cassock inspired by hate of his faith is also from the moment he entered as a clear in the verdict of the court that seminarian and was proud of the sentenced his killers, Giuseppe garment, viewing it as a sign of his Corghi and Delciso Rioli, to 16 In San Valentino, the young seminarian belonging to Christ and to the Church.