These photos are taken from the book "Marie Rose Ferron -A Photo Documentary" by Eugene N. Szynkowski. This excellent booklet contains many photographs of Marie Rose Ferron and her family.
A short biography of the life of Marie Rose Ferron to accompany these photos.
Marie Rose Ferron, better known as Little Rose, lived a life of love and reparation as one of Our Lord's victim souls. Her vocation was one of suffering and her mission was that of reparation - "to fill up those things that are lacking of the sufferings of Christ ... for His Body which is the Church." (Col. 1 :24)
Little Rose was born St. Germain de Grantham, Quebec in 1902 to a large, working-class family. When she was four years old, her family immigrated to Fall River, Massachusetts. In her mid-teens, Rose was stricken with a mysterious illness which confined her to bed; she accepted suffering as a vocation. In 1925, the family moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where Rose spent the remainder of her life.
At around age 5 Our Lord appeared to her in a vision for the first time. Later when asked about this vision Rose said, "I saw the Child Jesus carrying a cross and He looked at me with grief in His eyes."
From that time on Jesus visited Rose and spoke to her and she spoke to Him.
Rose wanted to become a nun, but in her teen years she became partially paralyzed and was confined to her home. These were very difficult years for her, yet she did not become discouraged; she accepted everything as coming from the loving hands of God, and she offered it all up to God for poor souls who were in some kind of need. After a while Rose made up her mind to do the Holy Will of God; she accepted her illness as her vocation in life, and then she rejoiced and was glad that she was found worthy to suffer with Christ for the ransom of souls. Thus Little Rose's life as a victim of God's love began. It was a life full of sufferings and trials, but also a life full of love and faith in which virtue blossomed and bloomed ever more beautiful as time passed.
In 1926 and 1927 Rose received the stigmata or wounds resembling those of Our Lord, and on Fridays she suffered the Passion in honor of His Sacred Wounds. Often when she spoke to Jesus her family heard her asking Our Lord to spare others and to give her instead their miseries and sufferings. Many souls have reported seeing Rose in ecstasy and also crucified with Christ, reliving the Passion of Jesus in her own body.
During the last ten years of her life she was confined to her bed and she had to lie on her back on a quilt-covered plank or board. She went to her reward on May 11,1936 at the age of 33. Her life, her sufferings and her death were all for the same reason; for love of Jesus and for love of souls.
For more information on Marie Rose Ferron see:
Marie Rose Ferron -An American Mystic and Stigmatic
19 comments:
I think a little more investigation is needed before calling "Little Rose" a mystic of the Church. It depends upon which Church you speak of - the American Orthodox Church or the Roman Catholic Church.
The shrine dedicated to Little Rose, which is here in southeast Michigan, has no recognition by the Catholic Church or the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Note who is presiding at her "glorification" at the shrine. (and see that she is considered by this group of Orthodox to be a saint.
St. Marie Rose Ferron was Glorified in the Orthodox Church of America, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church on July 17, 2004.
This is not to say that this woman did not live a holy life. That she was Catholic and ended up venerated by the Orthodox and not Catholic is a bit odd and begs for questions.
Both my father and uncle were devoted to Little Rose and I recall them speaking of her. But then they let go of devotion to her when the Catholic Church did not recognize her.
How else did her cause end up in the care of the Orthodox if it wasn't because the Catholic Church found reason not to pursue the matter?
I think more background on this is needed and I really don't think she should be labeled a mystic of the Church when the Catholic Church does not recognize her as a mystic.
Hi Diane,
Thanks so much for your comments and for the link and info that you kindly provided.
While I think that it is inspiring that the American Orthodox Church has recognised Rose's heroic virtues, and that they are inspired by her holy life, nevertheless the fact remains of course that Rose herself was always a devout and practising Roman Catholic, until her death at age 33 in 1935. And of course the "Glorification" ceremony by the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church on July 17, 2004 was done solely through their own initiative.
In regards to her being a "Mystic of the Church", well you are most certainly right that she is not specifically a "recognised" mystic within the Catholic church. But then, many of the mystics on this website are not specifically recognised by the Church either.
The key criteria that I use to determine whether a soul should be listed on this website or not is whether there has been a negative judgement by the Church (ie- normally the local Bishop) concerning the individual in question. Additionally I look for support from priest-spiritual directors that knew the indivudual in question intimitely.
Now, in Marie Rose Ferron's case, as you know there was a decree by
Bishop McVinney on on Jan. 9, 1964 that was not a condemnation of her (alleged) mystical gifts or virtues, but was simnply a request that promtion of her proposed cause for beatification be halted.
And that has been the only public statement over the years from the local Bishop concerning Marie Rose Ferron.
So, in the absence of any negative Church judgements concerning her, like many the other (alleged) mystics on this website, I have come to the conclusion that it is appropriate to have her included here because her spiritual life and mystical graces were studied in depth by her spiritual directors who were very competent priests.
In fact, as you probaly know, one of her spiritual directors, Father Onesime A. Boyer wrote a popular biography about Marie-Rose entitled "She Wears a Crown of Thorns". Father Boyer was a very well repected priest from New York who was well educated in mystical theology.
Additionally, the Jesuit Father John Baptist Palm has written an extensive book entitled "Tape Recorded Little Rose Testimonies." which is an extensive collection of transcribed eye witness interviews concerning Marie-Rose's life. To give an idea of the documentation in support of Rose in this one book, this book is 2094pages of small typed (8 point text)transcribed interviews.
A third example would be the book "Crucified with Christ" written by Father Herbert George Kramer S.M. In it he devotes a chapter specifically to Marie Rose and her mystical gifts.
So, in the absence of any negative Church judgments, there obviously also has been some significant documented positive support from her spiritual director and also other priests within the Church to reasonably conclude that her holy life is edifying and inspiring and well worth investigating.
I hope that this explanation sufficiently addresses your comments.
By the way, permit me to say that I do appreciate your "Te Deum" blog and your efforts in support of the judgements of the Bishop of Mostar.
Union in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Glenn Dallaire
Glenn,
Sorry I didn't get back here sooner.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I have a followup question:
Have you contacted Bishop Tobin of Providence and asked he to take a look at the case again?
Another thing comes to mind is that if the original bishop wanted the pursuit of the cause to be halted, perhaps something was found that would not permit it to go any further, but was not publicly shared to avoid detraction, or to preserve her dignity.
There are many more saints than are recognized by the Church. Some are elevated for us by the Church because God wills it. This comes through the Church. The question in my mind is, does God will for there to be a devotion to, and following of Marie Rose Ferron? Perhaps the only way to know is to ask the current bishop to probe the files, closely, and consider re-opening the case. If he does so, then God wills it. If he says, "no", then perhaps it is not God's will. This still doesn't mean that Marie Rose Ferron didn't lead a holy, or even saintly life.
I just think we need to use some caution in spreading new devotion today to someone whom a past bishop seemed to ask that a cult following not be formed. We aren't privvy to what caused that bishop to make the decision that he did.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for your comments.
In fact, back in 2006, I wrote to His Excellency, Bishop Tobin of Providence, RI. in regards to Marie Rose Ferron, and I recieved a kind reply from the Vicar General, Rev. Monsignor Paul D. Theroux, which spoke of an recent diocesan investigation into Rose's life in 1996, which reveals at least, a certain openess and consideration on the part of His Excellency in what concernins the life of Marie Rose Ferron.
Anyway, if interested I wrote about this letter from the Archdiocese which you can find in the "comments" section at the bottom of this article
which you can find in the "comments" section at the bottom of this article
Ultimately of course I completely acknowledge that it is up to the Church guided by the Holy Spirit to decide in what concerns Marie Rose Ferron, and I leave it to the good God to raise Marie Rose to the altars if such be His holy will.
Thanks again and may God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire
The story of Little Rose Ferron has intrigued me for years. She was a distant relative of mine, a cousin of my grandmother who was also a Ferron. I remember meeting a Catholic woman from Fall River who referred to her as the "patron saint of Fall River", even knowing she was never recognized as a saint. It seems that many Catholics consider her with higher reverance than the clergy.
Thank you for providing some insight on this page about the cause for not being beatified (yet).
Beloved,
When I think of Marie Rose Ferron, a mystic and stigmatic "saint" of the Church. I am reminded of the same thing, that had happened to Teresita Castillo, the seer of the Lipa apparitions of our Lady, under the title Mary, Mediatrix of all Grace. The church condemns the apparition after 3 years of flourishing through the efforts of the Carmels. It was suppressed and the Bishops in the Philippines were ordered to sign documents pertaining of its non-supernatural origin, and under the threat of excommunication. And now, in the late 90's the lay together with priests and bishops had urged the church to recognized her apparition in Lipa, and to have it approved under Vatican. I hope that this will be of the same of our Little Rose, as time passed by the people will either forget her, or the important witnesses for her cause will eventually die in time. ITs in the hands of the Laity to urged the local Bishop to reconsider her cause and to re-open the Cause of her Beatification.
Glen, is the mystic you read about and returned to the faith by her story Eileen George?
Hi Anonymous,
To reply to your question, no, it is not Eileen George. But stay tuned because when she passes from this life to go to see God I will be posting here information/biography about her life.
Best wishes and may God bless you and your loved ones,
Glenn Dallaire
For anyone with a lead. My father, Jack Croyle, of Woonsocket, RI. did a series of 6 portraits (possibly more), on commission, of Little Rose in the earlie eighties. I’m trying to locate one of these paintings to photograph and document his works in a family book. Would appreciate any information that might reveal someone that might have one. I have a restored color slide of one but the color is still very off. More than happy to share a copy of the slide. Please contact me at. Croylecommon@comcast.net. Thanks
I also Would like to know more in due time.
Thank you for sharing the story of Marie Rose Ferron. I also am related to her. My great Aunt was Rose Myette.
I am reading the book, She Wears a Crown of Thorns by Father Boyer. He explains her experiences in vivid detail. I don't know how she is not a saint already, but I will pray for her cause.
Hi Karen,
"She Wears a Crown of Thorns" is really a great book, and there are many lessons in their about the mystical life. Its one of my top 10 favorites.
God bless you and yours,
Glenn
Little Rose was my great aunt. Her sister Coreen is my father's mother. My family has alot of items from her life and from the church she had in Woonsocket. She is held in very high regard within my family and always will be.
I am a third cousin of Little Rose. I never got to meet her in person but she is one soul I would have loved to have met and talk to about Our Lord. I know without a doubt that she is a Saint. God bless.
Hi...where can I purchase the book about little Rose please.
The Rose Ferron Foundation of RI
339 Arnold St.
Woonsocket, RI 02895
web: roseferronfri.org
email: roseferronfri@gmail.com
has copies of Fr. Boyers book, "She Wears A Crown Of Thorns" in both English and Spanish along with the book by Jean Savard Bonin. They also have novenas and other information on Marie Rose Ferron and publish a quarterly newsletter
It seems to me that at the time Rose's cause was shot down, the leadership in the Church was into the second Vatican council's idea of "Bringing the Church into the modern world"
Here is the problem: Many priests since VII see the Church as the instrument of "Social/Economic justice" and should have "Rational explanations" for all thing that look supernatural.
These modernists are embarrassed by such supernatural things as the stigmata. After all the "Stigmata" is not a soup kitchen. The "Stigmata" does not re-distribute wealth to their liking.
In 1963 Prayer was removed from public schools. This is the environment in which Rose's cause was being evaluated.
Worldly prelates looking at the supernatural causes discomfort. In an era when mankind put a man on the moon; men arrogantly dismiss things supernatural.
This is the SAME reason Bishop Fulton Sheen's cause is not moving forward.
Progressives in the church just can't handle the Truth!
Rose's life is a testament to the supernatural; and they don't want to see it.
Little Rose; Pray for Us!
Fulton Sheen Pray for Us!
There is no doubt that this woman has inspired many. But it seems odd that she was confined to bed when, even then, wheel chairs would have been available. With all we have learned about Munchausen syndrome and self mutilation, it seems suspicious that her "stigmata" conveniently showed up on Fridays. ;Mental illness intertwined with a zealots religious fixation can be an issue. The church must address those issues as possibilities. Living a mystical life does not have to require physical pain, though it often provides the impetus to seek God's grace and lead a better life. We pray that Rose has joined the community of saints but declaring that by the church at large really wouldn't impact the Lords decision.
My grandma sent money she didn't have to Rose Ferrons group, money that was necessary for her family. Asking for money to promote Ferron's cause became a good reason to be a skeptic. Makes me downright cynical.
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