Victim Souls –Marie Rose Ferron
I was fascinated by the article about the saint of Worscester, in part because I grew up not far from there, and in part because this notion of “victim souls” is not unprecedented in that neck of the woods. A couple of years ago, I was in Rhode Island for Chrstimas, and I picked up a copy of Rhode Island Monthly, which had an article about Marie Rose Ferron– a young French-Canadian girl from Woonsocket RI. She too was a bedridden stigmatist, although she was not in a coma. The French-Canadian Catholic population pushed very hard, and ultimately unsuccessfuly, to have her made a saint, their saint; as I remember, the article suggested that the patrician, lace-curtain Irish Bishop McVinney of Providence didn’t find her a suitable candidate.
Here’s an article about her, which resonates strongly with Audrey Santo’s case.
I don’t remember hearing about her at all, growing up in Rhode Island in the sixties and seventies. My mother, who went to St. Claire’s High School in Woonsocket, had heard about her from the nuns, though–and not, I believe, with approbation. Raised after the Second Vatican Council, I find this manifestation of devotional life very foreign, although it holds a certain morbid fascination. But I gather from my mother that this type of devotion wasn’t part of the mainstream of Catholic devotional life even before the Council.
I grew up in Providence in the 30s and 40s and I have a distinct recollection of seeing a black and white photograph of Marie Rose Ferron and I have remembered her name ever since. I also recall that she was French-Canadian. Relations between the French-Canadian Catholics in Rhode Island–concentrated Woonsocket and along the Blackstone Valley, but there some in Providence where there was a French-Canadian parish, Our Lady of Lourdes–but in any case relations with the Irish-American Bishops were not alway good.
As for Bishop McVinney, I would not call him partrician, exactly, but certainly lace-curtain, suitably Irish-American category. In those days only a Yankee–what is now vcalled a WASP–could be patrician. He had been the head of the local seminary before he became a bishop. His sister lived in my neighborhood, Mount Pleasant–as did John McLaughlin–and might often be seen sitting on the porch of her house. If I remember rightly, at the time of Vatican II he was quoted as sayng: “Let’s not break up a winning team”. Memorable words, even if they fall short of immortal wisdom.
These events are authentic in the deprivation the victim and admirers feel in seeking comfort and hope. But wha It is is the failure of the Body of Christ to reach out to its suffering members that move them to seek consolation elsewhere.
Certain practices of devotion are criticized by clergy who do not understand that these activities are an indication of the neglect of the clergy for the sufferings of many. Followers of St Jude and similar people gravitate this way out of desperation when health and succor are not coming from where they should come.
They are an indictment of a church which ridicules peoples feeling while not helping them in their journey. So the people go elsewhere. This happened right away after the Decline of Christianity in the fourth century.
Historians call it the rise of the cult of the saints. While that is true, what it really means is the cult developed because people stopped following the gospel so they had to at least surround themselves with people who did; the dead saints.
What Jesus wants is for us to be Christ to others and not depend on dead Saints.
Bill, yes, I am a firm believer in the notion that we are Christ’s heirs and must be Christ to each other.
But I do rely on dead saints, including your friend St. Jerome :-).
Because I don’t believe they’re dead.
Jean,
Where did you get the idea that St. Jerome was a friend of Bill’s? Actually I once confessed that he was a friend of mine.
I realize the comment from Cathleen Kaveny was made in 2007 but I was just given this Site to research. I am the Little Rose Ferron Apostolate of the US and have worked on this Movement for sainthood for 30 years. We are seeking our devotees of this Movement in order to share up-to-date information and to share information about our Movement to those who wish to know more about this “Victim Soul” who was a true martyr of Charity to her own Diocese of Providence, RI. We are interested in contacting Cathleen Kalveny for further comments.
thank you
I am a direct decent of Rose Marie Ferron as my great grandfather was her uncle, thus making me her 3rd cousin. She is in my veins, and her presence with me is in everyday, as well as in guidance in solving the many mysteries with her case. Anyone, especially family members reading this, please contact me at cjohnhebert@rivaha.net