Rose Marie Ferron, The First American Stigmata

1902-1936

Saint Rose Feast Day: May 11

Rose was born May 24, 1902, in St-Germain-de-Grantham, Quebec, the 10th of 15 children in a devout Catholic family. Baptized Marie Rose Alma. Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Wikipedia
Around age 2 or 3, she already exhibited unusual spiritual sensitivity: locating lost things via invoking St. Anthony, etc. Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island
At age 6, first vision of Jesus carrying the cross; at age 7, taught a prayer by Jesus which she repeated daily. St Gemma Galgani Wikipedia
At age 13 she became ill: mysterious paralysis / muscle contractions. Her feet eventually twisted; she was bedridden and had difficulty walking. Solid food eating difficulties developed later. RELICS Wikipedia

According to Little Rose Ferron Foundation and other sources, her stigmata and other mystical signs progressed in stages. Key phenomena:

Date / Period	Phenomenon / Wounds / Mystical Sign
End of 1926	Flagellation stigmata (wounds from scourging) appear. Little Rose Ferron RELICS
Lent, 1927	Wounds of hands and feet manifest weekly (Fridays) during Lent. Little Rose Ferron RELICS
Nov 1927	“Reception of Holy Communion without deglutition” noticed — meaning she could receive Communion but not swallow. Little Rose Ferron
January 1928	Stigmata of the crown of thorns appear: wounds/marks in forehead and temples. Little Rose Ferron Miracles of the Saints
Lent, 1929	Heart wound (“stigmata of the heart”): very intense internal pain; connected to the lance wound of Christ. Little Rose Ferron RELICS
August 1929	Tears of blood. The phenomenon of “Holy Face” (representing Christ’s face) occurs. Little Rose Ferron RELICS
After 1929	The crown‐of‐thorns wounds became more persistent. Some other wounds continued weekly but often disappeared by Saturday. The visible external stigmata (other than head) gradually faded, though she still felt the internal pains. RELICS Mystics of the Church

Witnesses described intense pain, sometimes fainting during or after the manifestation of wounds. She would often be in such suffering that relatives, priests, or visitors would see visible bleeding and contorted limbs. RELICS Mystics of the Church
Some visitors report that during Friday sufferings, she would sing after being asked multiple times by Christ (in her ecstasies), though she initially resisted because of weakness. Mystics of the Church
Her stigmata and wounds often left clothing stuck to her skin; cleaning or dressing wounds was excruciating. St Gemma Galgani
Later in life, though many visible wounds ceased (except head/crown of thorns), the sensations and internal pains persisted, particularly on Fridays. RELICS

On April 13, 1929, in an ecstasy before witnesses, Rose asked Jesus how much longer she would live. The reply: “seven more years.” She then counted on her fingers and stopped at 33 (She was about age 26-27 then). Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Mystics of the Church
She continued suffering severe bodily deterioration: by 1936 she was largely blind, deaf, lost ability to speak, lost strength. In the last weeks/days, she was difficult to recognize physically because of her suffering (distorted face, painful expression), but at death and subsequent moments her face was reported to be serene / with a “beautiful smile.” Mystics of the Church Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island
Rose died on May 11, 1936, at age 33. Wikipedia Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Many devotees report favors and cures through her intercession. Her grave in Precious Blood Cemetery, Woonsocket, Rhode Island is a pilgrimage site. Her gravestone reads in French: “Marie Rose Ferron, Stigmatisee … age 33 years”. Little Rose Ferron
There are reports of a fragrance of roses associated with her, especially around objects that belonged to her. She herself said that when the fragrance is present, Rose is “close to you.” Little Rose Ferron

Sainthood / Canonization Cause

Rose never was canonized. She is not officially declared a saint by the Catholic Church. She is often referred to as a mystic, stigmatist, and a person of deep devotion. Wikipedia Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island
There were efforts / inquiries into her cause:
1. Her spiritual director Father Boyer wrote “She Wears a Crown of Thorns.” nicoleevelina.com
2. Friends, devotees asked for a cause to be opened. nicoleevelina.com+1
3. At least one diocesan inquiry was made (in Rhode Island, Providence Diocese) but apparently, in the 1950s-1960s, a decree was issued against advancing her case. Some sources say the details of why were never fully published. nicoleevelina.com
Devotional organizations exist: The Little Rose Ferron Foundation (NY) and Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island, plus a museum / domestic chapel in Woonsocket (“Little Rose’s Castle”). Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Many accounts are based on eyewitness testimony, devotional tradition, and biographies. Medical verification of every phenomenon (e.g. whether wounds were witnessed by medical doctors under controlled conditions) is less well documented or absent. RELICS
Reports that her body was incorrupt (not decaying) when her grave was opened are repeated in some devotional writings, but I didn’t find strong, fully documented official Church verification of miraculous incorruption. Some sources (e.g. “Nicole Evelina”) claim it was found intact in a 1947 opening of the grave. Others are ambiguous. nicoleevelina.com
The story about her vow as a private consecrated lay person (perpetual virginity, etc.), while documented by some biographers, is not universally emphasized. nicoleevelina.com

Official status: She is not canonized / beatified. She does not have the title “Saint Marie-Rose Ferron” in the Catholic Church’s formal register. Wikipedia+2nicoleevelina.com
Many devotees privately refer to her as “Saint Little Rose,” and some public items (little statues, devotional materials) do likewise, but as of current well-public sources, no decree of sanctity (beatification or canonization) has been issued. St Gemma Galgani

Biography, suffering, testimonies and devotional material maintained by the foundation.