Hang On, Hang On

If you've never heard of the Rhoda Wise house in Canton, Ohio, then let's talk about it today.  Although featured on Fox 8 News this week, tonight is the second installment, the Rhoda Wise house has been known to many people for years.

Many years ago, Rhoda Wise was suffering.  She'd had a huge tumor removed from her abdomen and wasn't healing from it.  She was in pain.  The surgery was done at Mercy Medical Center, then Mercy Hospital, and the nuns showed Rhoda how to say a Rosary, and prayed with her.  Although at first Rhoda didn't think that much of all of that, in time she had a spiritual awakening, a quickening of the Spirit and her faith grew.  One night Jesus came to her and he said he would be back.  In one month's time he returned, this time bringing along St. Theresa, the Little Flower.  It was St. Theresa who laid her hands on Rhoda's stomach and then told her to take off the bandage.  She was healed.

At another time in Rhoda's life, this incident about two years before she died in 1948, Rhoda's ankle was healed completely.

When Mother Angelica was a little girl (Rita Rizzo), she was very sick as well.  Her mother took her to the Rhoda Wise house and there she was healed of her infirmity.  Rita became a nun and lived at Sancta Clara Monestery on Market and 44th Street in Canton.  Later, she moved on and got into spreading the Word through the media, including television, and this is where her fame really grew. 

The Rhoda Wise home is being maintained and cared for, and available for those who seek healing.  Many have been healed there, and many have left with no healing.   But there are different kinds of healing.  Physical healing is just one type.  I'm convinced that no one goes to the Rhoda Wise house without receiving God's grace and special assistance. 

Early investigations are being started in the Diocese of Youngstown to determine if Rhoda Wise was, in fact, a saint.  Photographs taken of the home at night show a bright light emanating from the window, something that would not have been available (special effects) at the time the picture was taken.  Rhoda experienced a phenomenon that she holds in common with other saints -- she had the stigmata.  Her head and hands bled from one to three in the afternoon on First Fridays (the first Friday of the month).  There are photographs of Rhoda taken while she was bleeding.

Rhoda's husband built her an altar in the room where Jesus appeared.  It remains so to this day.  An outdoor shrine is also at the Rhoda Wise home for times when the home is closed, but when someone needs to stop and pray.

Many of the signs show that Rhoda Wise, a simple, poor woman from Canton, Ohio, is indeed a saint.

Stay warm; hang on.  We're going to feel much better by the weekend!!!  And so will poor Blackie.