Rhoda Wise
Encyclopedia
Rhoda Wise was an alleged U.S.
stigmatist
from Canton, Ohio
(originally the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
and now part of the Diocese of Youngstown
). Her biography, Her Name Means Rose, was published by EWTN
. Rhoda Wise has been associated with many miraculous healings, including the healing of Mother Angelica
. The Roman Catholic Church
investigated Wise, but made no official decision concerning her experiences.
Although raised a Protestant, Rhoda was received into the Roman Catholic church after one of her stays at a Canton hospital, where a nun told her about the Rosary
and Saint Thérèse de Lisieux
. Wise allegedly experienced her first apparition of Jesus
on 28 May 1939 at her home in Canton, wherein he told her that he would come with Saint Therese on 28 June 1939. Wise was cured of her stomach cancer
, which had been considered incurable and so she had been sent home to die . On 15 August 1939, Saint Therese is said to miraculously heal Rhoda of a broken foot .
From 1939 to 1948, Wise allegedly experienced annual apparitions of Jesus and Saint Therese. Saint Therese would also visit Wise on 2 January, the saint's birthday, every year. Wise became a stigmatist
and would allegedly bleed on the first Friday of every month. In the last apparition, on 28 June 1948, Jesus allegedly asked Wise to say the Rosary daily for the Conversion of Russia .
According to Mother Angelica
, Wise led a doubting and ailing Rita Rizzo (Mother Angelica's birth name) in a novena
to Saint Therese. At the end of the nine days of prayer, Rizzo's painful stomach ailment disappeared and she eventually became a nun under Wise's mentorship.
Rhoda Wise died on 7 July 1948, which was then the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Over 14,000 people reportedly attended her funeral.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stigmatist
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
from Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(originally the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio. It was erected on April 23, 1847 by Pope Pius IX. The diocese lost territory in 1910 when the Diocese of Toledo was erected by Pope Pius X, and in 1943 when the Diocese of Youngstown was erected by Pope Pius XII...
and now part of the Diocese of Youngstown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
The Diocese of Youngstown is a particular church or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, consisting of six counties in Northeast Ohio: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Portage, and Ashtabula....
). Her biography, Her Name Means Rose, was published by EWTN
Eternal Word Television Network
The Eternal Word Television Network is an American cable television network which presents Catholic-themed programming. It was founded in 1980 by Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA...
. Rhoda Wise has been associated with many miraculous healings, including the healing of Mother Angelica
Mother Angelica
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA is an American Roman Catholic nun who founded the Eternal Word Television Network. In 1944 she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a Franciscan religious order for women, as a postulant, and a year later she was admitted to the order as a...
. The Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
investigated Wise, but made no official decision concerning her experiences.
Although raised a Protestant, Rhoda was received into the Roman Catholic church after one of her stays at a Canton hospital, where a nun told her about the Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
and Saint Thérèse de Lisieux
Thérèse de Lisieux
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux , or Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a French Carmelite nun...
. Wise allegedly experienced her first apparition of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
on 28 May 1939 at her home in Canton, wherein he told her that he would come with Saint Therese on 28 June 1939. Wise was cured of her stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
, which had been considered incurable and so she had been sent home to die . On 15 August 1939, Saint Therese is said to miraculously heal Rhoda of a broken foot .
From 1939 to 1948, Wise allegedly experienced annual apparitions of Jesus and Saint Therese. Saint Therese would also visit Wise on 2 January, the saint's birthday, every year. Wise became a stigmatist
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
and would allegedly bleed on the first Friday of every month. In the last apparition, on 28 June 1948, Jesus allegedly asked Wise to say the Rosary daily for the Conversion of Russia .
According to Mother Angelica
Mother Angelica
Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA is an American Roman Catholic nun who founded the Eternal Word Television Network. In 1944 she entered the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a Franciscan religious order for women, as a postulant, and a year later she was admitted to the order as a...
, Wise led a doubting and ailing Rita Rizzo (Mother Angelica's birth name) in a novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
to Saint Therese. At the end of the nine days of prayer, Rizzo's painful stomach ailment disappeared and she eventually became a nun under Wise's mentorship.
Rhoda Wise died on 7 July 1948, which was then the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Over 14,000 people reportedly attended her funeral.