Rita's Story...Part I

The story of Rita Klaus is one of the most incredible miracles I have ever encountered. What makes it even more authentic is the fact that I was able to actually see her and witness the results of her healing, hearing more details of her incredible story. Since it is a long story that involves two miracles, I’m going to break it into two parts, one for each miracle. It’s my hope that you, too, will be inspired by how the hand of God worked in her life.

               I first heard about her story at a prayer group I was attending, when someone told me they had just gone to a local church to hear a woman speak about her healing of multiple sclerosis. Someone had made a VHS tape recording of her talk, and I was able to get a copy of it and watch it at home. It was a low quality recording, as it was 1990, and we didn’t have the high quality equipment we have today. Yet it didn’t seem to matter once she started talking, as her words were incredibly inspiring and my eyes were glued to the television as she shared her story.

               Rita was from Pennsylvania but actually grew up in Iowa. She came from a devout Catholic family, and she always told everyone that when she was a baby her great aunt, who was a Sister of Mercy, dedicated her to the Blessed Mother. As she grew, her faith was always especially important to her, and at the young age of fifteen she joined a convent to become a Servite Sister, taking her final vows at just eighteen!

               Rita loved being a Sister, but unfortunately, she began to have some serious health issues. One morning in the shower her eyesight was completely gone. Slowly it returned, so she dismissed it as just a freak accident. However, not long after that it happened again. After seeing a doctor, she was told she could possibly have a case of Multiple Sclerosis, and needed more rest and less stress. After a few years with no further episodes, Rita convinced herself that she was fine.

               Unfortunately, however, she came down with a bad bout with the flu, and her legs began giving out. Things progressively got worse, and doctors diagnosed MS, caused most likely by an adult case of measles she had at the age of nineteen. As the MS progressed, her doctors encouraged her to leave her religious order, and after receiving some spiritual direction from a priest, she left the convent and headed into the world for a “stress free” life. 😊 

               She completed her college courses in Education and then moved near Pittsburgh, PA to teach special education. It was there she met her husband, Ron Klaus. Since she was feeling so well at this time, she did not tell her Ron about her MS when they married. Within the next five years they were blessed with three daughters, Kristin, Ellen, and Heidi. Between the pregnancies and taking care of two toddlers and a new baby, Rita again began to show signs of serious MS. When she began experiencing numbness and paralysis in her limbs, she ended up in the hospital.

               She still had not told anyone about the MS, but after a routine check of her spinal fluid, her doctor found it. As it was advanced, he was upset she hadn’t told him or Ron about it. She found the courage to finally tell Ron about it and explain everything that night, and his first reaction was to walk out and tell her he wanted a divorce. He did come back, however, and said he would try to deal with this exceedingly difficult situation and would support her anyway he could.

               The disease progressed and the pain increased, especially in her right leg. It was in such a state that the only thing that could be done was a radical retinacular release, where the tendons that held the kneecap were actually cut and knee cavity cleaned out. This would help the pain, but Rita would now have to have a walker or Lofstrand crutches to walk. And her kneecap now slid around and faced her right leg.

               Rita’s anger and bitterness toward God continued to get worse as her health deteriorated. She often asked Him, "How could you do this? Especially now, when it’s hurting my family, my children."  She would quote St. Teresa and say, "God, if this is how you treat your friends, it’s no wonder You have so few of them." Her anger and bitterness continued to grow, along with her medical bills. Much of her treatment had to be paid for out of pocket, which only added to her frustration and hopelessness.

               A friend of hers, Marianne, called her one day to ask her to go to a healing Mass. Rita was not at all interested, telling Marianne, “Those healers are all fake! When they lay hands on people, they just push them and make it look like they’re slain in the Spirit! I don’t believe in them and I’m not going.” Rita had been refusing to go to Mass, and her anger at God had prevented her from praying for quite some time.

               However, Ron overheard the conversation she had with Marianne and asked her about it. He begged her to go to the healing Mass (even though Ron was Lutheran) and reminded her that no doctor had been able to help her, and it wouldn’t hurt her to go. Wouldn’t she at least go for him? Rita was shocked, but eventually decided that she would go for him, but certainly not God. And she added that no one was going to pray over her!

               But the Lord had other plans for Rita that night. As she sat in the pew of the Church, not at all happy to be there, she noticed a whole line of priests processing up the aisle. She then heard the Priest behind her say in a loud whisper, ‘Wait!’  Before she could say a word, this priest put his arms around Rita in a big bear hug, and as she turned and looked, his eyes were closed tightly in prayer, and others gathered around touching her. Soon everyone was elevating their hands to call down God’s love and Grace on Rita. For a brief moment she was so angry, remembering how she insisted that no one was to pray over her. What was happening? Then, in an instant, she felt like she was being hugged by God, surrounded by an incredible white light and an ocean of peace.

               She found herself praying the first real prayer she had prayed in years: “Dear God, I don’t know what this is, but whatever You want, You can have.” It was a prayer of complete surrender. The incredible peace she felt did not leave, and her anger, bitterness, and despair disappeared. For the first time since the onset of her illness, Rita felt truly happy and loved.

               When she arrived home, she told her husband Ron everything, and he was thrilled to see the joy in her eyes. Although not physically healed, and still crippled on the outside, inside she felt whole. And while her physical condition continued to deteriorate, the peace she felt on the inside continued to increase every day.

               The first thing she did after the healing service was to go to confession. She felt so cleansed and relieved and was forever grateful for the Sacrament. The peace and healing continued, and joy returned to Rita’s home and her family. Rita had a spiritual healing, where the Lord let's us know that He loves us and lives in us. Rita often says this type of healing is available to all of us.

This was not, however, the end of the story. The Lord had much more in store for Rita, and once again showed His healing power. Watch for the next blog post to read the continuation of Rita’s story, part 2.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18