St. Gianna Beretta Molla



Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) on October 4, 1922, the tenth of thirteen children born to Alberto and Maria Beretta. It was a deeply religious family, and three of her siblings ultimately entered religious life. Gianna was a diligent scholar during her secondary and university education and also dedicated herself to Christian service. She worked with youth as a member of Catholic Action and served the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She earned degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949. She chose the specialty of Pediatrics at the University of Milan, and after 1952 concentrated on providing care to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor. She considered medicine to be her "mission" in life.

Gianna also took great delight in living life to the fullest and greatly enjoyed skiing and mountaineering. She spent of great deal of time and prayer reflecting on her vocation in life. While she did consider religious life, she ultimately decided she was meant for married life. Pietro Molla and Gianna were married on September 24, 1955. By July of 1959 she had given birth to three children while maintaining her medical practice. In September 1961, in the second month of her fourth pregnancy, she was diagnosed with a large ovarian cyst. Her doctor recommended an abortion to save her life. She refused and continued with her pregnancy. She was very worried, however, that the baby might be born in pain and she prayed to God to prevent that. She gave birth to Gianna Emanuela on August 21, 1962. Although every effort was made to save Gianna Molla, she passed away one week later at the age of 39. The daughter she died giving birth to is now a physician herself.

Gianna Beretta Molla was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994 and was recently canonized on May 16, 2004. She made the ultimate sacrifice by giving up her life so that her daughter might live. She is considered a protector of mothers and families.

Prayer of St. Gianna
O Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me, make me only know Your Will. My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls, and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirm which You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms, I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart, the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy Will, the grace to confide in You, the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms.



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