Saint Story: Gianna Beretta Molla

Gianna was born in Italy in 1922, the tenth of thirteen children. She received her medical diploma and practiced pediatric medicine at the University of Milan. She married Pietro Molla in 1955.

In 1961, during her fourth and final pregnancy, Gianna developed a fibroma on her uterus.  Gianna opted for the removal of the fibroma since it was the only way to preserve the baby’s life. 

“If you must choose between me and the baby—save the baby!”   Her fourth child, also called Gianna, was born by C-section on Holy Saturday 1962.  Gianna continued to have severe pain and died a week later from complications.  

Gianna held a deep dedication to prayer – daily mediation, afternoon visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the rosary. While in high school, she went on a retreat of the Spiritual Exercises, making firm commitments in the spiritual life. “Jesus,” she journaled on the retreat, “I promise to submit to everything that you will allow to happen to me. Only help me to know your will.”

“The stillness of prayer is the most essential condition for fruitful action. Before all else, the disciple kneels down.”
”
— St. Gianna

She grounded herself in service, particularly her “mission” – her medical work which she saw as a ministry to “Jesus in the bodies of the sick.” Never judging, always compassionate, she stressed the value of life, especially to those patients who considered abortion. Sometimes, she would leave money behind on the tables of her poorest patients. And always, she would do it with a smile.

 

St. Gianna’s Prayer

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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