St. Gianna Beretta Molla is a saint of our times. Born in October of 1922 and dying April 28th, 1962 (her feast day), St. Gianna stays near and dear to my heart.
Gianna was an Italian pediatrician born into a big family. As a young child and into adulthood, she firmly believed in life as a beautiful gift from God, turning her heart to prayer and her studies to medicine.
She became a doctor in the 1950s, opening her own medical office near her hometown. She specialized in pediatrics, drawn to care of mother and child, as well as the poor and the elderly. She considered her medical practice to be a mission to serve others.
In 1954, she married Pietro Molla, thanking God for the gift of family and to form a “truly Christian family”. She wrote to Pietro, “Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.”
She bore three children without complication and with her fourth pregnancy she was diagnosed early in her pregnancy with a fibroma, a tumor in her uterus. The doctors caring for her gave her three options: an abortion, a complete hysterectomy that would take the life of her unborn child, or a removal of only the fibroma that would potentially further complications but could save the life of her baby.
In line with Catholic teaching that the child in the womb has the fundamental right to life, Gianna chose to remove only the fibroma. After the operation, the child in her womb continued to live and Gianna thanked the Lord profusely. However, complications continued throughout the pregnancy.
Gianna Emanuela Molla was delivered successfully by a Cesarean birth but a week later, Gianna passed away from sepsis, an infection.
Pope John Paul II beautified Gianna Beretta Molla on April 24, 1994 and canonized her in May of 2004. Her husband and children attended the canonization ceremony.
John Paul II described her as “ a simple, but more than ever, significant messenger of divine love.”
She is the patron saint of mothers, physicians and unborn children. Her feast day is April 28.*
As a mother, a business owner, and a mother of four unborn children, St. Gianna is a saint who I hold near and dear to my heart. I am especially inspired by her quote, “Live Holy the Present Moment” check out our collection here and you can download a phone background for free here!
This beautiful quote reminds me that every single thing I do throughout the day whether as a visionary of my company, as the mother to my children, and wife to my husband, I can use the moments to glorify God through my actions and responses.
I even created this Coffee Prayer Time Ambiance video to help guide my head and heart during prayer time, inspired by this great woman.
*Adapted from Catholic Online. "St. Gianna Beretta Molla." Accessed 3/5/2024
*Cover photo credit: Catholic Online.
