a brave mother
Jeanne Beretta was the mother of a large family, a pediatrician, an athlete, a fervent speaker and a person committed to Catholic action for the poorest. She very lovingly shared her hands full with her joy of living in faith towards the Risen One. One time, while she was pregnant, she had a fibroid discovered in her uterus, for which she had to have an operation. At that moment, even knowing the imminent risk that this entailed, she begged the surgeon not to interrupt her pregnancy and to save the life that was growing in her womb: If you have to choose between me and the baby, don’t have any reservations; choose- and I demand it- drink it. Save her!” Following her request, the baby was born and Juana died in terrible pain, shortly after saying the following words: “Jesus I love you”. Jesus I love you”. In fact, because of everything she has experienced, her intercession is very powerful for all future mothers.
(Find other saints in the saints guide by ).
Biography of Gianna Beretta Molla
His childhood
Joaneither Gianna Beretta Molla, was born on October 4, 1922 in Magenta, Italy and grew up in an atmosphere of deep piety. His parents were part of the Franciscan Third Order, so they instilled in his children the gift of self and modesty. In fact, Gianna made her first communion at age 5. Since then, she followed in the footsteps of her parents and led a life of sincere devotion, in which she attended mass and prayed the rosary daily. In 1938 she participated in a retreat during which she wrote many resolutions. In one of them, he promised to: “Pray the Hail Mary every day, so that the Lord grants me a holy death”. At age 12, Gianna became a member of the Catholic Action, movement that allowed him to mature in his faith. In fact, one of the slogans of this movement is the sacrifice.
His studies
Gianna’s parents died in succession in 1942 and the young orphan began her medical studies in Milan, in an atmosphere of war. In fact, she endured the tragedy of the attacks, however, she continued with her training and went to mass every day. She deeply believed in the beauty of her vocation: “It is a priestly mission – as he (the priest) can touch Jesus, so we (doctors) touch Jesus in the body of our sick: poor, young, old, children”. In addition, Gianna obtained her doctorate in 1949, specialized in pediatrics and managed to practice her career in a practice located in Mesero (Italy).
your married life
Gianna’s relatives saw in her her love for life and for others… On a certain occasion, Peter Molla, an engineer whose family lived next door to his medical office, set his sights on Gianna, and their affection grew as they got to know each other. In fact, they shared the same religious fervor, which is why they married a perfect love in 1955. On one occasion, Gianna wrote Peitro the following words: “With the help and blessing of God, we will do everything so that our family is a small cenacle where Jesus reigns over all our affections, desires and actions. Let us become God’s collaborators in creation” . Thus, in the years following the marriage, Gianna gave birth to her first three children.
Her pregnancy and death
In 1961, Gianna was expecting her fourth child. However, in her second month of pregnancy, she began to experience the mystery of pain, learning that she had a uterine fibroid that needed to be removed. Aware of the risk the operation posed to the baby, she begged the surgeon to save her. The operation was a success, but the risks did not stop… As the months went by, Gianna was ready to give birth and she repeated these words: “If you have to choose between me and the baby, don’t have any reservations; choose- and I demand it- drink it. Save her!” It was like his daughter Gianna Emanuela She was born on April 21, 1962. Unfortunately, Gianna suffered from various complications, including severe abdominal swelling. . Despite her pain, Gianna adamantly refused to be given narcotics. In fact, Gianna felt that she became more lucid as death approached. Finally, this wonderful woman died on April 28, 1962.
Miracles, Beatification and Canonization of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
“All the ways of the Lord are beautiful because their end is one and the same: to save our own soul and succeed in leading many other souls to heaven, to give glory to God” -Jeanne Beretta Molla
On the day of Gianna Beretta Molla’s funeral, many people gathered at the Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which was too small to accommodate them all. As Gianna’s story spread quickly, people began devoting their prayers to this great woman. In fact, these devotional movements became so popular that in 1980 Cardinal Carlo Martini, Archbishop of Milan, had an investigation opened for her beatification.
Regarding her miracles, the first one attributed to her occurred in 1977 in Brazil, in the city of Grajaú (place where Gianna aspired to be a missionary). This happened in the hospital of San Francisco de Asís, where a nurse and her colleagues prayed for the intercession of Gianna Beretta Molla, asking for the healing of a seriously ill patient. Immediately, the patient declared that her pain had disappeared, then she performed an examination and the doctors confirmed her miraculous healing. Gianna was beatified on April 24, 1994, in the International Year of the Family.
The second miracle attributed to Gianna and validated for her canonization occurred in 1999, with a Brazilian woman who had serious complications during her pregnancy: doctors observed the growth of a blood clot that could cause premature detachment of the placenta. In fact, they didn’t believe much in the baby’s survival and were more concerned with saving her mother. At 16 weeks gestation, the amniotic membrane ruptured and the woman, in a desperate attempt to save the life of her child, began receiving copious intravenous fluid transfers. While that was happening, the fetal heart rate was dramatically below average (16 bpm vs. a mean of 100 to 160 bpm). In fact, the situation was so overwhelming that Bishop Diogenes Silva Mathes went to the hospital to anoint her mother with the anointing of the sick. At that time, he told her about the Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla and asked her intercession for the healing of the child and his mother, and then gave her image to the young mother. After this event, her mother began to pray fervently with her relatives, asking for Gianna’s intercession. And, although the life of the fetus was hanging by a thread during her pregnancy, she was finally able to be born at the 32nd week of pregnancy. This little baby who was born miraculously was called Gianna Maria: she was a beautiful baby and very healthy. On her part, her mother suffered some complications, but she managed to recover and be able to take her daughter home .
Gianna Beretta Molla was canonized on May 16, 2004, and his feast is celebrated on April 28, the day of his death. In fact, she was the last saint canonized by the Pope Juan Pablo II.
Prayers to Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
Pray these prayers in your heart to ask for the intercession of Saint Juana Beretta Molla.
Prayer I
“God, our Father,
we praise you and bless you
because in Santa Gianna Beretta Molla
you have given us and made known
to a woman, witness of the Gospel,
as a young woman, wife, mother and doctor.
we thank you also because
through the giving of his life
You teach us to welcome and honor every human creature.
You, Lord Jesus,
you have been a privileged reference for her:
has been able to recognize you
in the beauty of nature;
when wondering which way to go in life,
I was looking for you and wanted to serve you in the best possible way;
in conjugal love it has been a sign
of your love for the Church and for humanity;
like you, good samaritan, has stopped
next to every sick person, small and weak;
following your example and for love,
it has given itself totally, engendering new life.
Holy Spirit, source of all perfection,
grant us also wisdom,
intelligence and courage so that,
Following the example of Saint Gianna and through her intercession,
in life, personal, family and professional,
let us know how to put ourselves at the service of every man and every woman
so as to grow in love and in holiness.
Amen.”
-Source: Aciprensa
Prayer II
“Oh compassionate Saint Gianna,
doctor who cares for the poor,
the elderly, children and pregnant mothers,
Lovingly consider my humble prayer,
and intercede for me before our Heavenly Father.
As a consecrated wife and mother, you imitated the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
even to the point of giving your life to save the life of your unborn daughter.
I beg you to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with courage, so that your words become mine:
“Whatever God wants”. If it fits in the loving plan that God has for me,
intercede for me to grant my intention (here mention your request).
I make this supplication for the healing and strengthening of my heart,
of my soul, of my mind and my body,
with complete confidence in Christ our Lord.
Amen”.