Gianna Beretta, Who Died for Her Unborn Child, to Be Canonized (She Refused Cancer Treatment)

http://www.zenit.org/english/ ^ | DEC. 21, 2003

[cpforlife.org]

Gianna Beretta, Who Died for Her Unborn Child, to Be Canonized

She Refused Cancer Treatment

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 21, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II will canonize Gianna Beretta Molla, who accepted death at age 39 rather than submit to treatment that would result in the abortion of her unborn child.

The announcement was made Saturday in the presence of the Pope by the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, in the course of recognizing a miracle attributed to her intercession. Molla, an Italian pediatrician, was beatified in 1994.

Molla (1922-1962), of the Archdiocese of Milan, was a member of Catholic Action. She said of her work: "As the priest touches Jesus, so we doctors touch Jesus in the bodies of our patients."

She loved skiing, played the piano, and attended concerts at the Milan Conservatory with her husband. Pietro Molla, an engineer, described his wife a few years ago as a completely normal person.

"She lived her marriage and motherhood with joy, generosity and absolute fidelity to her mission," said Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, during the ceremony to promulgate the decree.

Gianna Molla decided not to have an operation for cancer, which led to her death when she was pregnant with her fourth daughter. The baby lived.

The miracle attributed to Gianna Molla's intercession was experienced by Elisabete Arcolino Comparini. At the start of 2000, the third child she had conceived began to have serious problems.

In the third month, Comparini lost all the amniotic fluid. Without the natural protection, the unborn child normally would have died, yet the girl was born in May 2000. The birth is scientifically inexplicable. Her parents, who prayed to Molla, called the baby Gianna Maria. ZE03122105

[SaucyCranberry]

The Lord is so good all the time. Not only in allowing the intervention to occur, but giving the world a Saint like this during the reign of abortion. Thanks be to God!

[Lauratealeaf]

My great aunt came down with uterine cancer when pregnant with her third child. She is the first known case at Mayo Clinic to have survived a cancer and pregnancy. Her daughter was born healthy but could never have children. (She and her husband adopted) I think there was some treatment done while she was still pregnant but the majority of it was done after my aunt had the baby. She lived to be eighty two years old. Her daughter is now a grandmother. We are not Catholics but respect those who respect life.

[JudyB1938]

What a great story. That's how most people (especially Catholics) felt back in those days though - that the baby's life should be saved over the mother's if the choice ever had to be made. I, however, believed as you do - that it was more important for the existing children to keep their mama. Fortunately, I never had to make that choice with any of my six children.

I loved the following comment in the story, because it exactly describes my wonderful Dr. Reddy in Clinton, Arkansas ...

"Remember that you have to deal not only with the bodies,
but also the moaning souls coming to you."

They don't make many doctors like that any more.

[oceanperch]

Wow

[LadyDoc]

By Catholic law, it is allowed to get treatment for cancer during pregnancy even if that treatment will kill the unborn child--you see, the aim of the treatment is to cure the mother of cancer, not to kill the child. The child's death is considered an unwanted side effect of the treatment, not murder.

This is why her actions are considered "heroic". However, merely doing this action would not make one a canonized saint i.e. worthy of other christians to follow your actions. This lady was a very good Christian in all of her life.

I also should say that I have met women who chose to treat the cancer, and lived, and that I have met women who delayed their cancer treatment to save their children, but who also lived despite this delay. It is not, alas, a rare problem...

[LadyDoc]

see my note (above).

She was canonized for her good life.

[Mad Dawg]

Lots of Christians, even Catholic Christians, ask others to pray for them. I'm not waiting for them to be canonized before I ask my friends and family to pray for me, and I don't consider asking them to do so a waste of time. (Also, though I am definitely not currently canonization material, I pray for others.)

Praying to a saint or to the blessed is nothing more than asking them to pray for you. Part of the confusion, I imagine, comes from the way "pray" and "prayer" are now used almost exclusively in religious (ot legal) contexts and are otherwise archaic.

The remark about RC teaching about merit, which seems to overlook merit itself being a gift, is not really relevant here. Whatever one's thinking about sola fide or sola gratia, most of us still ask for one another's prayers - which is what we Catholics are doing when we pray to a saint. "... pray for us sinners ...." says the Ave.

[e5man_r_u?]

A perfect example of the culture of life!

JPII strikes aghain!

[Askel5]

Thanks, Fred!

[Salvation]

**"She lived her marriage and motherhood with joy, generosity and absolute fidelity to her mission," said Cardinal José Saraiva Martins**

If only all mothers would have this mindset!

[Salvation]

She acted responsibly towards all life.

[Campion]

The most difficult repentance for dyed-in-the-wool Catholics is changing their minds from thoughts of "meriting," "earning," "being good enough," simply to accepting with empty hands the gift of righteousness in Christ Jesus.

The most difficult repentance for dyed-in-the-wool Protestants is changing their minds from obsessing on their "empty hands" and their alleged status as "snow-covered dungheaps" (Martin Luther) to accepting in their hearts that the grace of God enables them to become images of Jesus Christ, the Christ who said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12)

It's all presented clearly in your Bible, dear reader. You have only to take, and read.

[Gerish]

"God wants to see us near Him, to transmit us in the secret of our prayer the conversion of all the souls approaching us. [...] In every day of our life we should have a moment's time to collect our thoughts in prayer before God. [...] Sowing our little seed incessantly. Let us not stop too much considering what will happen. Even if after having done our best we have a failure, let us generously accept it. A well accepted failure gives more benefit for the salvation of the soul than a triumph".

Sounds like she had the faith of a child - perfect!!! Blessed and wonderful story. God Bless her!

[A.A. Cunningham]

Known as the Principle of Double Effect.

[Old Professer]

This was a woman in whom society had invested a great deal of time, money and effort to train her in her profession

Society is a figment of weak hearts.

[Coleus]

Pope to Declare Mother Who Sacrificed Her Life for Her Unborn Child in 1962 a Saint

VATICAN, December 22, 2003 The Vatican has announced that Pope John Paul II will declare Gianna Beretta Molla a saint. Gianna who lived from 1922-1962 was a medical doctor and mother of a family in Italy.

A website in Gianna's honor relates: "In September of 1961, at the age of 39, Blessed Gianna was pregnant with her fourth child when physicians diagnosed a large ovarian cyst which required surgery. The surgeon suggested that Gianna undergo an abortion in order to save her own life. Gianna's decision was prompt and decisive: 'I shall accept whatever they will do to me provided they save the child.' She underwent the surgery but her fate was sealed. The following year, on Good Friday, Gianna was admitted to Monza Maternity Hospital. Her daughter, Gianna Emanuela, was born the next day but Blessed Gianna expired seven days later, on April 28, 1962."

Related pro-life quotes by Gianna include: "If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation: choose - and I demand it - the baby, save him!" and "Look at the mothers who truly love their children: how many sacrifices they make for them. They are ready for everything, even to give their own blood so that their babies grow up good, healthy and strong."

Gianna Molla

Gianna Beretta, Who Died for Her Unborn Child, to Be Canonized
4 to Be Canonized, 7 Beatified

[Frank_2001]

I agree! Excellent article.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[fatima]

Coleus,This is great news bump.