Gianna Beretta Molla Offered Life For Her [Unborn]Child

EWTN ^ | 1994 | L'Osservatore Romano

[Lady In Blue]

GIANNA BERETTA OFFERED LIFE FOR HER CHILD

Mother's Self-Sacrificing Love

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 Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla was born in Magenta (Milan), Italy, on 4 October 1922, the 10th of 13 children. Already as a young girl she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectivneess of prayer.

She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith in generous apostolic service among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. After earning degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and thereafter gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and the poor.

While working in the field of medicine—which she considered a "mission" and practiced as such—she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among the "very young" and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and those of others, she reflected on her vocation, which she also considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself "to forming a truly Christian family."

She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on 24 September 1955 in St. Martin's Basilica in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi; in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life.

In September 1961, towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that.

A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child—I insist on it. Save the baby." On the morning of 21 April 1962 Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of 28 April, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you," the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The body of the new blessed lies in the cemetary of Mesero (4 km. from Magenta).

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Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
27 April 1994

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[xJones]

"If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child—I insist on it. Save the baby." On the morning of 21 April 1962 Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of 28 April, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you," the mother died.

Such a beautiful and true loving mother's heart.

[Tax-chick]

Thank you for publicising the story of Blessed Gianna. I just learned I'm not pregnant (yet!), but as I grow older, into the more dangerous years of childbearing, I find Blessed Gianna to be a wonderful example and intercessor.

[evolved_rage]

FYI, Bump. This reminded me of your old home page.

[Siobhan]

Blessed Gianna, one of the shining lights in our generation.

[Siobhan]

Bump!

[Gerish]

Wonderful read - thank you!

[fatima]

Thanks Lady In Blue,She is very popular in our neck of the woods,there is a website and also a new order has started.

[Cultural Jihad]

A lovely thread. Thanks for the bump!

[Lady In Blue]

There's a new order?! I hadn't heard that.Do you know anything about them? I was looking at a video last night that a nice lady from my parish tapes for(from EWTN).Mr Cunningham{?}was giving a presentation on her life and one of the most beautiful parts was when Gianna was preparing for her wedding dress.She wanted a certain type of material,one that could be made into a casuble for hopefully one of her sons to wear as a priest!

[Lady In Blue]

I know! She was a real mother, a real woman.She would be outraged at what a lot of feminist women are saying and doing.They want to get rid of a child like it's nothing.Shame on them!

[Lady In Blue]

You're welcome,Tax-chick.

[Lady In Blue]

There's a book on Blessed Gianna's life, titled:

"NO GREATER LOVE"

It can be purchased at 1-800-764-8444.Item #3007 at $3.00 each and I understand that there's a discount.The more you buy the cheaper each copy is.There's also a website: http://www.gianni.org/

[Lady In Blue]

She sure is,Siobhan!

[Lady In Blue]

Glad to see you come on board!

[fatima]

Joe Cunningham had permission to start an order,the last I had heard.He is local and was doing radio but gave it up to focus on the new order.I can find out more for you but not until Tom.Here is the link http://www.gianna.org/
Here is the board,Joe is the president,last I heard they were forming a new order but why don't you email them for info.
Honorary Advisors
Board Members
Theological Advisors

Fr. Stephanos Pedrano, O.S.B.
Prince of Peace Abbey
San Diego, California

Fr. Ronald Vierling, M.C.F.
Prof., Landsdale Catholic H.S. Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D.
Diocese of Fall River, MA

Mr. Pietro Molla
Husband of Blessed Gianna

Pierluigi Molla
Laura Molla
Gianna Emanuela Molla, M.D.
Children of Blessed Gianna

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, D.D., M.A, J.C.D., J.D., Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Most Rev. James T. McHugh, D.D., S.T.D., Coadjutor, Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY

Karen Garver Santorum, B.S.N., J.D.
Wife, mother, Neo-natal Nurse and author of "Letters to Gabriel"

Fr. Frank Pavone
Director, Priests for Life

Prof. John Saward, M.A., M. Litt.
International Theological Institute
Author of " The Mysteries of March",
"Redeemer in the Womb" and others.

Bishop Raymond Burke,
Diocese of La Crois, WI

Bishop Allen Vigneron,
Dioscese of Detroit, MI

Edward Peters, J.D., J.C. D.


Dr. Edward Saxer


Joseph W. Cunningham, Esq.
President

Michael Senoyuit, III, Esq.
Vice President

Salvatore R. Faia, Esq.
Secretary

Sheryl Stacy-Leeb
General Manager

Fr. Peter J. Walsh, Ph.D.
Spiritual Advisor



Associate Board
Members

Prayer Intercessors

Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Carmelite Monastery
Philadelphia, PA


Dominic Lombardi
Respect Life Offfice
Archdiocese of Philadlphia

Henrique Fragelli

J. Michael Whitaker, M.D.

James M. Todd
Webmaster

Jim Buffler,
Parish Presentations

Robert and Maryellen White
Parish Presentations

Michael and Kathy Moreni
Prayer Line/Newsletter

Ralph Heinrich
Corresponding Secretary
















THE SOCIETY OF
BLESSED GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA
Promoting Holiness in the Family and the Sanctity of Human Life

Contact Webmaster@gianna.org with comments or questions regarding this site.
Copyright, The Society of Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla, All rights reserved

[Lady In Blue]

WOW! Thanks for all of the info.

[fatima]

This board member is our Senator's wife,Karen Garver Santorum, B.S.N., J.D.
Wife, mother, Neo-natal Nurse and author of "Letters to Gabriel"

[Tax-chick]

ping to me on all this info.

I bought "Letters to Gabriel" when it first came out. I had a baby (my 3rd child of six, 2nd son of three, Thomas Jackson) around the time the Santorums' Gabriel died.

That was about the time that we decided babies came before everything else! I'm definitely bummed that we're not expecting now, but it's all in God's hands ...

[fatima]

Will do,I will get a phone # tom.,I do not follow this as we are busy too but I have a contact that should have Joe's # and info on the order.I have a donor who sent me her picture and that is when I took an interest in her.God bless the Santorums' and they stand for life.