A Novena for Mothers
St. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian pediatrician born on October 4, 1922. She is the patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children.
In 1961, St. Gianna became pregnant with her fourth child and during her second month, she began to experience severe pain. It was discovered that she had developed a fibroma in her uterus, and so she was carrying both a baby and a tumor.
She was given three options by her doctors; to have an abortion and save her own life, to have a hysterectomy to ensure her safety but take the life of her unborn child and prevent a future pregnancy, or to remove the fibroma and endure further potential complications while preserving the life of her child.
Her decision was informed by her faith and the teachings of the Catholic Church that a child in the womb has a fundamental right to life. In an effort to save her child’s life, St. Gianna chose to remove the fibroma.
In her love, she was willing to sacrifice her life for that of her child. However, after the operation, St. Gianna continued to experience complications during her pregnancy.
In the time leading up to her delivery, St. Gianna clearly expressed her wishes to her family: “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child. I insist on it. Save the baby.”
St. Gianna delivered her child on April 21, 1962 via a successful C-section. Sadly, a week after her child was born, St. Gianna passed away from septic peritonitis.
She was canonized as a saint on May 16, 2004, and her ceremony was attended by her husband and children. Making her canonization ceremony the first to be ever witnessed by the husband of the saint.
There have since been many accounts of women praying for the intercession of St. Gianna who then successfully delivered healthy babies.
St. Gianna is the inspiration for the first pro-life Catholic healthcare center for women in New York, the Gianna Center.
Her feast day is celebrated on April 28.
To pray the novena to St. Gianna from April 19-27, along with thousands across the country, visit the link below.
