The Life of Saint Gianna
Her Life
October 4, 1922
St. Gianna is Born
Gianna Francesca Beretta was born on October 4, 1922 in Magenta (Milan), Italy. Her parents, Alberto and Maria Beretta, were third order Franciscans. Saint Gianna's middle name, Francesca was fitting as she was born on the Feast of St.Francis of Assisi.
St. Gianna's parents were devout Catholics who raised their children to know, love and serve God. Through their witness, Gianna saw what it meant to care for the least of her brothers and sisters in Christ. Saint Gianna saw every person as made in the image and likeness of God.
Early Life
St. Gianna is Educated
St. Gianna dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education. After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949, she considered her work in medicine a "mission" and practiced it as such.
St. Gianna applied her faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and the elderly and needy through charitable work as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Outside of work, she expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering.
Early Career
St. Gianna Serves the Vulnerable
St. Gianna opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950.
In 1952, St. Gianna completed a specialization in Pediatrics at the University of Milan and thereafter gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.
September 24, 1955
St. Gianna is Married
St. Gianna and her husband, Pietro Molla, were married in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta.
St. Gianna considered her chosen vocation, marriage, a gift from God and embraced it with complete enthusiasm. She wholly dedicated herself “to forming a truly Christian family”.
November 1956
St. Gianna Becomes a Mother
In November 1956, to her great joy, St. Gianna became the mother of Pierluigi. The following December, she delivered Mariolina, and in July of 1959, St. Gianna delivered Laura.
With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of motherhood, marriage, medicine and her passion for life.
Motherhood Years
St. Gianna's Motherhood Journey
St. Gianna experienced difficult pregnancies (including being diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum), long pregnancies (up to 43 weeks, 4 days), and long labors (36 hours).
After the birth of her first three children, St. Gianna experienced two miscarriages.
September 1961
St. Gianna Experiences Pregnancy Complications
In the second month of her final pregnancy, St. Gianna developed a painful fibroma (tumor) in her uterus. Before her medically necessary 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 baby's life was saved, and St. Gianna thanked the Lord. She spent the seven remaining months of her pregnancy 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 prayed for God to protect the child from suffering.
April 1962
St. Gianna Trusts In Providence
A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in providence, St. Gianna was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child. She told her care team, “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child – I insist on it. Save him."
On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born.
On the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain, Gianna cried out to the Lord saying "Jesus, I love you! Jesus, I love you!" Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, St. Gianna died. She was 39 years old.
Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. This Servant of God now lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).
September 23, 1973
St. Gianna is Remembered
Pope Paul VI defined the final act of Blessed Gianna in comparison to those of Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist when, at the Sunday Angelus of September 23, 1973, he stated “A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give life to her daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation."
April 24, 1994
St. Gianna is Beatified
St. Gianna was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the International Year of the Family. Her husband, Pietro, and three of their children were present, marking the first time a husband witness his wife's canonization.
Her Sainthood
St. Gianna Molla entered eternal life on April 28, 1962. Word of St. Gianna's holiness spread from the time of her death until 1972 when the Cardinal of Milan, Giovanni Columbo, expressed support for the opening of her cause for beautification.
In 1977, the first miracle attributed to St. Gianna occurred in Brazil. St. Gianna's brother, (now Venerable) Fr. Alberto Beretta, OFM Capuchin, was in charge of a hospital there when a woman with a complication from a stillbirth was sudden miraculously healed from a life-threatening medical emergency. This miracle was exhaustively studied between 1981-1987 and the miracle was formally approved by the Church in 1992.
The second miracle that led to her canonization also occurred in Brazil. In 1999, a 35 year old woman, pregnant with her fourth child, experienced complications within the first few weeks of her pregnancy. At 16 weeks she suffered a total rupture of her membranes and lost all amniotic fluid that would protect her forming child. The Bishop of her diocese, knowing of Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla, prayed for this woman to deliver a healthy child. Through St. Gianna's intercession to Jesus, a perfectly healthy baby was born at 32 weeks gestation with no medical complications. This happy and healthy baby girl was named Gianna. The Vatican examined this case and on April 10, 2003, the second miracle was approved.
St. Gianna was canonized at St.Peter's Square on May 16, 2004. This was the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that a husband was present for his wife's canonization.
The St. Gianna & Pietro Molla Foundation
The Saint Gianna & Pietro Molla Foundation is a 501(c)(3) located in North Dakota, United States. This Foundation aims to honor, perpetuate, and spread around the world the memory, example, testimony, and spirituality of St. Gianna and her spouse, Pietro.
The Saint Gianna & Pietro Molla Foundation, under the guidance of Dr. Gianna Emanuela, has established The Saint Gianna & Pietro Molla International Center for Family & Life. This center serves as a place dedicated to the holiness of life of Saint Gianna and her husband, Pietro Molla, to which the faithful can come and pilgrimage.
Relics of the Sisterhood
Each of the 28 Sisters of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Relics of St. Gianna have a second-class relic prayer card. In touching the prayer cards we mail to recipients around the world, cards become third-class relics. These holy items provide a tangible connection to St. Gianna, inspiring devotion and reminding us to seek her intercession with God.
To learn more about the impact of the St. Gianna Prayer Card Ministry, read our Stories of Sisterhood.
