SAINT FOR THE MONTH
Feast: April 28
(1922-1962)
Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta
(Milan) October 4, 1922. As a youth she willingly accepted the gift
of faith and the clearly Christian education she received from her
parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvelous gift from
GOD, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the
necessity and effectiveness of prayer.
She dedicated herself to studies during her secondary and
university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith
through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic
Action and charitable work 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 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 upon 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 was engaged to Pietro Molla and married on September 24, 1955,
in the Basilica of St. Martin 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.
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.
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 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. Despite all
efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of
April 28, 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 Servant of GOD lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km
from Magenta).
“Conscious immolation”, was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to
define the act of Blessed Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday
Angelus of September 23, 1973, as: “A young mother from the diocese
of Milan, who, to give life to her daughter, sacrificed her own,
with conscious immolation”. The Holy Father in these words clearly
refers to Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist. Gianna was
beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the
international Year of the Family.