Giovanna Francesca (Beretta) Molla MD (1922 - 1962)

Born 4 Oct 1922 in Magenta, Milano, Lombardia, Italy

Wife of Pietro Molla — married 24 Sep 1955 in Magenta, Italy

Died 28 Apr 1962 at age 39 in Magenta, Milano, Lombardia, Italy

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Biography

Giovanna is a saint

Giovanna (Beretta) Molla MD is Notable.

Named Giovanna Francesca ^[1]

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (4 October 1922 – 28 April 1962) was an Italian pediatrician. When she was pregnant with her fourth child, Molla refused both an abortion and a hysterectomy, despite knowing that continuing with the pregnancy could result in her own death, as it in fact did.

She was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 2004. ^[2]

They were 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. 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 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 ^[3][4]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.stgiannaphysicians.org/our_patron
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianna_Beretta_Molla
3. ↑ http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20040516_beretta-molla_en.html
4. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8798427/gianna-beretta-molla