Gianna Beretta Molla

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Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (October 4, 1922 - April 28, 1962) was an Italian pediatrician, wife and mother who is best known for refusing both an abortion and a hysterectomy when she was pregnant with her fourth child, despite warnings that continuing with the pregnancy could result in her death. The baby, Gianna Emanuela, was successfully delivered by Caesarian section on April 21, 1962.^[1] Gianna Molla died of septic peritonitis a week after the birth. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, and canonized on May 16, 2004. In his homily at her canonization Mass, Pope John Paul II called her "a simple, but more than ever, significant messenger of divine love."^[2]

1 Patronage
2 Prayers to St. Gianna
- 2.1 Litany of St. Gianna
3 Quotes
4 References
- 4.1 External link

[edit] Patronage

St. Gianna is a patron saint for mothers, physicans, and preborn children.

[edit] Prayers to St. Gianna

The Church prays what she believes. Having canonized St. Gianna Beretta Molla, the Church has approved the following prayers to her, seeking her intercession through the Communion of the Saints:

[edit] Litany of St. Gianna

(Leader) Lord, have mercy. (Response) Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father in Heaven. Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world. Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit. Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God. Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary. Pray for us.
St. Joseph. Pray for us.
St. Michael the Archangel. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, filled with love for God. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, filled with love for children. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, filled with love for Our Lady and her Rosary. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, filled with love for the Most Blessed Sacrament. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, who sought the will of God in all things. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, generous with those in need. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, devoted to prayer. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, willing to lay down your life for the sake of the gospel. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, patient in suffering. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, united to Jesus on the Cross. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, called to the vocation of marriage. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, who welcomed children as a blessing. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, physician to the ill. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, faithful daughter of the church. Pray for us.
St. Gianna, witness to the sanctity of human life. Pray for us.
From neglecting God through prayer. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From refusing to see God in the sick and poor. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From callousness to the sufferings of others. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From selfishness. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From a lack of trust in God’s providence. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From blindness to the dignity of the human person. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.
From denial that human life begins at conception. Deliver us Lord through the intercession of St. Gianna.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

Let us pray.
Lord of life, we thank You for the heroic witness of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla. You have taught us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others. Saint Gianna did this, not only as she gave birth to her last child, but also in her everyday life as she died to herself so that she could live wholly for You. What selflessness we see in her! Help us, we pray, that through the intercession of Saint Gianna, our society may regain a sense of the sacredness of all human life. Fill us with her spirit of courage to suffer any struggle rather than deny You and the sanctity of human life. We ask You this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(Composed by a priest from Alabama and offered to the Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla)
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Joseph G. Prior, Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia
Sept. 29, 2004^[3]

[edit] Quotes

"If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation; choose -and I demand it- the baby, Save him!"
"Also in suffering, let us say: Thanks be to God."
"If one were to consider how much Jesus has suffered, one would not commit the smallest sin."