By SISTER IRENE HARTMAN, OP Holy Ones of Our Time Gianna Beretta was born in Milan, Italy on October 4, 1922. She was the tenth of 13 children, nine of whom survived to adulthood. At the age of three, her family moved to Bergano, Italy, where she grew up in a pious family, devoted to the faith. Gianna saw life as a precious gift from God and from her youth was devoted to prayer and reflection on God’s goodness to her.
Intent on becoming a doctor, Gianna gave serious study to her courses during her secondary and university years. Though an earnest student, she had time to excel in charitable works among the elderly and the needy. After earning degrees in medicine and surgery in 1949, Gianna opened a medical clinic in 1950. There she specialized in pediatrics, and gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly, and the poor. Gianna considered the practice of medicine a ministry but also found time to enjoy the beauties of creation in skiing and mountaineering. She gave serious thought to discern what God had in mind for her as a vocation, the single life or marriage. Eventually Gianna met Pietro Molla, an engineer 10 years older than she was. During her engagement, she experienced much joy and happiness, thanking God for bringing Pietro into her life. The two were married in 1955. Gianna became a happy wife and in the next few years bore three children: Pierluigi, Maria Zita, and Laura. Gianna experienced two miscarriages after Laura’s birth. In all the events of her life, the happy mother was able to harmonize her role as mother, wife, doctor, even while enjoying her passion for life. Gianna wanted to practice medicine among the poor in Brazil but her chronic health made this impractical, so she continued her practice in Italy. In 1961 near the end of her second month of pregnancy, the doctors discovered that she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Gianna was given three choices: abortion, hysterectomy, or removal of the fibroma. The first two options were not acceptable choices for the young mother. She chose to have the fibroma removed, hoping that the child’s life would thereby be spared. After the operation for the removal of the fibroma, complications continued throughout the pregnancy. Gianna was quite clear about her wishes, saying to her family, “This time will be a difficult delivery, and they may have to save one or the other -- I want them so save my baby.” On April 21, 1962, Good Friday, Gianna went to the hospital, where her fourth child, Gianna Emanuela, was successfully delivered via Caesarean section. Gianna continue to have severe pain, and despite all efforts to save both mother and child, the 39-year-old mother died of septic peritonitis seven days after the birth of her namesake, little Gianna. Pope John Paul beatified Gianna on April 24, 1994, and canonized her on May 16, 2004. Present for the canonization were her husband Pietro and their last child, Gianna.
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