Born in Italy in 1922, Gianna was the 10th of thirteen children, only eight of whom lived to be adults. 

Both her parents were members of the 3rd Order of St. Francis and the family history of service to The Lord was long, with many members who served as priests and nuns, including her own brother. 

Showing great devotion growing up, Gianna entered The University of Milan in 1942 to study Medicine and finished after WWII, in 1949. 

She had hoped to join her brother, a priest serving in the Brazilian Missions, but her health would not allow it. So, she opened up a practice in Massaro near her hometown. 

In 1954, she met Pietro Molla, and the two married the next year. 

From 1956 to 1959 they had three children. 

Then, in 1961, Gianna became pregnant with her fourth child and was diagnosed with a tumor on her uterus. 

She was offered three choices: to have an abortion, a complete hysterectomy which would have taken the child, or, removal of the tumor alone, which was the riskiest of all of her options. 

Gianna chose to have the tumor removed to protect her baby. 

In April 1962, she gave birth to Gianna Emanuella, however, a postoperative infection set in, causing her great pain. Then, one week later, she died. 

Her daughter grew up to become a geriatric physician. 

In 1971 Pietro wrote his wife’s story. He often told his daughter that her mother’s choice was one of conscience as both a mother and a doctor. 

She was Canonized in 2004 by St. Pope John Paul II. 

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, please pray for us.