The Heart of a Mother, the Courage of a Saint: St. Gianna Beretta Molla
It often strikes me how the human spirit can rise to such extraordinary heights, often in the midst of the most ordinary of lives. We see glimpses of this in our everyday interactions, in quiet acts of kindness and unwavering devotion. But then there are stories that shine like beacons, illuminating the profound capacity for love and sacrifice that resides within us. The story of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, whose feast day we celebrate on April 28th, is undoubtedly one of those beacons, and one that I was honored to explore in my book, Important Catholic Women of the 20th Century.
Imagine a life brimming with purpose and, let's be honest, the delightful messiness of it all: a successful physician juggling demanding work hours, a loving wife navigating the everyday rhythm of marriage, and a mother embracing the beautiful chaos – and occasional sheer exhaustion – of raising four children. Gianna’s life, as the tenth of thirteen children (though sadly, only eight survived infancy), was steeped in faith from the very beginning. Her parents, devout Third Order Franciscans, instilled in their children the value of education as a sacred duty. Their home in Italy, though simple, was filled with peace and a spirit of generosity, a foundation upon which Gianna would build her remarkable life, likely with its fair share of spilled milk and forgotten chores along the way.
From a young age, faith wasn’t just a Sunday obligation for Gianna; it was the very air she breathed. Daily Mass, the Rosary, and a deepening prayer life became integral to her being. This spiritual grounding was further nurtured through her involvement in Catholic Action, a lay movement whose motto – “prayer, action, sacrifice” – would become a guiding principle for Gianna’s own path, even if sometimes that sacrifice meant skipping a leisurely coffee break to tend to a sick child.
Life, of course, has its challenges. The early death of her beloved older sister Amelia brought Gianna her first profound experience of suffering. Yet, instead of turning away in anger or despair (as we all might be tempted to do), she turned inward, her faith deepening in the crucible of grief. This early experience seemed to forge within her a resilience, a trust that even in sorrow, God was near, a lesson hard-won and likely revisited throughout her life. The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises she undertook as a young woman further solidified this commitment to aligning her will with God’s, a lifelong practice that I’m sure wasn’t always easy amidst the demands of her busy life.
Even the loss of both her parents at a young age, a blow that could have derailed her, became a catalyst. Gianna, though not a particularly stellar student initially (sound familiar to anyone?), found a new determination, channeling her intelligence and effort into pursuing medicine. Her perseverance during World War II, navigating studies amidst bombings, speaks volumes about her inner drive and commitment to serving others, even when she probably longed for a quiet evening with a good book. Her involvement in Catholic Action and the St. Vincent de Paul Society during her university years further underscores her innate desire to care for both the spiritual and physical well-being of those around her, likely while also trying to keep up with her studies and social life.
Upon graduating and opening her medical clinic, Gianna’s vocation to serve others became clear, especially mothers and babies, the elderly, and the poor. She was very generous, often treating those who couldn’t afford care and possessing a particular empathy for mothers facing challenging pregnancies – perhaps remembering her own struggles and anxieties. The pull towards missionary work, to join her brother in Brazil, speaks to her deep desire to use her medical skills as a true mission, a calling from God, even if the logistics and her own health presented real hurdles. A pilgrimage to Lourdes became a pivotal moment of discernment, a time of wrestling with God's plan, ultimately leading her to embrace a calling to the vocation of marriage.
Her whirlwind romance and marriage to Pietro Molla blossomed quickly, rooted in a shared faith and a deep connection. Their family life, blessed with four children, mirrored the joyful and spiritual home she had known as a child, undoubtedly with its own unique brand of family chaos and the occasional need for extra patience. Even the physical challenges of her pregnancies, marked by severe hyperemesis (that relentless morning sickness we’ve all heard about, magnified!), couldn’t dim her peaceful and joyful spirit, her reliance on God unwavering, even on those days when she probably just wanted to stay in bed.
Gianna’s life was a beautiful tapestry woven with the threads of her vocations: wife, mother, and physician. She embraced them all fully, finding a delicate balance between her dedication to her family and her commitment to her patients – a tightrope walk many of us know well. Her enjoyment of life – skiing in the mountains, appreciating beauty, and even her love for elegant clothing – reminds us that holiness isn’t about renouncing the joys of the world, but rather finding God within them, perhaps even in the perfect shade of lipstick or the thrill of a downhill run. Her “normalcy,” her relatability, is perhaps one of her most compelling qualities, showing us that the path to sainthood is often paved with the everyday moments of our lives, the triumphs and the tribulations.
And then, the moment that so profoundly defines her legacy: her fourth pregnancy, complicated by a tumor. Faced with impossible choices, Gianna, the physician, understood the risks with stark clarity. Yet, Gianna, the mother, the woman of deep faith, made a choice that resonated with her core belief in the sanctity of life. She chose to prioritize her baby’s life over her own, a selfless act of love carried out with unwavering conviction, a decision that surely came after much prayer and perhaps even a few tears.
The days following her daughter Gianna Emanuela’s birth were filled with intense pain, yet Gianna, ever the practical one, likely bore it with a quiet strength, her clarity of mind fixed on her love for her newborn. Her repeated affirmation, "Jesus, I love you," in her final moments encapsulates the deep wellspring of faith that guided her entire life, a simple yet profound prayer that speaks volumes about her surrender.
The Church recognized this extraordinary life, beatifying Gianna in 1994 and canonizing her as a saint in 2004. Her husband, Pietro, witnessing this profound recognition, marked a unique moment in Church history. St. Gianna, whose feast day on April 28th offers us a moment to reflect on her incredible example, stands as a powerful patroness for mothers, physicians, and unborn children, her life an enduring inspiration for the pro-life movement worldwide.
But as her story unfolds, we realize that her final, heroic act was not an isolated event. It was the culmination of a lifetime of small, daily choices to prioritize faith, prayer, and the will of God, even when that will was difficult to discern. It was the fruit of a home that nurtured Christian values, where joy, peace, generosity, and trust in God were ingrained from the start, even amidst the inevitable sibling squabbles and household messes.
St. Gianna’s life reminds us that holiness isn’t some unattainable ideal reserved for a select few. It is found in the everyday, in the balancing of our responsibilities (often imperfectly!), in our appreciation for the gifts God has given us (even the small ones), and most importantly, in the sacrificial nature of love, even when that sacrifice is as simple as a sleepless night tending to a sick child. She loved her life, with all its joys and challenges, but she loved even more the lives entrusted to her. Her story, celebrated each year on April 28th, is a powerful testament to the sanctity of marriage and motherhood, reminding us that sainthood can indeed blossom amidst the beautiful, messy, and utterly relatable reality of family life.