St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Ø  St Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian pediatrician young mother from the diocese of Milan  , who gave her life for her fourth child (Gianna Emanuela ) in 1962 . Ø  Pro-Life Saint, Doctor And Mother Ø  A martyr of maternal love Ø  Molla is the first woman of Catholic Action who is proclaimed a saint Ø  “Conscious Immolation” the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to define the act of Blessed Gianna
Born	On 4th  October 1922 in Magenta, Milan, Italy
Died	On 28th  April 1962 in Monza Maternity Hospital, Monza, Italy of complications from an ovarian cyst
Venerated	On 6th  July 1991 by Pope John Paul II
Beatified	On 24th  April 1994 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy , during the international Year of the Family
Canonized	On 16th  May 2004 by Pope John Paul II
Feast	28th  April
Patron	•against abortion •pregnant women

She was born in Magenta, Italy, on Oct. 4, 1922, in a family of 13 siblings. She studied medicine, a family tradition. She received her doctor's degree in medicine and surgery in 1949 from the University of Pavia, and in 1950 opened an outpatient clinic in Mesero. Two years later, she specialized in pediatrics at the University of Milan. On Sept. 24, 1955, Gianna married engineer Pietro Molla, also a member of Catholic Action, in Magenta. Gianna had her first child, Pierluigi, in November 1956. In December 1957, she gave birth to Mariolina, and in July 1959 to Laura.   In September 1961, in the second month of her pregnancy with her fourth child, she was diagnosed to have a tumor of the uterus. Surgery was necessary. Aware of the risk, Gianna begged the surgeon to save the life of her unborn child at all costs. The baby's life was saved. In thanksgiving to God, Gianna spent the following seven months before the birth with "incomparable strength" of spirit and dedication to her duties as mother and doctor, the biography issued by the Vatican says. A few days before the birth, she said she was ready to give her life to save that of her child. "If a decision must be made between my life and the child's, don't hesitate. I insist you choose the child's. Save it," she told her husband and the doctors.   On the morning of April 21, 1962, she gave birth to Gianna Emanuela. Complications started shortly after: Septic peritonitis caused her much suffering. On April 28, amid pain and repeating the prayer "Jesus, I love you; Jesus, I love you," Gianna Beretta Molla she died a holy death. She was 39. She was beatified by John Paul II on April 24, 1994, the International Year of the Family. Her husband Pietro, now 82, and her children were present at the canonization in Rome. Canonized  On 16th  May 2004 by Pope John Paul  II.