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<DIV align=center><FONT face=Tahoma size=7><STRONG>St. Gianna
Molla</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=7>Pray for
us</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=7></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla
was canonised to-day,</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>16 May
2004,</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>the mother who gave her life
for her unborn child.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gianna Beretta Molla
(1922-1962)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><A
href="http://www.scborromeo.org/images/saints/gianna.jpg">http://www.scborromeo.org/images/saints/gianna.jpg</A></FONT></DIV>
<P align=left>Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922.
Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly
Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result,
she experienced life as a marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in
Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.</P>
<P align=left>She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of
her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her
faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and
charitable work among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de
Paul Society. After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University
of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950.
She specialized in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and there after
gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.</P>
<P align=left>While working in the field of medicine-which she considered a
“mission” and practiced as such-she increased her generous service to Catholic
Action, especially among the “very young” and, at the same time, expressed her
joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through
her prayers and those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also
considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced
it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself “to forming a truly
Christian family”.</P>
<P align=left>She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and
happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised
the Lord. They were married on September 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin
in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she
became the mother of Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of
Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother,
wife, doctor and her passion for life.</P>
<P align=left>In September 1961 towards the end of the second month of
pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had
developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and
conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the
surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to
prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She
spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable
strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor.
She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God
to prevent that.</P>
<P align=left>A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always
in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her
child: “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose
the child - I insist on it. Save him”. On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna
Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on
the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations
of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died. She was 39 years
old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The
Servant of God lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).</P>
<P align=left>“Conscious immolation», was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to
define the act of Blessed Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday Angelus of
September 23, 1973, as: “A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give
life to her daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation”. The Holy
Father in these words clearly refers to Christ on Calvary and in the
Eucharist.</P>
<P align=left>Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994,
during the international Year of the Family.</P>
<P align=center><STRONG>St. Gianna Molla pray for our unborn babies that they
may be brought to life, for their mothers and for all who dedicate their
work to protect the sanctity of human life.</STRONG></P>
<P align=center><STRONG>St. Gianna Molla pray for the conversion of all involved
with Marie Stopes abortion clinics and other abortion
providers.</STRONG></P></BODY></HTML>