Pilgrimage with Pope Francis - EIGHTH STATION - Saint Gianna, patron of pregnant mothers and the unborn

Welcome to the sixth station on our virtual pilgrimage to Philadelphia with Pope Francis to the World Meeting of Families. Let us pray!

About St. Gianna

Gianna Beretta was born in Italy in 1922, to a large family. She took an interest in medicine and in 1942, despite the war, Gianna began to study medicine in college. During this time, she was also very active in the Church. Gianna earned her medical diploma in 1949.

Gianna set a goal to relocate to Brazil where her brother served as a missionary priest. Her hope was to open a clinic providing gynecological services to poor women. However, this dream was impossible because Gianna also suffered from poor health, making travel to faraway places impractical.

In 1955, Gianna married Pietro Molla, and they had three children. Afterwards, Gianna suffered two miscarriages.

In 1961, Gianna became pregnant again, but doctors noticed a tumor in her uterus that threatened her life. Gianna was told to have an abortion, or to have an emergency hysterectomy. Both procedures would cost the life of her child, while saving hers.

Gianna was warned that if she did not do either of these things, her chances of survival were low.

When she refused, doctors suggested they could perform a C-section to save the child as well as a surgery or remove the tumor, but that the operation would be risky. Gianna chose the option that assured the survival of her baby, and made her wishes clear to her family, they were to protect the life of the baby, no matter what.

On April 21, 1962, Gianna gave birth to Gianna Emanuela by C-section. Doctors successfully removed the tumor, but complications persisted. A week later, she died from septic peritonitis.

Gianna became famous across Italy for choosing the life of her daughter. In the years that followed, several miracles were attributed to her intervention. Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II in April, 1994 and canonized on May 16, 2004.

Happily, Gianna's husband and four children were present at the ceremony, making her canonization the first time in history a husband witnesses the canonization of his wife.

Saint Gianna is the patron of unborn children and their mothers.

Meditation:

As we stop at the shrine of Saint Gianna, let us meditate on her courage. When Saint Gianna's mortal life was endangered, she still chose the will of God.

Every child is a gift from God, planned by him and awarded to us. The circumstances of a pregnancy may be difficult, but no woman has ever held her newborn child and regretted it. Many women still choose life, even when doctors predict only death.

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One

Unborn children are part of a family too. They join at the moment of conception. Knowing this, how can any mother end the life of her child? Let us seek ways to welcome the unborn into our families. Let every mother know that a family grows at the moment of conception.

Prayer:

O, Saint Gianna, you who protect the unborn, I ask you to intercede for the unborn, and for mother's whose lives are imperiled by pregnancy. For those women who feel threatened by the gift of life, threatened by health, threatened by circumstances, threatened by others, seek these women and strengthen them. Make me your messenger to deliver the Good News to them that God will save and provide when no other will.

Pause and meditate upon this prayer.

Now let us pray for the World Meeting of Families with Pope Francis.

God and Father of us all,
in Jesus, your Son and our Savior,
you have made us
your sons and daughters
 in the family of the Church.
May your grace and love
help our families
in every part of the world
be united to one another
in fidelity to the Gospel.
May the example of the Holy Family,
with the aid of your Holy Spirit,
guide all families, especially those most troubled,
to be homes of communion and prayer
and to always seek your truth and live in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.

Let us pause and meditate upon this prayer.

Finally, let us offer our intentions to Saint Gianna.

(List your intentions)

St. Gianna, hear our prayer!

Amen.

Now we invite you to resume your pilgrimage and download the World Meeting of Families prayer. Click the button below to get your free copy.

Watch LIVE coverage of Pope Francis' visit to the USA by clicking here.