Subject: ✤ 20th Anniversary - Process of Canonization is Officially Concluded on 2-19-2004

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla – 20th Anniversary - The Process of Canonization is Officially Concluded on February 19, 2004 & Canonization is on May 16, 2004 in Rome, Italy.
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla was thirty-nine years old when she died on April 28, 1962, one week after giving birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela. Gianna was a wife, mother, and a physician who suffered from fibroma--benign tumor--developed on right side of the uterus that necessitated surgery at the hospital in Monza in September 1961.  

According the the medical knowledge at the time, it would have been necessary to abort the baby in order to eliminate all risks, but Gianna refused.  She knew every detail of what was coming and the dangers she was facing by only having the tumor removed, but her vocation as mother and doctor was to protect life, not to kill it.  

The tumor was removed by Dr. Vitali, the head doctor at the hospital, and after eight days, Gianna returned to home to recover.  Her children were in Courmayeur with her friend, Mariuccia Parmigiani, on vacation.  Gianna wrote to them telling them that she wished she could be with them, but she needed to recover from her "owie."

After her surgery in September, 1961, life went back to normal.  Gianna knew the suture of her uterus could burst in the first months of her pregnancy, with mortal danger to her as well as to the child, and she tried to live calmly.  She prayed more intensely during this time that she would be spared having to sacrifice her life in order to go on caring for her children and her husband, Pietro.  On one point, she was extremely clear with Pietro and her relatives, in the event of their having to choose between her life and the life of her baby, the preference must absolutely be given to the child's life.  She refused to listen to those who tried to reason otherwise with her.  "This time my pregnancy will be difficult, and they will have to save one or the other, and I want them to save my baby!"

Seven months later, Gianna checked into the hospital in Monza on April 20, 1962 (Friday of Holy Week).  The next morning (Holy Saturday, Gianna gave birth to her daughter, Gianna Emanuela. Gianna Emanuela was born by Caesarean Section on April 21, 1962 (Holy Saturday).  But just a few short hours later, because of a septic infection, a rising fever and severe abdominal pains set in.  It was a slow agony, made infinitely more painful by having to leave the new baby and by the sufferings of her relatives and Pietro.  

On Wednesday morning, Gianna asked to return to Ponte Nuovo to die with her love one's at her side, in the house that had safeguarded the sacrament of love.  At dawn, on April 28, 1962, she was taken home and with repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you,”, she breathed her last at 8 a.m., probably having heard the voices of her children who were just waking up.  

Canonization Steps in the Catholic Faith
There are four steps to canonization—namely, Step #1). A person, whose cause for canonization, has been officially advanced by the Church is called a “Servant of God.” Step #2). If the person is determined to have died, while living a life of “heroic virtue”, they are declared “Venerable.” Step #3). Afterwards, if a miracle is authenticated by their intercession with Our Lord, they are beatified and called, “Blessed.” Step #4). After another miracle, by their intercession with Our Lord, is authenticated, they are canonized and called, “Saint.”

The two miracles authenticated for Saint Gianna’s canonization are as follows:

On October 21, 1977, the first event involved a twenty-seven-year-old Protestant woman, Lucia Sylvia Cirilo, in Grajau, Brazil, who developed a recto-vaginal fistula approximately two weeks after she gave birth to a stillborn baby by Caesarean section. While she was being prepared for transfer to another facility, a Capuchin religious sister turned to Gianna Beretta Molla asking, through her intercession, that the patient be healed of the illness and thereby avoid the dangerous trip. About this time, the pain disappeared completely and, upon examination, the fistula had completely healed. Gianna Beretta Molla had been beatified on April 24, 1994.

On May 22, 1992, following years of investigation and verification by medical experts and theologians, the cure was officially recognized by the Special Congress of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints as a third-degree miracle--that is, an instantaneous, complete, and lasting cure unexplained by medical science. Lucia Sylvia Cirilo attended Gianna’s beatification on April 24, 1994.

In mid-November, 1999, the second case involved a thirty-five-year-old Brazilian woman, Elizabeth Comparini Arcolino, who, during her fourth pregnancy, suffered through many complications, including a large retroplacental clot and a detached placenta. Later rupture of the amniotic membrane was confirmed. The patient was advised to abort the baby, but with the advice of her bishop, she turned instead in prayer to “Blessed” Gianna Beretta Molla. She was monitored closely, and the baby was delivered by Caesarian section. The mother suffered more complications, but ultimately recovered. The clinical aspects of retrovaginal fistulas, subchorionic hemorrhage, and pre-term premature rupture of the membranes at sixteen weeks are reviewed. While Elizbeth was being administered the Anointment of the Sick, Bishop Silva returned and brought with him a biography of Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla. The bishop told Elizabeth, “Do what Blessed Gianna did, and, if necessary, give your life for the child. I was praying at home, and I said to the Blessed in prayer: “Now has arrived the opportunity for you to be canonized. Intercede before the Lord for the grace of a miracle and save the life of this little child.”

The entire town prayed to Blessed Gianna for her intercession to save the child and the Elizabeth. On May 31, 2000, Elizabeth gave birth by Caesarean Section to a daughter, whom Elizabeth named, Gianna Maria, after her celestial intercessor. The baby was healthy except for a twisted left foot, which was later successfully corrected with an operation and physical therapy. The defect probably occurred during the compression within the uterus. Elizabeth did have serious complications. As a consequence, Elizabeth developed a severe hemorrhage and shock, losing more than 75 percent of her blood volume. She developed hypovolemic shock late in the day; she suffered acute renal failure (her kidneys shut down); her lungs collapsed; and she lapsed into a coma. Finally, after transfusion of four units of blood and two units of fresh frozen plasma (difficult to obtain as she had a rare blood type) and three days in the intensive care unit, she recovered.

Elizabeth’s obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Nadia Vieitez de Almeida, stated, “Contradicting all logic and science, this pregnancy continued without infection, without premature labor, and without any fetal anomalies. The destiny is that God sent us Gianna, who today is the pride of us all.” After the authentication of this miracle, Saint Gianna was the last saint to be canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 16, 2004.

Information provided by The Approved Miracles of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, Wife, Mother, and Physician by Thomas J. McKenna and Lester Ruppersberger, D.O.

See pictures taken at the Canonization below.  1) Saint Peter's Square 2) Gianna Emanuela Molla (daughter) and Pietro Molla (husband) greet Pope John Paul II at Canonization.

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Pray For Us!!


Novena To Obtain Graces 
Through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla


God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters.

Glory be …

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You.

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

Glory be…

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.

We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be…

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for …………. and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

Hail Mary…                                            

Amen.

God Bless You and Your Love Ones!

The Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla – Board of Directors

Check out our website at: http://saintgianna.org/
WIFE
MOTHER
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PO Box 2946, Warminster, PA 18974, United States
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