saint gianna

"With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life."

Today is the third feast day of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a woman of deep faith, a wife, doctor and mother from Italy canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 16th 2004.

Gianna believed in the sanctity of life, and ultimately gave her life so that her child, Gianna Emanuela, might live. In 2005 Saint Gianna's daughter Laura came to the March for Life in DC and shared that this "was not an isolated act of heroism, it was the crowning of a whole life of sanctity as a physician, spouse and mother."

As the website dedicated to her explains:

Gianna made a heroic choice, but it was something her family members and friends testified she prepared for every day of her life. Her heroic virtue, genuine holiness of life, selflessness, and quiet joy remind all of us that God entrusts us with a personal vocation. Each and every day presents us with choices that have the power to prepare us to take heroic action whenever it will be called for. We can do that, however, only if we surrender ourselves and what we desire to God and His will for us.

Gianna herself said, "I have always been taught that the secret of happiness is living moment by moment and to thank God for everything that in His goodness He sends us, day after day." Moment by moment, day by day, one act of love at a time, this philosophy led to her sainthood.

So many (including me!) have already been inspired by her and someday I'd love to work in a medical clinic dedicated in her honor... we'll see what God has in store! In the meantime, I'll try to follow her example, thanking and responding to God one day at a time for the goodness He sends.

Saint Gianna, pray for us!