Gianna Beretta Molla was born in Magenta, Italy, in 1922. She was the tenth of thirteen children and grew up in a devout Catholic family. From an early age, she felt a strong calling to serve God and others. She studied medicine and became a pediatrician, specializing in the care of mothers and babies.
In 1955, Gianna met Pietro Molla, a young engineer, and they soon fell in love. They were married the following year and went on to have three children. Gianna was a devoted mother and wife, but she never forgot her calling to serve others.
In 1961, when Gianna was pregnant with her fourth child, she was diagnosed with a tumor in her uterus. The doctors recommended that she have an abortion to save her own life, but Gianna refused. She chose instead to have surgery to remove the tumor, knowing that it would endanger her pregnancy. She said, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child.”
Gianna gave birth to a healthy baby girl, named Gianna Emanuela, but her own condition deteriorated rapidly. She died a week later, on April 28, 1962, at the age of 39. She was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II in 2004, and has become a role model for mothers, physicians, and pro-life advocates around the world.
Gianna’s daughter Laura was only a few months old when her mother died, but she grew up with a deep love and reverence for her mother’s memory. She studied medicine like her mother, and became a physician in her own right. She also married and had three children of her own.
But Laura’s life was not without its challenges. In 1994, her husband, businessman Umberto Guanzoni, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Laura devoted herself to his care, even taking a leave of absence from her medical practice to care for him full-time. Despite her best efforts, Umberto passed away in 1995.
Laura’s faith and strength of character helped her through this difficult time. She said, “My faith is my strength. Without it, I would have been lost. But with it, I know that God is with me always.” She has also been inspired by her mother’s example of selflessness and sacrifice.
In 2014, Laura was invited to speak at a conference in Brazil, where she shared her family’s story of faith and love. She said, “My mother taught me that life is a gift from God, and that we should cherish it and protect it at all costs. My husband’s illness reminded me of the same lesson. Life is precious, and we should never take it for granted.”
Gianna Beretta Molla and her daughter Laura Molla are two remarkable women who have left a lasting legacy of faith, hope, and love. Their stories inspire us to live our own lives with courage, compassion, and generosity. As Gianna said, “Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put in the soul of men and women.” Let us follow her example and embrace love in all its forms.