Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother, Doctor

by Pietro Molla and Elio Geurriero

This is the inspiring story of a newly canonized contemporary woman. Gianna Molla (1923-1962) risked her life in order to save her unborn child. Diagnosed with uterine tumors during her fourth pregnancy, she refused a hysterectomy that would have aborted the child, and opted for a riskier surgery in an attempt to save the baby. Herself a medical doctor, Molla did give birth to the child, but succumbed to an infection.

An Italian woman who loved...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898708877
• ISBN13: 9780898708875
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

My favorite saint!

It is difficult for me to think of a Saint I relate to more than St. Gianna Molla. She didn't live hundreds of years ago, but rather is a modern woman. St. Gianna was a pediatric surgeon, a mother, a wife, and a holy woman who died a martyr's death. If you are looking into buying this book, you probably know Dr. Molla's life already. In case you do not: She was a mother of three, who upon hearing of her fourth pregnancy, decided she would give up her work as a Doctor to focus all of her attention on her own family. During her pregnancy she was diagnosed with a cancer on her uterus. She had three choices. She could a) do nothing and have the baby and almost certainly die, b) remove most of the tumor and keep the baby. This would be VERY risky with lots of potential complications, but there was a greater chance she would survive. Or she could c) do what the doctor's advised and terminate the pregnancy as a result of a more radical surgery to remove her entire illness. She chose option (b). She didn't seek martyrdom. She wanted to live and raise her family. She could have chosen (c) if she wanted. The abortion would not have been direct. Rather, it would have been an indirect consequence of a surgery designed to save the mother's life. Thus, under Catholic teaching, the operation would have been morally acceptable. However, St. Gianna was a hero of the faith. Rather than take the easy road, she decided to do what she could to save her own life, while at the same time defending the young life within her. St. Gianna died after childbirth. She got to hold her baby, and name her "Gianna." This Gianna, a Doctor now herself, was present along with her father at her mother's canonization. St. Gianna Molla is a hero for life. She is a Saint whose witness we need now more than ever. I recommend this book completely. Reading about this saint will enrich your life.

Good Short Read

I liked this book, it was a good short read. It gives the history of St. Gianna and her husband and their families. The reason this only got 4 stars was because it didn't explain the miracles that got St. Gianna her sainthood. So if that is what you are looking for, this book is not it. But if you are looking for the history of St. Gianna, you will be pleased.

Fantastic Book on an Awe Inspiring Woman

This is an amazing book on St. Gianna Molla. It is written in part by her husband [who is still alive and well in Italy] through interviews with Elio Gurriero and includes some of St. Gianna's own writings. I found this book very touching and inspiring. Most of us know of St. Gianna because of her death - as a martyr for Life as it were - but this book introduces us to the very real, loving, devout, strong woman that Gianna was in life. How wonderful to read about her youth, her courtship and marriage, her love for her small children, her devotion to her patients, and her heroic decision to risk death so that her baby could survive. This book was easy to read and entertaining while really packing a spiritual punch. I got so much from it and feel like a better person for having read it.