St. Gianna Her Life of Joy

by Giuliana Pelucchi

St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a devoted pediatrician, wife, and mother. She loved and served God in the simplest, humblest gestures of her family and professional life, juggling the demands of both worlds, as do many women today. Journalist Giuliana Pelucchi has revised and expanded her detailed biography of this amazing woman with new, profound insights. The book includes more first-hand interviews with St. Gianna's closest relatives, including her beloved husband, and touching testimonies from those who knew her best. Praising the book, Gianna Emanuela, St. Gianna's daughter, says, "Among the many biographies of my Mom, this one is my favorite."
As a great example of a saint with a vocation to married life, St. Gianna was a profoundly prayerful woman who lived her faith daily--even when it cost her. Fully dedicated to her family and a profession she pursued passionately, she was also an avid hiker and skier, and a talented artist and musician. St. Gianna is truly a model of holiness for our times.
The life of this amazing woman shows us how keeping our relationship with God at the center of our lives allows grace to affect all our decisions, especially difficult ones. St. Gianna exemplifies how ordinary, daily experiences are important opportunities for evangelization. As a compassionate doctor who spent time helping women with difficult pregnancies, she carried her whole practice, as well as her family, into her prayer life.
Be inspired by the story of this joyful woman, whose fidelity as a wife, mother, professional, and follower of Jesus has been declared heroic by the Church.

Genres: Catholic, Religion

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Eliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content of the book was so beautiful. The writing style wasn’t excellent. I do feel like the author captured well her husband’s grief. I am so inspired by Gianna as a wife, daughter, sister, mother, physician, disciple, and friend. Ora pro nobis!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been intending to read more about Gianna Molla's life ever since my interest in medicine began. When I first learned about the Church having a canonized saint who was also a physician, lived in modern times, AND was female, I instantly became inspired and interested. Most saints feel distant, and their examples of holiness seem otherworldly; Dr. Molla seemed much more approachable and the events of her life more relatable.

Both of these assumptions proved true after reading this biography about her. While the writing was slow, often repetitive, and not as engaging as I'd hoped (particularly the many letters shared between her and her husband, as lovely as they are), I believe it did a good job conveying the story of her life as the reason for her sainthood - not just the singular event of her putting the life of her unborn daughter before her own, as heroic as that choice was. As her daughter would later say, "My mom was proclaimed "Blessed" and then "Saint" first and foremost because of her exemplary Christian life. Her death, as noble as her life, was its crown."

Aspects I admired and related to from her story:

- her enthusiasm for life and experiencing all it had to offer
- love for the outdoors
- opportunistic mindset
- her leadership: in her family, with her peers, and those younger
- sense of duty and doing "nothing by half measures"
- calm and assuring attitude
- struggles with her search for identity; she didn't allow this uncertainty to prevent her from taking actions and devoting herself to good work in the meantime
- approach to studies: "Because passion in studying, true studium and not just obligation, is a form of aspiration and commitment, it requires a combination of enjoyment and spontaneous sacrifice and desire - tireless, zealous activity, ardent with an enthusiasm that she experienced and communicated."
- approach to relationships and Christian marriage
- making time for service and extracurriculars outside of work
- her spirituality: "Let us love the Cross and let us remember that we are not alone in carrying it."
- life as a physician: She saw life as a physician as a decision, not necessarily a calling. She understood it as a pathway for service, participation, and apostolate.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Gianna isn’t one that I hear many devotions to, however this biography proved how underrated she is. The biography proves reason for her canonization extremely well. Beyond the miracles, she lived an extremely holy life and had many characteristics such as her reserve that young women should live up. Most women will end up married, and St Gianna demonstrates how the ordinary vocation can lead to eternal life in Heaven.

The writing in the book was absolutely fantastic. There wasn’t too much description or a lacking of. The author found the great line of describing a life lived without giving an overwhelming amount of information or lacking so much detail that there is nothing to relate to.

I am exciting to incorporate her example into my ministry this year, and was blessed to have the biography gifted to me.

[Lori Guerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly life-changing legacy. St. Gianna is a woman who makes me proud to be Catholic and ashamed at my lack of trust in God’s will. She is an inspiration for me, in faith, marriage, and motherhood. I hope for her intercession in my life.

[Jim Triplett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable as a fan of St. Gianna. A good introduction into what the Church looks for in an official Saint. Eye opening.