The Approved Miracles of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Wife, Mother, and Physician

• Published in: The Linacre quarterly 2010-11, Vol.77 (4), p.468-478
• Main Authors: McKenna, Thomas J., Ruppersberger, Lester
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0024-3639; 2050-8549
• DOI: 10.1179/002436310803888637

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla gave up her life to save the life of her child. She was a devout woman and pediatrician who refused a hysterectomy to remove a benign fibroid tumor in her uterus during pregnancy as the procedure would have resulted in the death of her unborn child. Her saintliness was confirmed by two medical cases. The first was a twenty-seven-year-old woman 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. The second case is a thirty-five-year-old Brazilian woman who, during her 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 are reviewed.