Visited St. Gianna's shrine yesterday

The shrine near Philadelphia is for St. Gianna Beretta Molla, who was canonized May 16, 2004.

St. Gianna was a married woman who also was a medical doctor.

A native of Magenta, Italy, she didn't charge those who were unable to pay for her services and even tucked money in the health cards of senior citizens, which they found after leaving her office.

St. Gianna had given birth to three children when, in 1961, she became pregnant with her fourth child.

Two months into her pregnancy, St. Gianna was diagnosed with a uterine tumor.
As a surgeon, she knew the only sure way of saving her life was to remove the uterus. This was out of the question, however, as it would end the life of her unborn child, even though it likely would save her own.

Instead, she opted to have only the tumor removed, allowing her pregnancy to continue.
A few days before her child was to be born, she told her husband: "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: Choose the child. I insist on it. Save the baby."

The next day, a 10-pound baby girl named Gianna Emanuela was born via Caesarean section. A few hours after giving birth, mother Gianna began to experience severe pains because of septic peritonitis. A week later, on April 28, 1962, she died at age 39.

St. Gianna's husband and four children are still alive and attended her canonization.
Her husband, Pietro Molla, said St. Gianna was no stick in the mud and was one who knew how to appreciate life.

"She truly knew how to enjoy to the fullest the enchantment of the mountains and their snows, trips to concerts, the theater and feasts," he said. "Gianna, you have showed me that you can accomplish to the fullest the will of God and become a saint without renouncing the fullness of the purest and best joys which life and creation offer us."

Some of St. Gianna's relics include three pairs of gloves she once wore.

Many people, have experienced healing by touching the gloves. Some women who have had trouble conceiving reported they became pregnant.

Answered prayers also have been attributed to St. Gianna, including a story of a woman who hadn't heard from her son in 16 years. After touching St. Gianna's gloves, she reported that her son called her from New Mexico within a few days.

St. Gianna's feast day is April 28. Her shrine can be seen at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Warminster, Pa.

Me, My MIL and my SIL drove about an hour yesterday to see the shrine and pray before it and I was able to touch the gloves and hold them to my stomach.