Thursday, August 18, 2005

The Patron Saint of Fibroids (in Pregnancy?)

I just came across this and I'm fascinated because I know so many women here and elsewhere on the Net who have been through similar trials and yet haven't been beatified. But, at any rate, I guess we have a patron saint.

Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)

"In September 1961 towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that."

There's also a web site for The Society of Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla
(http://www.gianna.org/). Where you can learn more about her condition during her last pregnancy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It bugs me a little that she is also the pro-life patron saint. But, that's just me...