About Saint Gianna Bretta Molla
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1922–1962) was an Italian wife, mother, and pediatrician who lived her faith with remarkable love and courage. From a young age, she felt called to serve others, eventually becoming a doctor who cared especially for mothers, children, and the poor.
She married Pietro Molla and together they built a joyful Catholic family. During her fourth pregnancy, Gianna was diagnosed with a life-threatening tumor. Doctors advised treatments that would have saved her life but endangered her unborn child. Gianna chose instead to protect her baby’s life, trusting God completely.
She gave birth to a healthy daughter but died shortly after from complications. Her sacrifice became a powerful witness to the dignity of human life and the vocation of motherhood.
Gianna was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004, and she is now honored as a patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children.
Who was St. Gianna Beretta Molla?
St. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian physician, wife, mother, and Catholic saint who is remembered for choosing to protect the life of her unborn child despite the serious risk to her own life. She is honored as a model of Christian family life, medical ethics, and self-giving love.
What is the St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena for?
Catholics commonly pray this novena for:
- Expectant mothers
- Safe pregnancy
- Healthy childbirth
- Protection of unborn children
- Fertility and infertility
- Families
- Physicians and healthcare workers
- Respect for human life
- Special personal intentions
When should I pray the St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena?
You may pray this novena at any time during the year. Many Catholics begin it on April 19, so it concludes on her feast day of April 28.
How do I pray the St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena?
Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Pray the novena while presenting your intention through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Then conclude with:
- Pray One: Our Father
- Pray One: Hail Mary
- Pray One: Glory Be
Repeat the novena for nine consecutive days.
What is St. Gianna Beretta Molla the patron saint of?
St. Gianna is widely invoked as the patron saint of:
- Mothers
- Expectant mothers
- Unborn children
- Difficult pregnancies
- Physicians
- Pediatricians
- Healthcare professionals
- The pro-life movement
- Families
Why is St. Gianna Beretta Molla important?
St. Gianna showed that holiness is possible in ordinary family life. Her joyful witness as a wife, mother, and physician—and her willingness to sacrifice her life for her unborn child—have inspired millions of Catholics to embrace the dignity of every human life.
Can I pray this novena during pregnancy?
Yes. This is one of the most popular novenas for pregnant mothers. Many families pray it throughout pregnancy, asking God for the protection of both mother and child through St. Gianna’s powerful intercession.
Can couples pray this novena when trying to conceive?
Yes. Many couples experiencing infertility or hoping to conceive pray this novena, asking God for the gift of children and for strength, peace, and trust in His loving plan.
Is St. Gianna the patron saint of doctors?
Because she was a physician who lived her Catholic faith with great integrity, many doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers ask for her intercession. She is especially honored by Catholic medical professionals seeking wisdom, compassion, and respect for the dignity of every patient.
| Novena Begins: | April 19 |
| Feast Day: | April 28 |
Patron Saint of Mothers, Physicians, and Unborn Children
Day 1 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 2 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 3 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 4 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 5 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 6 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 7 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 8 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Day 9 – St. Gianna Beretta Molla Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have conquered death and made us a people of life. We thank You for the witness of the saints, whose lives reflect Your holiness and proclaim the profound dignity of every human life.
We thank You especially for the example of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint for our times, whom You called from this world after a life of faithful service. Thank You for her example as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a compassionate physician, and a courageous Catholic woman.
Above all, we thank You for the heroic witness of her final act of love, by which she willingly gave her own life so that her unborn child might live. May her example inspire us to lay down our lives in loving service to one another, to cherish the gift of every human life from conception to natural death, and to proclaim by our words and actions the true meaning of Christian love.
Through the intercession of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, I humbly ask You to grant me this special favor:
(Mention your request here…)
Grant that all mothers may be strengthened by Your grace, all unborn children may be protected by Your loving care, and all families may grow in faith, hope, and charity. Help us to build a culture of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us!
Pray for all mothers and their unborn children. Beg God to grant us the grace to build a culture of life.
Amen.
Pray One: Our Father…
Pray One: Hail Mary…
Pray One: Glory Be…
Leave us your prayers…