Catholic Fire

A Pope and a family woman. They're the saints chosen as the patrons of the 8th World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The first is St. John Paul II, canonized on April 27, and the founder of these events. FR. SLAWOMIR ODER Postulator, Sainthood cause of John Paul II "He himself said he wanted to be remember, if the Church ever remembered him... he wanted to be remembered as the Pope of life and of family. He promoted a revaluation of the family as the place where a person develops humanely, and grows spiritually.” St. Gianna Beretta was a pediatrician and mother of four, who passed away in 1962. During her fourth pregnancy, doctors discovered a tumor in her uterus. She decided to delay surgery to remove it until after the birth of her child, but by then it was too late. Beretta is considered the patron saint of pregnant women. John Paul II canonized her on May 16, 1994. The 8th World Meeting of Families will take place from September 22-27, 2015. Although it...

October 4, 1922 – April 28, 1962 If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation; Choose—and I demand it—the baby, Save him!” Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian doctor, wife, and mother who refused to have either an abortion or hysterectomy when she was pregnant with her fourth child. Doctors had discovered in the second month of her pregnancy a fibroma tumor in her uterus. As a doctor, Gianna knew the consequences of not fully treating the fibroma. She chose the life of her child over her own. On the morning of April 21, 1962, a healthy baby girl was born, Gianna Emanuela. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died of septic peritonitis. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international year of the fa...

I have added a new image to my sidebar - St. Gianna Beretta Molla - whom I pray to daily for an end to abortion. For those of you who are unfamiliar with her, Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian doctor, wife, and mother who refused to have either an abortion or hysterectomy when she was pregnant with her fourth child. Doctors had discovered in the second month of her pregnancy a fibroma tumor in her uterus. As a doctor, Gianna knew the consequences of not fully treating the fibroma. She chose the life of her child over her own. On the morning of April 21, 1962, a healthy baby girl was born, Gianna Emanuela. Her mother died of septic peritonitis a week after the birth. Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international year of the family and was canonized on May 16, 2004. ~ This description is courtesy of the St. Giana Beretta Molla Guild. What is her special gift to the culture of life? "The Church celebrates her new saint at a cultural moment w...