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Thousands of Catholics across the United States are set to unite in prayer for pregnant and parenting mothers during a novena from April 19 to 27. The novena is inspired by St. Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian doctor, wife, and mother who made a profound sacrifice for her child’s life.
This prayer initiative is sponsored by Walking With Moms in Need, a project of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The text for the novena's first day describes St. Gianna as “a powerful patron for pregnant and parenting mothers” and highlights her deep understanding of struggling with a challenging medical diagnosis during pregnancy.
In 1961, while expecting her fourth child, St. Gianna was diagnosed with a uterine tumor. Doctors advised an abortion to save her life, but she chose to only have the tumor removed, accepting the risk of severe complications. Both St. Gianna and her baby survived the surgery, and she expressed her wishes by saying, “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. I insist on it. Save the baby.” Tragically, she died a week after giving birth due to complications.
St. Gianna’s act led to the opening of her sainthood cause, resulting in her beatification by St. John Paul II in 1994 and canonization in 2004. The novena’s first-day prayer is dedicated to women encountering challenging pregnancies, and subsequent prayers focus on various themes, including health care workers, supportive marriages, and service organizations.
The novena's full text, available in English and Spanish, can be accessed on the Walking With Moms in Need website. The site also provides a sign-up option for daily novena emails and a Vatican biography of St. Gianna.
