Novena to St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Day 7

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Opening prayer:

St. Gianna, faithful physician and devoted mother, you served Christ in the sick, the young, and the unborn with tender and competent love. Draw near to me now as I begin this novena, and teach me to make a gift of my whole life. Obtain for me from God the grace I seek and a heart wholly His. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 7: The gift of self

Knowing she might not survive the birth, Gianna asked that her child be saved if a choice had to be made. She gave that instruction simply, as a mother who loved more than she feared, and her daughter Gianna Emanuela was born safely. In laying down her life for her child, she imaged most perfectly the love of Christ, who said that no one has greater love than to lay down his life for those he loves.

Jesus, who laid down Your life for love of us, by the example of St. Gianna teach me the grace of self-giving. Free me from the fear that makes me cling to myself, and enlarge my heart to love others generously, even unto sacrifice. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to love others with a generous and self-giving heart.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Gianna, who in your final hour repeated, "If you must choose, save the baby," and offered your life without reserve, intercede for me before the throne of God. Help me to find Christ in the duties of each ordinary day and to love until the end. Through your prayers, may I one day join you in the joy of heaven. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.