If you’re looking for a saint who didn’t just walk the talk but ran, skipped, and danced it while juggling a stethoscope and a bunch of kids: meet St. Gianna Molla. This woman’s life was like a rollercoaster of faith, medicine, love, and one heart-wrenching sacrifice. Grab a tissue. Timmerie's here to tell you all about her! 

Doctor with a Dream 🌎✈️

Gianna was a pediatrician in Italy, totally committed to helping others through her medical career. She even planned a big trip to Brazil to do medical missionary work, leaving her thriving practice behind. But then...curveball! She got sick right before the trip and never made it to Brazil. Suddenly, she had to rethink her whole life plan. Ever been there? 🙋‍♀️

Single, 30s, and Wondering 🤔

Now, imagine Gianna in her 30s, single, and watching her friends get married left and right. She was asking God some big questions, trying to figure out her vocation. She believed everyone had a unique calling, and it wasn’t just about religious life. She wanted to know what God wanted for her life, and spoiler alert: He had some big plans.

Finally, in 1955, along came Pietro, the man who would become her husband. They got married, had three kids, and she was balancing life as a full-time doctor with her husband often on the road. She loved her work, but she and Pietro had to keep figuring out how to juggle it all. 

A Heartbreaking Choice 💔

Now, after her third child, Gianna found out she was pregnant again, but she also had a tumor in her uterus. The doctors basically gave her three choices: 1) Have an abortion to save herself, 2) have a hysterectomy (which would mean the baby wouldn’t survive), or 3) try to remove the tumor and risk it all. St. Gianna didn’t flinch. She was all in for her baby. She went with the riskiest option, hoping to protect her child even if it meant risking her own life.

The surgery worked, and she carried her baby all the way to term. But right after her daughter Gianna Emanuela Molla was born, complications from the C-section led to sepsis. In her final days, Gianna refused pain meds because she wanted to be fully present with her family. Her last words to her sister? A reminder that so many of the things we stress over in life just don’t matter when we face eternity. 🕊️

Why We Love Her ❤️

Timmerie reminds you that St. Gianna wasn’t canonized because she was a doctor or because she had a thriving career: she’s a saint because of her wildly sacrificial love and unbreakable faith. Her story hits so close to home for anyone who feels the tug between work, family, and what it means to be true to our calling. If you’re wrestling with that balance, struggling with the pressure to “do it all,” or just want a fierce intercessor, St. Gianna is your girl.

St. Gianna didn’t just say “yes” to life; she said “yes” to all the messy, hard, beautiful, sacrificial parts of it. And in today’s world, we need that reminder that life and love is worth every ounce of risk. If you need someone to walk with you in figuring out your own balance, she’s here. 🌹

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.