The Gianna Center for Women& St. Gianna Novena {Day 7}

Today is the seventh day of our novena to ask St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patron saint of mothers, unborn children, and physicians, to pray for us. We will finish the novena on St. Gianna's feast day, Monday, April 28th. Whether you've been praying with us daily or you just stopped by today, I'd love for you to join us in prayer. 

As I mentioned on Tuesday, St. Gianna was a physician. I just love this quotation about her work as a Catholic doctor:

“Everyone works in the service of man. We doctors work directly on man himself... The great mystery of man is Jesus: 'He who visits a sick person, helps me,' Jesus said... Just as the priest can touch Jesus, so do we touch Jesus in the bodies of our patients... We have opportunities to do good that the priest doesn't have. Our mission is not finished when medicines are no longer of use. We must bring the soul to God; our word has some authority... Catholic doctors are so necessary!” - St. Gianna {source}

Yes! Catholic doctors are such a gift. I speak from experience. 

Inspired by St. Gianna, The Gianna Center for Women here in New York City provides care in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, all "with a deep commitment to honoring a woman’s dignity and the sanctity of human life." Praise God. I am so thankful to have found this place. It is here that Michael & I learned the Creighton Model of natural family planning, which has been such a gift to our marriage. I simply can't recommend Dr. Nolte and her team highly enough if you are anywhere in the area. What a blessing.

Do you have a Catholic doctor you think others in your area should know? Please share in the comments!

I invite you to share any intentions you have for this novena in the comments, too. In addition to your intentions, today I would like to pray for Catholic physicians - that they would have courage and support to remain faithful to the teachings of the Church in their work. Fill them with compassion, Lord, that inspired by the example of St. Gianna, they might see Jesus in each of their patients. Help us all to see Jesus in one another, Lord.

Our novena:

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters. 

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. 

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You. 

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

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. 

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.
We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

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. 

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for {say your intentions} and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among 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.

{novena source}

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Thanks so much for being here to pray. Have a blessed Saturday!

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