National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pa.
Celebration in Honor of the Visit of
Gianna Emanuela Molla, MD

Altar Wall Art

Fr. Frank Pavone Incensing the Altar in the Beginning of the Mass,
wearing the Chasuble of Saint Gianna

Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla shares the life of her mother, Saint Gianna.

The Willoughby Family visits with Gianna after Mass

July 12, 2011
Feast of Saint Veronica

Our summer pilgrimage plans became to stir in our family in March when
we discovered that Gianna Emanuela Molla
would be traveling to the United States for the first time.

Only one year before, in May 2010,
nearly six weeks after the passing of her father on Holy Saturday,
Jordan and I traveled to Magenta, Italy, the home of Saint Gianna,
as a part of our pilgrimage,
to offer thanksgiving for our 25 years of marriage.
Gianna met Jordan and me in Magenta
and brought us to the places where
her parents lived and died in Mesero and Magenta.
We will be forever grateful to Gianna
for sharing the life of her parents and family with us, then.

Learning of Gianna's visit to Pennsylvania,
one year after we had met her,
gave us the hope and prayer
that our children who are still living at home,
would be able to meet Gianna and hear her witness
to the love and life of her parents.
We knew, well,
the vivacious enthusiasm and joy that defines Gianna,
as she witnesses to the hope that is within her.
We began to pray that our family would be granted this opportunity,
and our prayers were abundantly answered on this day,
July 12th in Pa.

The Society of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla served to make this visit of Gianna possible
at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown.
Father Frank Pavone was the Celebrant to the Holy Mass
offered before Gianna spoke to us.

Before Mass began, we were invited to pray the
' Novena to Obtain Graces through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla'.
We continued with the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary,
said with prayers of Saint Gianna.

The First Reading was taken from
the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass Liturgy
of Isaiah 9:1-6.
This was truly like having Christmas in July!
With the ages of our children,
it has been many years since we have attended the
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass,
and so hearing this reading brought so much joy to me.
If you have time, click on the link
and spend time in prayer with Isaiah 9,
which is always timely and begins with:

'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shown.

The Second Reading from Colossians 3:12-17

In my hearing, this reading brought such a sense of purpose to
the thoughts, words, and deeds of my daily offering:

'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.'

The Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12

~The Sermon on the Mount~

Father Frank weaved his homily around the hope that is in Isaiah;
the fullness of living a life of forgiveness, gratitude and joy in Colossians;
concluding with crowning victory of the 'blessed ' in the Sermon on the Mount~
how blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Father rejoiced in the blessing of being able to lay down one's life for another.
He reminded us of what we were about to hear
during the Consecration
in the words of our Lord, the Giver of Life:
'This is My Body, given up for you...',
all while these very words, 'This is My Body' have formed the mockery of 'choice',
bringing forth the brutal scourge of abortion.

Yet, Father Frank lifted us to the hope
that we embrace and come to understand
in the life of Gianna before us.
The culture of life has already been won
and we are together serving this truth,
until the end of time.

Our Communion Meditation was the hymn,
Litany of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Before the final blessings, Gianna Emanuela came forward to speak to us.
By this time, there was not even standing room
in this Shrine that I was told seats thousands.
She expressed her gratitude and happiness to share her
'Mama Saint' with us all.
She described how her mother, growing up with loving parents, siblings and
the sacramental life of the Church, helped prepare her for how she was to die.
Gianna noted that at the age of 5, Gianna received her First Holy Communion,
and began to live her life around that Eucharistic Nourishment.
Even days before her death, the Holy Eucharist was brought to her lips,
although she was not able to consume our Lord in the end.
With childlike zeal and joy,
Gianna imagined to us how she looks to the time
when she will be with her
Mama Saint one day, her little sister, Mariolina,
along with her beloved father in paradise!
Her expressions of gratitude were so sincere and heartwarming.
How blessed to gather in His name,
celebrating the culture of life in Gianna Emanuela Molla.

Father Frank offered this prayer as our final blessing before the Mass ended:

Lord of life,
we thank You for the heroic witness of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla.
You have taught us that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for others.
Saint Gianna did this not only as she gave birth to her last child,
but also in her everyday life as she died to herself so that
she could live wholly for You.
What selflessness we see in her!
Help us, we pray,
that through the intercession of Saint Gianna,
our society may regain a sense of the sacredness to suffer any struggle
rather than deny You
and the sanctity of human life.
We ask You this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
~Amen~

Father Frank Pavone's Blog features a posting on
the visit of Gianna Molla and the work she is doing during her visit to the United States
'"Saint's Daughter Declares, 'My Mom's Life has been a Hymn to Life'."

Sharon Marie Willoughby
Consecrated Marian Catechist
†A.M.D.G.†