Gianna was born near Milano, the tenth child of Alberto and Maria Beretta’s thirteen children. An active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Catholic Action movement, Gianna also enjoyed skiing and mountain climbing. She earned degrees in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia, eventually specializing in pediatrics. In 1952, Gianna opened a clinic in the small town of Mesero, where she met and fell in love with engineer Pietro Molla.
Shortly before their marriage, Gianna wrote to Pietro: “Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.” She considered the vocation of marriage to be a gift from God and completely dedicated herself to "forming a truly Christian family." In the next four years the Mollas had three children: Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Laura. Two pregnancies following ended in miscarriage.
Early in her final pregnancy, her doctors discovered she had developed a fibroma in her uterus, meaning she was carrying both a baby and a tumor. She allowed the surgeons to remove the tumor but not to perform the complete hysterectomy that they recommended, which would have killed the child. Although the operation saved the child, complications continued throughout Gianna's pregnancy and she recognized she would most likely die during delivery. She was willing to give her own life to save the life of her child and expressed her wishes quite clearly to her family saying, "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child?I insist on it. Save the baby."
Seven months later in April 1962, Gianna Emanuela Molla was born at the hospital in Monza, but post-operative complications resulted in an infection for her mother. The following week Gianna Molla died at home, and was buried in the cemetery of Mesero. Her husband and their children, including Gianna Emanuela, attended her canonization ceremony, making this the first time a husband witnessed his wife's canonization.
 
This print is part of the "Happy Saint" collection by Anna Morelli.
 
The image is professionally printed, hand-signed by the artist, and comes enclosed in a plastic sleeve to ensure protection.