As the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee finished its novena to St. Gianna Molla — patron saint of mothers, unborn babies and physicians — they did so by focusing on all mothers and using the story of St. Gianna Beretta Molla as an example.

"The story of St. Gianna risking her life for the health of her unborn child is nothing short of inspiring,” the diocese posted online. “All mothers are capable of extraordinary acts out of love. Today, we pray for all mothers with gratitude and thankfulness.” 

It then quoted a short prayer for parishioners to offer.

A novena is a nine-day prayer chain with a specific intention, according to Blessed Is She. The word “novena” comes from the Latin word for “nine.” The number nine could signify the nine months that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, or it could refer to when the Apostles and Mary prayed for the nine days between Jesus’s Ascension into Heaven and Pentecost. In either case, it carries a heavy significance in Catholicism. 

In 1922, St. Gianna Beretta Molla was born in Milan, according to Vatican News. She was deeply faithful and drawn to God as far back as her childhood. As a young adult, she turned to study and apostolic service. She earned a medical degree from the University of Pavia in 1949 and eventually opened a medical center. Later, she pursued pediatrics as a specialty at the University of Milan. That gave St. Gianna the ability to focus on caring for mothers, babies, elderly people and the poor. 

Gianna married an engineer named Pietro Molla in 1955, according to Franciscan Media. Gianna once wrote him a letter in which she said, "Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.” 

Gianna and Pietro had three children, Franciscan Media said. Afterward, Gianna experienced two miscarriages before she became pregnant again. During a medical visit, doctors discovered that she had a uterine tumor. The doctors wanted to do a hysterectomy. She allowed doctors to remove the tumor, but refused a hysterectomy as it would have killed her baby. 

St. Gianna gave birth to a daughter named Gianna Emanuela Molla. St. Gianna passed away from post-operative complications soon after. Gianna Emanuela went on to become a physician, following in her mother’s footsteps, the media outlet said.

St. Gianna's feast day is celebrated on April 28, according to catholic.org, and some dioceses precede the feast day with a novena.