Women of Faith · Week 4 · Grades 3–5
Guided Notes: St. Gianna Beretta Molla
- Name
- Date
- Class
Follow along as your teacher presents. Fill in each section when its slide is on the screen.
A doctor with a mission
Gianna was born on October 4, blank 1, in Magenta, Italy. She was the tenth of 13 children. Her parents taught their children to pray and to help others.
In 1949 Gianna became a doctor. In 1952 she became a blank 2 and opened her own office in the small town of Mesero. She treated poor patients for free and even gave them medicine and food.
She called her work a mission. She wanted to care for people’s bodies and their souls.
Words to know
Write what each word means.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Pediatrician | Write your answer |
| Mission | Write your answer |
| Tumor | Write your answer |
| Beatified | Write your answer |
| Canonized | Write your answer |
A mother’s love
In blank 3 Gianna married an engineer named Pietro Molla. They had three children, and Gianna kept working as a doctor. She loved to ski and hike with her family.
In 1961 Gianna was expecting her fourth child. Doctors found a blank 4. Gianna chose the treatment that was risky for her but could save her baby.
Her daughter Gianna Emanuela was born healthy on April blank 5, 1962. Gianna became very sick and died one week later, on April 28. She was 39.
Quick check
Why did Gianna call her work as a doctor a mission? Circle one.
- A She wanted to become famous in Italy
- B She believed God gave her this work
- C She hoped to earn a lot of money
- D Her family told her she had to do it
Seeing the person
Gianna treated every person as someone who matters. Sort each action: does it see the person or forget the person? Check one box for each.
| Item | Sees the person | Forgets the person |
|---|---|---|
| Putting your tablet down when a parent asks for help | ||
| Posting an embarrassing photo of a classmate as a joke | ||
| Inviting the new student to join your online game | ||
| Ignoring your little brother because you are watching videos | ||
| Thanking the school nurse or your doctor | ||
| Typing a mean comment because nobody can see your face |
A first for the Church
Something happened for the first time when Gianna was canonized in 2004. What was it? Circle one.
- A A pope visited her home town
- B A doctor was named a saint
- C A husband saw his wife named a saint
Think, pair, share
Gianna showed love in ordinary things: her work, her family and her hobbies. How can you show love in ordinary things this week, at home and on a screen? Gianna said, “Love is the most beautiful feeling that the Lord has placed in the soul of men and women.”
Think: my idea before we talk
Sentence starters: “At home I can show love by ...”“When I am online or playing a game, I can ...”“Something ordinary that Gianna did with love was ...”
Pair: something my partner said
Let us pray
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13
Lord Jesus, thank you for the people who care for us.
Teach us to love in ordinary things, as St. Gianna did.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla, pray for us.
Amen.
My own prayer or intention:
Well done!
You learned about St. Gianna, a doctor and mother who loved God in everyday life.
One thing I learned today:
One question I still have:
Challenge: Do one ordinary thing with extra love this week, and send one kind message to someone who needs it.