Pietro Molla remembers those days of intense suffering resulting in
his wife’s death:
“Many times I relive them almost as if they were the present.
I still see Gianna when, on Easter morning in 1962, in the maternity
ward of the Monza hospital, she took the child in her arms with great
effort, she kissed her and looked at her with a sadness and an anguish
that to me are the proof of her awareness that she would soon orphan
her. From that day, her pain became constant. She invoked her mother
to stay near her and help her because she could not make it, such was
her pain. It seemed like a slow, dramatic sacrifice, accompanying that
of Christ on the cross. Her suffering became even more intense on Monday.
I tried to be near her all the time, so I spent the nights in Monza,
in my old college of Saint Joseph. Then, fortunately, her sister – Mother
Virginia – came from India and remained at her side throughout.
During the night between Tuesday and Wednesday after Easter, her condition
sharply worsened. Wednesday morning it took a temporary turn for the
better and she told me “Pietro, I was on the other side already
and if I could tell you what I saw! One day I will. But since we were
too happy with our wonderful children, full of health and grace, with
all of heaven’s blessings, they sent me back here, to suffer
more, because it is not right to knock at the Lord’s door without
having suffered greatly.” This was the last time I was able to
speak with my wife. Afterwards, she said a few more words, but for
me this was her testament of joy and suffering, of devotion and faith
in God.”
Gianna’s faith in God and in his Providence gave her the courage
to make the choice of love that cost her life.