By Fr. Christopher Kubat
On April 11, Dr. Gianna Emanuela flew to the United States to visit two places: Lincoln, and Fargo, N.D. In Lincoln, she came to visit St. Gianna Women’s Homes (where we help women who escape the pressures of abortion and domestic violence) and Gianna’s Java & Gelato.
Related item: slideshow of photos from Dr. Gianna's visit
During her stop at the Gianna’s Java & Gelato, she met a crowd of more than 800 people, many asking for her prayers and many who informing her of the favors her mother did for them by her intercession to the Lord God. Many miracles that occur involve the conception and birth of babies to infertile couples.
There are other types of miracles. I talked to one woman who said that after being blessed by a relic of St. Gianna and through her prayers, her alcoholism and the wounds that led up to her drinking were dramatically taken away. I personally witnessed this woman tearfully relate her story.
Her next stop was at St. Gianna Women’s Homes where she attended a Mass and brunch when she met many of the women residents of the home along with their children. Many of the ladies related their stories and how appreciative they were to be living at St. Gianna’s. Many of the women over the years have told me that being at St. Gianna’s literally saved their lives. She heard many of their stories.
After her trip to Lincoln, she traveled to Fargo, N.D. for a Mass with Cardinal Raymond Burke and Bishop John Folda. During the votive Mass of St. Gianna, Cardinal Burke said in his homily that St. Gianna never looked at suffering in a negative way but as a doorway to even greater love. At the fundraising dinner (which was conducted for the purposes of building an international center dedicated to her mother and father) she related the heroic love her parents had for God, for each other, for their children and neighbors. It was then that we learned that the international center will be built in the United States. All in all, over $185,000 was raised that evening.
During her time in the Diocese of Fargo, she had a chance to visit their St. Gianna’s Maternity Home where I am sure she heard many similar stories. Since her mother’s canonization, there have been women’s homes, clinics and parishes started across the country. This tremendous devotion to St. Gianna is one of the reasons the above mentioned international center will be built here in America.
I want to thank St. Gianna for her powerful intercession, her daughter, Dr. Gianna Emanuela for visiting us for the third time and all those who visited with her. She was really moved at how much her mother is loved and edified by the many miracles of life that have occurred through her intercession. St. Gianna, pray for us!
