April 28, 1962: The Death of St. Gianna Molla

The Featured Image is from the recently restored sanctuary of St. James the Lesser parish in Duluth, MN, where the Curator is the pastor.

St. Gianna Molla

This 2nd class relic of St. Gianna Molla was a gift to Father Richard Kunst from Dr. Gianna Molla, daughter of the saint, upon her visit to Duluth, Minnesota.  Dr. Molla gave several presentations at Father Kunst’s parish and shared these relics with him.  

Dr. Molla signed her own name on the side of this card: Gianna Emanuela.

The Papal Artifacts’ Collection is primarily dedicated to artifacts connected to the papacy.  Individual popes, their biographies and multiple items belonging to them, including first and second class relics, make up the majority of this Collection.  But that isn’t all it is.

Father Kunst has a deep devotion to the saints as can be readily seen in viewing the Saints & Blesseds section of this site. We invite you to visit Papal History/Saints & Blesseds to view the many canonized and beatified men and women who make up this section of the Collection.

Saint Gianna Molla is one of them.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)

Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvelous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.

The following relics were gifts to the Collection from her daughter, Dr. Gianna Molla upon her visit to Duluth, Minnesota in October 2017.

St. Gianna Molla: A First Class Relic

The artifact is a first class relic of St. Gianna Molla, given to Father Richard Kunst by her daughter, Dr. Gianna Molla during her visit to Duluth, Minnesota, October 29 – 31, 2017.

The relic is hair clippings from the saint.

Dr. Molla gave several presentations during her stay, including to  school children from the Catholic middle school, to the bedside of a young, cancer patient, and to a large audience at Fr. Kunst’s home parish following Mass. 

Dr. Molla was received with such great gratitude.  This first class relic of her, “Saint Mom” is a treasured addition to the Collection.

St. Gianna Molla, pray for us!

In the Papal Artifacts’ Collection there have been many unique and varied items, and this rare, hand-written Geometry Assignment of St. Gianna Beretta Molla is one of the most unique.

Written as a school assignment in great detail, it was a gift from Dr. Gianna Molla to Father Richard Kunst during her October 29 to 31, 2017 visit to his home parish in Duluth, Minnesota.

Saint Gianna would have been approximately 14 years old at the time this assignment was recorded.  She signed on the cover, Beretta G.

Dr. Molla wrote the explanation of this relic, which also authenticates the relic, on her mom’s letterhead paper from the time the saint was a practicing doctor.  (Both women practiced as physicians.)

The assignment ranks as one of the most unique treasures of this Collection, coming from a beloved 20th century saint via her gracious and beloved child.

Father Kunst is grateful for this gift, and for the gift of herself, which she left with the audiences who attended her many presentations.

Saint Gianna, pray for us!