Kallus Family: January 2009

Oh my goodness! We came in 2nd place! I have to throw in that we tied for 1st place, but we missed the tiebreaker question. I think we were all still in shock from realizing that we actually tied for 1st place?!?

For those of you who didn't know, our homeschool group formed a team of 4 homeschooling moms and decided to enter the 2nd Annual Catholic Knowledge Bowl. We were Team #6 (out of 15) and we were called "Leaders of Little Hearts," sponsored by the Immaculate Heart Homeschoolers. We studied (individually) but mostly did it for FUN and to LEARN. The Knowledge Bowl was held yesterday on Sunday, January 25th from 1:30 - 4:30 PM at Holy Family Parish in Victoria.

Our final score was 142 out of 150, not including the tiebreaker question that we missed. Once they post the questions from the competition, I'll post those here so you can see what your Catholic IQ is!

From left to right: Me (Jennifer), Heather, Denise, and Marie

Several people have asked how we came up with the name "Gianna." What a better time to share this than today, January 22nd? Today is the annual March For Life, a march by those who oppose the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision to legalize abortion in the United States.

Well, as all of our friends and family know, we are Catholic. Very Catholic. We believe and profess everything the Catholic Church believes and teaches. We love our faith. We love the very church Jesus Christ established to pass on the truths that He taught.

Along with a love for Christ's Church, we also have a love for the many saints who have lived lives worthy of remembering and honoring. Saint Gianna is one such saint. She is known as the "pro-life" saint. She is the saint we ask to intercede for us when we pray for an end to abortion...when we pray for God's endless mercy upon those mothers and fathers suffering from the effects of an abortion.

Gianna Beretta Molla was pregnant with her fourth child when it was discovered that she had a fibroma, a benign tumor, on her uterine wall. It was suggested that she undergo a surgery that would involve aborting the growing baby inside of her, of which she immediately declined. Instead, she chose surgery that would remove only the tumor, still very aware of the risks involved in this delicate surgery – both to her and to her unborn child. She pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. She was able to carry her baby to term, at which point she was ready to give her life in order to save her child. She is quoted as saying, "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save him." On Good Friday, Gianna entered the hospital, and the following morning of April 21, 1962, a lovely, healthy baby daughter, Gianna Emanuela, was born. But the mother had developed a fatal infection - septic peritonitis. (Modern antibiotics most likely would have saved her.) The inflammation caused immense suffering during her final week on earth. In the midst of her terrible pain, Gianna called to her own mother, Maria, who had died in 1942 – and she prayed. On the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you," the mother died. She was 39 years old. The tiny infant, Gianna Emanuela, was exactly one week old.

*For more information and for references, click here:
Saint Gianna Parish
Saint Gianna -- A Model for Mothers

"The canonization of Saint Gianna is the first of its kind. Many mothers have been beatified for their heroic virtues but they entered religious life after becoming widowed. In St. Gianna’s case, the very condition of her being a spouse and mother is being exalted and highlighted. St. Gianna is the first canonized woman physician and professional who was also a “working mom”."
(http://www.saintgianna.org/sainthood.htm)

For those of you interested in the language origin and meaning of the name, "Gianna," it is Italian, with it's origin being Hebrew, which means "God is gracious." It also means "Gift of God." And for everyone who knows our story and journey with Isaac, you certainly know how appropriate the name "Gianna" is for our precious gift (on loan) from God. Our baby girl, Gianna's, middle name is "Faith." It is quite obvious why we chose this name. After enduring the pregnancy with Isaac and then with Gianna so soon after, it required an incredible amount of faith to believe we would actually get to take home a healthy baby girl. We thank God for His gift of Saint Gianna's life and beautiful example of love and sacrifice. We thank Saint Gianna Beretta Molla for the many ways she shared the love of Christ with others so that we may strive for sainthood as she so willingly and successfully did. And we thank God, through His beloved Son, for His Gracious Gift of a child to take home and raise to love and serve Him. With all that said, "Gianna" is not a only a very pretty name for a baby, a little girl, and a lady, but there is much meaning behind it for us as well.

May God bless each of you on this day when we remember that our mothers chose life for us. Please continue to pray for the mothers who find that decision difficult to make.

Jennifer and family