QUIZ: Name 7 saints with Pro-Life crises

All humans experience suffering as a result of Original Sin. How well do we learn from, and use our suffering to become holier? Can you name these 7 saints who surrendered, triumped and used their pro-life crises to glorify God? The  answers are posted below. 

1. _________ My parents conceived me later in life and I was raised in an Israeli temple. I kept to myself and learned everything I could. When I was fifteen, I found myself pregnant despite being engaged to another man. He was hesitant to marry but agreed. Life became an adventure. We traveled long distances, our son was born in a ghetto, and to avoid conflict we moved on short notice. Over time, our boy was kind and obedient--although He went missing for 3 days. As an adult, He was so holy and popular that paparazzi formed. Envy seethed from religious leaders. Trumped-up charges led to His willing execution. Many miracles occurred during our life and after His death. His body is incorrupt except for 5 wounds. I was humbled by His birth and now I am honored by His eternal love. Who am I?

2. _________ I'm  a girl from Italy. I studied surgery and pediatric medicine in Milan so I could be a missionary with my brother, a priest serving in Brazil. My health made this impractical, so I married an engineer. In a love letter to my husband I wrote, "Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women." God blessed us with 3 babies, and I had everything I ever wanted. There were complications with my 4th pregnancy. My options were abortion with hysterectomy or tumor resection with no guarantees. Trusting in Jesus, I chose the last option and left clear instructions to save the baby first. While we both survived, I died of septic peritonitis 7 days later in 1962. My daughter became a Pro-Life physician who speaks internationally. Miracles occurred and in 2004, my family witnessed my canonization. Who am I?

3. _______ I discovered Down's Syndrome in a research lab with my French pediatrician and genetics partners. In the 1960s, my opposition to French contraception was career suicide, leading to the rejection of my nomination for the Nobel Prize in Medicine. As a Catholic, I met with Pope John Paul II in the 1970's to discuss how nefarious fetal diagnostics were being developed to find and terminate "imperfect" souls. In the 1980's, I spoke internationally to protect vulnerable populations. In the 1990's, Pope John Paul II named me as President of the "Pontifical Academy of Sciences." Our goal was to set morality standards in science, although I was dying of lung cancer. In 2021, I was declared Venerable by Pope Francis. Who am I?

4. ______ I regretted my abortion, so I became a Catholic. Through my sacramental confession, others saw a beauty in me that only God creates. To help the destitute, I started a newspaper, and radical movement called the Catholic Worker. I shared how God can heal post-abortion PTSD and suffering. I am proof that God can make saints of us despite our flaws. Despite my death in 1980, safe houses are named after me to this "Day." As a Servant of God, my canonization is progressing. Who am I?

5. _________ My Mom was an Italian nun who found herself pregnant. In 1444, I became baby Lucy. the shameful human stain. I knew only depression, oppression and perhaps possession. Eventually, I was locked away without decent food and "fasted" until the town could burn me as a witch. An empathetic priest intervened, exorcised all demonic ties and opened my eyes to Jesus. When I surrendered, God unburdened my heart. Through the sacraments, I let Him love me as only He can. God's grace led me to take Benedictine vows and a new name. When I was 25, my guardian angel invited me home. Miracles occurred at my grave, my flesh was found incorrupt, and I was canonized in 1763. My life proves that conception events are irrelevant to God. If you suffer mental roadblocks that relate to a dysfunctional family, I'm your girl. Let's tag-team our way through your hot mess. If He can work miracles through me, let's see what He does through you! Who am I?

6. _______ I flirted with a rich, married knight and ran away in 1264. We lived together in one of his sumptuous Italian castles until I became pregnant. Mom died when I was 7 and Dad remarried, which destroyed my childhood. I knew my son could never inherit his father’s money or titles, but I could not part with his pure and loving innocence. When my knight was killed, we were evicted and left destitute. My parents had already disowned us. The Franciscans found us a casa di campagna. Through their holy-water misted-cloud of swirling love, they tended, healed and resprouted my soul's dormant seeds of hope and faith. They tutored my failing-to-thrive-boy, read his broken heart and unlocked his inner savant of flying-buttress, weight-ratioed calculus in Architecture. We had nothing and everything. In the monstrance, I saw Docility, Patience, Fortitude and eternal Love. I nursed the sick for pay. Over time, I was elevated to midwife due to the constant, open arms of the Franciscans.  I saw God's plan. With our suffering, we buy souls. He allows us to choose who and how. I was given a redo. Using the Adoration Presence, I would fix that path for vulnerable, scared girls, angry parents, and cranky babies. A big family had been my soft, cozy grandma's daydream. My son was born a God-gifted engineer. We both prounced our Franciscan vows: he as a Friar and me, as a third order Franciscan. Together, we [he] built a hospital and [I] created an order of nursing nuns. My  unwed mother experiences enpowered me to publicly dignify girls in crisis. My body was found incorrupt, and I was canonized in 1728. If you are an unwed mother, God loves you both. He has a plan for you, just as He did with us. Every soul matters to our heavenly Papa. Who am I?

7. _____ I died defending my family as a Polish farm wife and Grandma during World War II. When my son and his pregnant wife were arbitrarily chosen for execution, I begged to take the place of my daughter-in-law Anna, so my grandchild might live. The Nazis cared only about meeting death quotas, not who or how. My boy Stan and I were forced by guards to wait in a Nazi prison. Two weeks later, we were shot by a firing squad while clutching our rosaries. By virtue of martyrdom, I was beatified in 1999 by Pope John Paul II. Who am I?

Answers are below. If any of the above seem obscure, please know they ache to intercede for us as patrons to our Eternal Father. Ask them to be your heavenly cheerleaders and your miracle may get them canonized!

6-7 Correct = Hagiographic Genius
4-5 Correct = Devoted to the Saints
2-3 Correct = Trailblazer, these were tricky
0-1 Correct =  Pathfinder, thanks for being Pro-Life! 

1.  Stories of the Blessed Virgin Mary | (Ascension Press, 2020)
2. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) | (Catholic Online)
3. Jérôme Lejeune (1926−1994) | Embryo Project Encyclopedia
4. Dorothy Day (1897-1980) | U.S. Catholic
5. Eustochia of Padua (1444–1469) | Encyclopedia.com
6. Margaret of Cortona (1247-1297) | Wikipedia
7. The Polish Grandma Martyr, Marianna Biernack (1888-1943) | Aleteia