The third child of Gladys Royal and Earl Young, Loretta Young---whose birth name was Gretchen ---would never have been born at all, were it not for her mother's devout Catholicism. In an unhappy marriage to a philandering husband, Gladys was dismayed to discover that the flu-like symptoms she had been experiencing were not the flu at all, but evidence of the fact that she was expecting another baby. Noticing his patient's distress at the news of her pregnancy, and telling her there "were ways," Gladys's doctor suggested that she "might like to skip this one and wait for a better time..." For a brief instant, Gladys considered the doctor's advice, but "when she thought of the Catholic faith she had pledged to uphold...", she knew aborting the child within her was not an option. Instead, she followed the advice of her parish priest and "consecrated the life within her to Mary, who had carried her Lord." This dedication to God would follow Loretta all the days of her life. **
So, on this day that we celebrate the 100th birthday of one of the classic film era's most beautiful spirits, I want to also celebrate her mother, Gladys. Had she not chosen to give life to the child within her, Loretta Young would never have been---and we, who love her and her films would have missed out on something special indeed!
** All quoted material is from Loretta Young's authorized biography, Forever Young, by Joan Wester Anderson (Thomas Moore Publishing, 2000)
