Il Venerabile Antonio Vincenzo Gallo, nacque a Monteforte Irpino l'11 gennaio
1899.
Venne battezzato lo stesso giorno col nome di Vincenzo nella stessa Chiesa, San
Nicola di Bari, dove riposa. Fu settimo di nove figli. Il padre Antonio e la
madre Angela Piciocchi erano molto devoti della Madonna tanto che avevano fatto
ricamare uno stendardo con l'Immacolata, perch estasse in famiglia come uno
stemma di alta aristocrazia. Padre Antonio emise la Prima Professione di fede il
29 gennaio del 1921 e la Professione Perpetua il 16 ottobre 1924. Incardinato
nella diocesi di Avellino, fu ordinato sacerdote il 14 dicembre 1930. La sua
vocazione pass�i brutti momenti. Dapprima la morte del padre, poi la dolorosa
guerra (1915-18) dove fu soldato esemplare, sempre pronto a sopportare la volont�el
Signore. Nel 1928 perse la madre, infine una malattia inesorabile lo colp"la
miotonia o morbo di Thomsen", aggravata da un esaurimento nervoso.
I medici gli dissero: "Mai potrai guarire, ma solo migliorare. Sarai un
Sant'Antonio martire della sofferenza". Il 16 marzo 1931 fu ammesso alla
Parrocchia di Crisro Re in Roma dove svolse il suo programma di dedizione
sacerdotale. Le sofferenze fisiche e morali furono accettate in spirito di amore
e di riparazione al Cuore di Cristo, senza alcun lamento, anche di fronte
all'incomprensione.
Nell'aprile del 1934 si ammalò gravemente e il 2 maggio, colpito da meningite,
don�renamente a Dio la sua anima. Il suo corpo venne traslato, il 29 ottobre
1972, da Roma a Monteforte Irpino dove venne accolto da tutto il popolo con
partecipazione sentita e riverito rispetto. Il 9 aprile 1990 il Papa Giovanni
Paolo II lo proclamava Venerabile.
In deference to the laws of the Church, the author declares that he attributes to the facts of a more or less supernatural character herein described only that faith which one gives to human authority.
NIHIL OBSTAT
Romae, die 22 dec. 1960
FR. HILARIUS M. MORRIS O.S.M.
Rev. Del.
IMPRIMATUR
E Vicariatu Urbis, die 30 dec. 1960
ALOYSIUS TRAGLIA
Card. Provicarius
Stab. Tip. ARS NOVA – Piazza S. Apollinare, 48 – ROMA
TO THE READER
If the grain of wheat falling into the earth doth not die, itself remaineth alone, but if it die it produceth fruit a hundred fold.
St. John XII
In this age, in which unfortunately pleasure and amusement have become the only objects of life: what great good may not be effected by the example of the Venerable, Anthony Vincent Gallo!
He has lived the teaching of Jesus with heroic generosity, suffering continuously and offering his martyrdom in union with his Divine Master for the good of souls.
Like the evangelical grain of wheat, he was consumed by illness, by misunderstanding and humiliation and thus he bore much fruit.
What were these fruits? The good example of a holy priest; many souls encouraged, guided and saved; a voice which twenty years after his death is still living and eloquent.
Let his example teach us not to lose the merit of our own suffering by vain complaints and lamentations, but rather to make of them a fruitful apostolate for good.
Rome, 11th. January 1960.
MONS. AGOSTINO GREGO
Postulator Son of a Really Christian Family
Father Anthony Vincent Gallo was born on the 11th. Of January 1899, at Monteforte Irpino, a quaint old town in the region of Campania, in the south of Italy, of hardy and courageous and enterprising people. His good parents, Anthony and Angela Piciocchi, were deeply religious and of innate goodness. Fulfilling as they did, all their religious duties, they excelled in devotion to Mary Immaculate. Her image adorned the portal of their dwelling where each day and night burned a votive lamp, and the Feast of her Immaculate Conception- December 8th., was a special religious festival for the family. Every evening the whole family assembled for the family Rosary. Pilgrimages to the Sanctuaries of Montevergine and Pompeii were frequent. The poor were always well received in that charitable house.
His Childhood
Little Anthony, the seventh of nine children, was baptised on the day of his birth and was given the names of Vincent, Adolph, Amadeus. Even in his early childhood he showed great delicacy of soul and marked religious tendencies. Goodness, charity, simplicity, and spirit of sacrifice were the marvelous virtues already notable in this child. The day of Vincent’s first contact with Jesus in the Holy Communion was the happiest day of his life. This took place in the same church where he had been baptised. After communion he returned home and spent most of the day in a quiet and joyful prayer of thanksgiving at the family shrine of the Blessed Mother. He had, even at this young age, a deep faith and a sincere and unaffected love for Christ.
The Way of the Cross Begins for Anthony
His childhood was ushered in under the sign of the Cross. The seal of sorrow was ever to accompany him and be for him a veritable mission. On April 6th., 1909, when he was only ten years old, a serious and incurable illness carried off his father at the early age of 45, in spite of all that medical science could do to save him. This was an immense loss and sorrow for the family as the mother was then left alone with nine children. On her alone devolved the responsibility of their Christian education and the burden of providing for them. A further sorrow awaited Vincent when he was separated from his mother and consigned to a local orphanage. He now felt himself doubly an orphan.
Young Vincent spends most of the day of his First Communion in prayer, before the picture of Our Lady near the entrance to his home.
A Ready response to the call of God
For two years he remained in the orphanage. During that period the seed of the religious vocation which God had planted in his heart, began to manifest itself and soon developed rapidly. For the first time, and in presence of his brothers, he gave utterance to the phrase I will be a priest. There were early indications of how God’s grace was preparing him for a totally dedicated life: a reverent sense of purity and modesty, a serious composure, recollection, patience, devotion, and piety. The seed of God was sprouting in fertile soil. The tender plant was soon ready to be transplanted to the garden of the religious life in the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
The Object of the Congregation
The object of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, founded by Father Dehon in 1877, is to render to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord the cult of love and reparation which he had requested from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The exercises of piety in the Congregation and all its works are directed towards the fulfillment of this end: daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Mass and Communion of Reparation, sanctification of the First Friday and the practice of the Holy Hour. The apostolate to which these priests dedicate themselves is the instruction of youth, preaching, missions for the people, spiritual assistance for emigrants, the evangelization of the infidels. After 80 years of existence the Congregation is spreads over the world and contributes immensely to the salvation of souls.
With the help of God I will prepare myself to become a holy priest.
Towards the ideal
Vincent’s ideal was to be a priest, a good priest. When he was questioned by a father concerning the sincerity of his vocation, he replied quietly and serenely, “ With the help of God, I desire to become a holy priest”. He already understood that the call to priesthood was inseparably linked with a call to sanctity. Through the encourage and direction of one of his relatives he was providentially led towards the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The ideals of the Congregation attracted him irresistibly and he asked to be accepted as a member. He was accepted and was admitted to the Juniorate of the Congregation at Albino in the province of Bergamo. At first he found himself disheartened- perhaps on account of the distance home-more than a thousand kilometers- and embarrassed by his southern accent which is not too pleasant to the people of northern regions. He soon settled down however, and soon revealed his happy disposition. Being humble and peaceful, he was kind toward his companions. He accepted as peacemaker and took the newcomers under his care and initiated them into the life of the Juniorate cheering them up with amusing stories. The Rector of the Juniorate at that time, Fr. Joseph Goebels, said of him: “I can affirm that from the beginning of his days at Albino, Vincent Gallo was a model of piety, of charity, obedience and application to study”. This was Vincent in embryo.
Advancing towards the goal
In religious Congregations it is usual to pass from one house to another. Anthony was first at Guastalla, then at Bologna where he completed his studies. With a tenacious will he succeeded well in overcoming the difficulties that he had encountered. He applied himself to his studies assiduously and even renounced the usual periods of recreation. These sacrifices combined with the cold and damp northern climate to which he was accustomed made serious inroads on his health. These factors brought on the malady which led eventually to his death.
On military service
The tide of war which raged from May 1915 on the Italian front brought him to serve his country under arms. First, at the end of June 1917, he was exempted from service after only two months on account of his poor health, under arms again in May of 1918, he proved an exemplary soldier, always preserving his spirit of deep and sincere piety. On Christmas night of 1918, at the front, he walked for two and a half hours in snow and ice, so as to be able to receive Holy Communion. The hardships of military life only tended to strengthen his spirit and to increase his merit. Having served his country he returned to Bologna on June 8th, 1918 in order to receive the Religious habit.
His early life as a Religious
He began his novitiate in Abyssal, in the province of Savona, in October 1919 and prepared to receive the habit after a retreat. Great was his joy when clothed with the habit in the presence of his co-religious in their pretty chapel, he felt himself one of their number. He received the scapular of the Sacred Heart with the blessed cincture. Taking a name in Religion he chose Anthony in memory of his father.
During the novitiate period – a year of prayer, meditation and mortification – he gave himself up to the reform of his spirit and the acquisition of the perfection of religious life. The Master of Novices, Reverend P. Luigi Duborgel, attests that” during his Novitiate, Anthony attracted attention of his superiors by being humble and observant of the rules and by devoutly living that interior life which is so advantageous for the advancing in holiness. He was really esteemed by everyone”. Finally the dream which he had so long cherished with love and fervour became a reality – he consecrated himself definitely to God by his temporary Profession, by which he became a member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
Towards the Priesthood
After his Profession he completed his secondary studies in Bologna and obtained his Licentiate in 1922. then he began his theological studies – an immediate preparation for the Priesthood. As well as being diligent and constant in his studies, he showed great exactness in observance of rule, thus giving an example of solid piety and heartfelt charity. His professor of Philosophy, Monsignor Olindo Corsini, defined Anthony as a “diligent and conscientious student, a mortified and exemplary religious”.
Under the sign of the Cross
Meantime the long hours of tenacious study, carried on with much sacrifice, his long night vigils, his renouncing all pastimes were the cause of his first signs of illness, which increasing with the passing years, brought one death in a short time. Anthony’s life from now on will be marked with the Cross. The undue fatigue and efforts made to obtain the Licentiate ended in undermining his already weak frame. Perhaps an immediate cure or a period of rest and absolute repose could have curbed the malady, but a natural repugnance in revealing his sufferings to his Superiors made him remain silent with the hope of an early return to health. His brother, seeing him growing thinner, endeavored to provide him with something more nourishing. Anthony accepted all for a short time, but one day remarked:” You are like the sister of St. Therese who tried to cure the saint with motherly tenderness and instead bare her more occasions of mortification, because she served her according to her own tastes – quite contrary to that of the Saint”.
After an apparent recuperation of his strength there followed a great lassitude which caused him to walk with a tottering gait. His companions, unaware of the reason, used laugh at his manner of walking, but he laughed with them, treating it as a passing phase of his illness. Unfortunately it was only an illusion that his illness was to be a passing thing – he had begun the way of the Cross and would have to reach the height of Calvary. And he was aware of it. A tender episode reveals the interior force of his soul. One day, while he was preparing flowers for the altar of the Blessed Sacrament, his expression betrayed the fact that he was suffering acutely. A confrere noticed it and said to him – “Poor brother, you’re suffering, aren’t you?” “Just a little more than usual” he answered with a smile.” And why then are you tiring yourself with looking after the flowers? You should go to bed for awhile”. “My friend” he said”the more I suffer, the more flowers I would like to prepare for Jesus”.
A martyr of suffering
His illness became much worse; his arms lay powerless: insomnia increased making even the slightest application almost impossible. He became frightfully thin and worn out by fatigue. His eyes we sunken in his head and it was a piteous sight to see him wandering about the corridors of the house.
In the presence of this frightful deterioration his Superiors brought him to see the renowned physician, Doctor Murri. Anthony gave the doctor an outline of his illness, describing its phases and its progress. Dr. Murri’s diagnosis was discouraging: the nervous system of the patient was in a state of collapse, the case was serious and he told this to the patient with the words:” You can become better, but you cannot ever be cured”. This serious declaration of the doctor prostrated Anthony anew. After such long protracted hopes, all that lay before him now was the compete vision of the Cross. However he was neither frightened nor discouraged. His great fear for the moment was that he might be obliged to give up his studies, even have to leave the religious house and what was most discouraging of all was the thought that he would never be able to become a priest. This had been the great ideal and desire of his whole life.
His Superior next brought him to see a specialist in nervous diseases. Again the verdict was discouraging. The doctor asked the patient what his name was. He answered:” Anthony”. “Well”, murmured the doctor,” we had already a St. Anthony. You will become a St. Anthony, martyr of all suffering”.
Everything seemed to come crashing down for poor Anthony. The hopes of being one day a priest seemed a far way off, but his desire for holiness did not die within him. He advanced all the more, in spite of his bitter trials, in his life on sanctity and perfection. So many wonderful examples of piety and sanctity sprang from this period of his life. Incidents of charity, of mortification, of obedience and submission to the will of God. Such virtues, practiced in a heroic degree, convinced his Superiors that he should be permitted to make his Perpetual vows. He was permitted, also, to receive the minor Orders of Ostiarius and Lector with his companions on December 20th., 1924 and those of Exorcist and Acolyte on
March 28th., 1925.
Pilgrimage to Lourdes
He was not, however, admitted to Ordination to the Priesthood in 1926 with his companions who were then ordained. At that time his illness had manifested itself completely and his Superiors thought it would be better that he should not be permitted to receive his Major Orders. Trials accumulated. In September of 1927 the new Superior of the College, Father Francis Cortinovis, seeing how ineffectual were all human remedies sought supernatural aid, turning to her whom the sick invoke under the name of “Health of the Sick”. He had Anthony leave for Lourdes with a companion. His pilgrimage lasted from the seventeenth of September till the twenty-second. Anthony reached Lourdes with great hope in his heart and waited for any sign that would bespeak a miracle. But his cure was not forthcoming and he ad to mount his calvary. He understood, as so many other invalids, that the good Lady of the Pyrenees had given him a greater gift than that of physical relief.
On his return to Bologna he was able to say with complete resignation shining in his eyes to the confrere who opened the door:” We have not received the grace of being cured, but of a great comfort, light and resignation”.
He returns to his family
As his malady progressed all application to study, and finally even to prayer became impossible, and consequently his Superiors advised him that he should return to his family. Perhaps his native air would bring back to him the strengthof body that the work of the priesthood would demand. At first he raised somne objections but finally accepted the advice of his Superiors as being the will of God. He departed without giving up all hope of being able one day to return to his beloved Congregation. The loving care of his family, and particularly the loving care of his mother seemed to give strength to his spirit and to his body, but after the first days. However, he began to feel dissatisfied and little by little the fear of having acted against his vows, of having been wanting in fidelity to God would allow him no peace of conscience. He wrote to the Father General, Fr. Lorenzo Phillipe who had succeeded Fr. Dehon, asking him for advice, for aid and for comfort. Years passed and Anthony was advised to apply for a dispensation from his vows. But his heart was sorely grieved. The Superior General tried to comfort him. His kind words seemed to remove all apprehension and make him resigned to separate himself from the Congregation. But it was for him a cruel separation. In his sensitive soul he began to feel that thorns and sorrows were to be his continual portion. Walking one day with his cousin Gelasius he saw some roses, he picked several of them and almost by instinct began to take off the thorns. When his cousin asked him what he was doing he replied “The roses are for Jesus, the thorns are for me”. He felt that the cross was his lot and he embraced it generously.
His great trial
A more lasting and terrible trial was awaiting him. While he was with his family his beloved mother died on the seventh of Noveember 1928. Anthony comforted her with words of faith and Christian hope, preparing her for the passage to eternity. He accepted with quiet resignation the will of God, but his worn out spirit was almost overcome by this terrible tragedy. Long years afterwards – Anthony wa then dead – there was found in the coffin of his mother, a small glass tube in which there was a letter which one cannot read without great emotion. It was his last farewell to his beloved mother. The permanent recollection of his mother was always a precious remembrance which ever comforted him and gave him strength and encouraged him in well doing.
Nearing the goal
The loss of his mother aggravated Anthony’s condition. He was overtaken with a feeling of the greatest lassitude. The year 1929 passed for him in a state of absolute hopelessness. After he had been granted the dispensation from his vows, the Superior General was so kind as to recommend him to the bishop of Avellino to have him incorporated into his diocese. He was accepted and on the fourteenth of June 1930 he was admitted to the Subdiaconate and on the tenth of August he was made Deacon. Soon he would made the great step; he was again on the road towards his ideal from which he had never deviated, ever hoping with resignation to the will of God.
His priestly ordination
Anthony prepared himself with great fervor for the dignity of a minister of God, making a spiritual Retreat
In the House of Redemptorists in Avellino. On the fourteenth of December 1930 in the Church of St. Nicholas of Monteforte Irpino he was ordained by Bishop Petronelli, Bishop of Avellino. More than a day of rejoicing it seemed to be the day for the offering of a victim. The ceremony was simple and edifying. Lived under the sign of the holy Cross, that day of joy for all, was for Anthony filled with mortification and intimate pain. His second Mass he celebrated at the Cemetary in suffrage for the souls of his father and mother. On that occasion also the members of his beloved Congregation, though not present in person, were present spiritually with him. The Vicar General sent him a lettere full of good wishes and rejoicing for his Ordination. Though at homne, the servant of God felt the sincere and loving voices of his former Superiors and confreres. Writing to his brothers in America, he showed the fullness of his joy by asking them to “rejoice that you have a brother who is a priest”.
Longing for the religious life
After the Ordination Anthony requested from the Superior General, Reverend Fr. Lorenzo Phillipe, the permission to send some days among his former companions in the Congregation. The request was very freely granted and he was able to pass some fifteen days in the company of the religious. Having returned to his native town, he felt again the longing for the religious life. Acceding to his request to his Bishop in Avellino and to the Superior General of the Congregation, he was allowed to transfer to Rome and was attached to the Church of Christ the King (Chiesa di Cristo Re), with the hope that with the peace and quiet of the religious house and absolute rest, his strength might return.
A wonderful apostolate
Now begins the most dynamic period of the life of Anthony. In it shines forth a new spiritual gift- his zeal for souls. For three years he dedicated all the energies of his young life to the ministry of the Church of Christ the King, in Via Mazzini in Rome. With great constancy and courage he conquered and overcame the physical handicap of his illness. We get the impression that the sacrament of Holy Orders had operated within him and a transformation and a new invigoration of his feeble strength: the work of God which aids those of good will ready to sacrifice themselves for the good of souls.
Sacerdotal zeal
Given charge of the Sacristy, he was zealous in the affairs of the Parish to a heroic degree, remaining at his work a great part of the day, lavishing help and advice and good counsel with kind and gentle words and with great delicacy. Calm and possessed and smiling, he listened to everyone, had a kind word for everybody, and was never seen to lose his composure. He joyously took his share in all the functions of the Church and in his short time there he had baptised very many new-born children. He was active and untiring in the Confessional until the last day of his illness. One of the priests of the parish, in answer to the question of some of the young people of the parish, had this to say: “ Father Anthony was a saintly priest, an expert and gifted confessor, a wonderful organiser, a hidden hero, a very amiable, tender, indulgent and most generous pastor of many souls”. His generosity manifested itself on many occasions when he knocked at the doors of the poor, bringing that material help which is so often the foundation of supernatural help. He said various times: “ I hope to understand their souls so as able to give them my help in the best possible way, because it seems that paradise is attained by administering material good to the neighbor and, with this material good and over and above it, spiritual good”.
Among the young people
He said so many times that the spiritual education of young people was to him a great joy. In fact the apostolate among the young constituted the ideal atmosphere for his priestly zeal. To this he gave himself with great fervor and simplicity. Charged by his Superiors with the organization and instruction of the altar boys he made this the principal care of his parish work. He was constantly with them, counseling and encouraging his young friends with a smile. And was always for them an inimitable master, kind and patient. He instructed his young charges in the practice of sacred music, seeing in sacred music an act of faith and lovw for God and a powerful aid in the training of the children. This was a new and refreshing source of parish life introduced by Father Anthony: the singing of the children. He was a father to them who knew how to guide them with an expert hand, how to guide their young souls and how to sow in them the good seed that would in time bring forth good results.
Confessor and spiritual director
Having obtained his faculties for Confession he gave himself to this work with such zeal and assiduity that it became in a short time the preferred ministry for him. There was at first a small group of penitents, but soon word of his zeal, his goodness and his skill circulated in the parish, and very many used come to his confessional. His name was venerated and he was highly recommended by his penitents because of his great prudence. Even those of high station socially or of esteemed learning came to him with great confidence. Many stated that he seemed to understand truly the state of their soul, that he almost had a gift of being able to scrutinize the human heart, that he had the power of inflaming the tepid and of converting hardened sinners. Above all when he spoke of pain and suffering in this life his words were most efficacious as he seemed to speak from his own personal experience, and to infuse in suffering souls sentiments of peace and happiness.
Apostolate of the consecration
Of the family to the Sacred heart
Most devoted to the Sacred Heart of our Lord, he propagated the devotion at every possible opportunity and in every possible place In a special manner it was his wish to see every family in the parish consecrated to the Sacred Heart. Prudently but tenaciously he inculcated this practice among his penitents, and when any family, blessed the picture or the statue of the Sacred Heart with a few appropriate words and then with intense devotion he read the Act of Consecration, happy in the thought that one more family was irrevocably consecrated to the Divine Heart.
Amongst the sick
His priestly zeal was to be seen particularly at the bedside of the sick and of the dying. The sick received him with joy and he went at once to their assistance without any thought or regard to his own fatigue. He comforted them, prepared them for their last journey, and was a veritable angel of comfort. Virtually foretelling his own imminent death, he leaned over the bed of a gravely ill youth one day and comforted him saying- “Courage, Courage- within two years we will be together in paradise”. He remained near those dangerously ill day and night and he accompanied the parting soul by his prayers to the throne of Judgment, and this not only in the case of the well-to-do, but in every case and everywhere where there was a pain or sorrow to be relieved to the Servant of God was always present.
Heavenwards
For three years in the Church of Christ the King, with his old confreres in the Congregation of which he felt himself to be a real member, he poured forth all of the zeal of his heart for the welfare of his parishioners and all those who came to him. The beauty of the priestly vocation, the ideal of his own existence, made him forget his own badly undermined health. He had thought perhaps of overcoming it by a tenacious heroism and determined will. But it was not to be. The hidden effects of his illness undermined, disintegrated and finally destroyed his energy. AT the beginning of April of 1934, a cough began to trouble him, a cough that gave him no rest, day or night. His companions, seeing him wasting away and often hearing his painful coughing during the long hours of the night, insisted that he have recourse to some remedy and give himself more rest. Anthony however continued his usual mode of living and studying- forgetful of his health. One day a man said to him: “Fr. Anthony, you are burning, you have a fever”. He brushed the remark aside with a sad smile, fearful lest the truth be discovered. His implacable illness was bringing him nearer to heaven- he was already worn out. He wished, however, to celebrate Mass again and on the 28th. And 29th. Of April, he made a heroic effort to do so. He wished to realise in his own case the suggestion of a certain holy priest: “Priests should regard death as a functional act of their priesthood. It is for them their last Mass”. And so it was for Anthony. He had to take to his bed for a period of rest, but it was too late.
His blessed death
That same evening his state became serious and during the night he lost conciousness which he never regained. On the first day of May he was transferred to the Quisisana Clinic. His colleagues were saddened by his departure. As soon as the doctors had given him a careful and serious examination they declared that he had but a few hours to live. He received Extreme Unction midst the great grief of all those present. The following day, May 2nd. 1934 Anthony passed away quietly llike the dying flickering of the Sanctuary Lamp in the Divine Presence. Such was his life: a lamp burning for love for God as long as the oil lasts. Zeal in the service of the good God had consumed his vitality and he died peacefully in the arms of his Father. Therefore we may well call his death a blessed one.
General grief among his friends
The news spread rapidly through the parish. Such an unexpected death after such a short illness aroused deep sentiments of affliction and sorrow. His death was all the more regretted, coming as it did come, so suddenly. A continuous queue of grief-stricken mourners filed through the crypt where his holy remains were brought and exposed in the Church of Christ the King.
Deeply regretted by all as if he had been a member of the family, his memory was honoured by demonstrations of sympathy and veneration by the crowds that flocked to his funeral ceremony. “He was a saintly priest”, was repeated by all, “now he is our protector in Heaven”. The crowds, remembering the words of Fr. Anthony that “one ought to pray to die close to our Lord”, expressed a spontaneous faith in his power of intercession by asking him to pray for them and by touching objects of devotion to his coffin.
After the obsequies his remains were entombed in the cemetery of Rome. Such was the life of Father Anthony Vincenzo Gallo, Apostle of suffering. A life ever lived, “under the sign of the Cross”.
From Heaven
After the stirring plebiscite of gratitude and admiration given by the clergy and the faithful around his body serenely lying in the sleep of the death, the pious memory of Fr. Anthony remained alive, the recognition of his humble but extraordinarily personality was confirmed and the fame of his virtue spread more and more. On a number of occasions, articles in praise of Fr. Anthony appeared in magazines and newspapers, and amongst them was the Osservatore Romano.
His humility was as remarkable as his suffering, and his great virtues and ardent zeal had evoked such widespread mourning and touching manifestations of admiration that the wonderful example of this priests life deserved to be known far and wide.
His memento-leaflets which were scattered in their thousands, not only amongst the sick, but amongst his admirers generally, are still kept as treasured possessions and blessed like those of a friend and heavenly protector.
Immediately after his untimely death, many people had recourse to them in their trials and difficulties and whispers were already going about of favours received through his intercession. The following are a few accounts of favours received through the intercession of Fr. Anthony taken from the numerous ones at hand:
“ On the 5th of July 1946, at a time when I happened to be staying in the country at Tocco Cavauria (in the province of Pescara), my baby boy, Paul, one of two twins and scarcely 13 months old, suddenly fell sick with a severe intestinal attack. The doctor was very concerned with the baby’s high temperature and continual vomiting, and advised me to take him to a specialist as soon as possible. I acted on the advice immediately and went to Pescara where the child was examined by Dr. Vera Cardelli, a woman who specialised in the treatment of children. Dr. Cardelli found that the baby’s condition was critical and even feared that an attack of convulsions could come on at any moment and cause death. Only a miracle could save him. I returned to Tocco on the verge of despair not knowing what saint to pray to. An aunt of mine who had come from Rome gave me a picture of Fr. Anthony Vincent Gallo to whom she had a special devotion and she urged me to beg from him the cure of the baby. I prayed with all my heart and soul, put the picture under the baby’s pillow and promised first of all a small offering to Fr. Anthony Gallo, then, as something very special, the promise not to go to the pictures( of which I am very fond) for a year. After a few hours the baby began to improve and after a few days was completely out of danger.
MARIA CHIMENTO
“The undersigned declares that her daughter Maria Belli, aged 54, suffered from inflammation of the left eye which was the cause of intense pain for about two months. Drugs were administered regularly. One evening the writer, not knowing how to carry on any longer, turned to Fr. Anthony Gallo with this prayer: “You who suffered so much in your life, inspire me and obtain a cure from the Most Holy Trinity”.
In the morning my daughter said to me as soon as she got up: “Mummy, I’m cured. I felt better last night and slept all right”. From that day to this she hasn’t had any need of drugs to kill the pain.
On the next visit, Dr. Persichetti stated: “All I can say is that she’s cured”.
MARIA BELLI
“For 25 years one who was near and dear to me had not been frequenting the Sacraments, and I could see that his return to them was becoming more difficult all the time. Needless to say I was continually offering up prayers… At length one day when I was looking at the picture of Fr. Anthony Gallo whose biography I had read, I was prompted to make a novena to the Blessed Trinity for nine consecutive days.
Soon after the one I hold dear returned to the Sacraments.
ANNA STEFANINI
“I feel that it is my duty to publish the following: About a year ago I went to the Maria Luisa Clinic in Via Col di Lana, and Dr. Caravani who examined me said that an operation was inevitable. The midwife had already begun to prepare it for me with words of comfort; all that had to be fixed was the day for the operation.
Torn with fear, I turned full of faith to Fr. Anthony Gallo with these words: “If I avoid this operation, I shall have the favour published”. And I did receive the favour, for without undergoing any surgical treatment I am now in the very bet of health, and what is more I don’t have the slightest trouble that could make life difficult for me”.
ANTONIA RICCI
“The undersigned expresses her most heartfelt thanks to the Servant of God, Fr. Anthony Gallo for the tangible protection which he has given her son Nicola, aged 10. In October 1942, the boy fell sick… at which we had recourse to Fr. Anthony. After a picture of our beloved Father had been placed in contact with the suffering child, the illness disappeared almost instantaneously. During the night the boy, who was half asleep seemed to hear a voice saying, “tell your mother that you are cured”.
It is out of a sense of profound gratitude that I have related this”.
MARIA PAGANI, WIDOW SAGNA
“ I have promised to make known the following favour which was obtained through the intercession of Fr. Anthony Vincent Gallo, a priest in our parish of Christ the King.
My husband was to undergo an operation for a furuncle on the neck with extensive ramifications which rendered an operation extremely difficult, when it occurred to me to turn for help to our dear Father so as to avert such a dangerous and difficult operation, with the promise to have the favour published if he helped me. As God took pity on us and heard our prayers, saving my husband from the operation, I am fulfilling my vow, ever thankful to the good God who showed Himself well pleased with His Servant, Fr. Anthony Vincent Gallo.
S. MAZZULLO
“A young man of about twenty with a serious liver complaint was reduced to a state of inaction. On the brink of despair, he was thinking of suicide. I gave him the biography of Fr. Gallo. He returned not only to the practice of the faith with renewed hope in life, but after an operation was perfectly cured”.
MONS. RAFFAELE LAPALORCIA
From New York, Wasworth: “About two years ago I received a leaflet- “The Servant of God, Father Anthony Vincent Gallo”- from a young man in my office. From that moment I prayed to the dear Father for a special favour. My brother who had had an operation for an ulcer in the stomach, had to receive fourteen blood transfusions, and his condition was considered very critical. I prayed to Fr. Anthony, and my brother, after many uncertain fluctuations, recovered and is now at home…”.
MARY F. CAHILL
From New York: “In the night of Dec. 29th, 1946, I had a very severe attack of asthma. A member of my family went at once to get an ambulance. In my distress I placed on my breast a picture of Father Anthony Gallo, begging him with the greatest fervour to make me better.
Twenty minutes later counter-orders were being given to stop the ambulance from coming as I was miraculously cured; in fact the next day I was able to resume my work as if nothing had happened to me the night before.
That same day, on my return from work, I found one of my sisters in a very high fever, and crying because she would not be able to go to Midnight Mass.
With the same faith I placed the picture of Fr. Anthony Vincent Gallo on her breast. Four hours later she felt perfectly well, so that she was able to assist at Midnight Mass, receive Communion and thank the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who, through the intercession of His Servant, had deigned to cure us both miraculously”.
VITTORIA MONTENEGRO
From Richmond Hill, U.S.A.: “I have had the joy of receiving a favour through the intercession of Fr. Anthony. My brother after an exemplary life until then, for the last seven years led a life of sin, neglecting the Sacraments and forgetful of God. One day, when I was in great distress because several misfortunes had befallen me the previous evening, I took up a picture of the Servant of God and prayed fervently to him. I fact I remained awake nearly all night praying to Fr. Anthony … When I awoke next morning, I saw to my astonishment my brother preparing to go to church and since then he has returned to his religious duties”.
MARION JANNON
From Brooklyn: “I, Rosaria Ganci, mother of six children, testify to the following: in the month of November 1946 a married daughter of mine had an abscess in her stomach. After fortnight of treatment the doctor told me she must go to the hospital for an operation. I was dismayed and had recourse with great faith and fervor to the Servant of God, Fr. Anthony Vincent Gallo, promising an offering if he granted me the favour of averting my daughters operation. So, the day before she was due to go to the hospital, the abscess broke, and when the doctor returned, he joyfully declared that there was no longer any need for an operation. After about a week my daughter was completely cured”.
ROSARIA GANCI
From Brooklyn: “Some months ago I was awakened by violent pains which continued so long that I feared it was a serious case of appendicitis remembering that about forty years ago I did not wish to undergo an operation which doctors declared was necessary. I decided that if the pains continued, I would ask to be brought to the hospital. Just then I remembered Fr. Anthony’s picture and I turned to him with confidence, reciting the triple prayer to the Sacred Heart, I applied his picture to the ailing part and having slept soundly, I awoke with no trace of pain. May the Sacred Heart be thanked, who in so evident a manner wishes to glorify dear Fr. Anthony. In testimony of the truth, etc.
MONS. ANGELO CIOFFI
From Milano: “