History

Childhood

Son of a Really Christian Family

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 First Communion

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 marked his life 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 grave 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.