GALLO, LUIGI. - Oblate missionary of the Virgin Mary and historian of the Burmese missions. B. at Cavignano (Turin) on 11 Nov. 1817, d. at Nice Maritime on 16 Apr. 1863. He professed among the Oblates of the Virgin Mary on 21 June 1836, and departed for Ava and Pegu (Burma) on 22 July 1843, labouring there for 3 years with zeal and success; he returned in 1846 with his health shattered.
G. occupies a not insignificant place in the historiography of the missions through his diligent work Storia del cristianesimo nell'Impero Birmano, preceded by information on the country (3 vols., Milan 1862). He first sets forth extensive information on the geography, mineralogy, botany, zoology, and ethnology of the country, and then soberly recounts the history of the evangelization of that region, first through the work of the Barnabites and, after their withdrawal, for approximately three decades, through that of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary: during the latter period of history the author himself was, for three years (1843-46), a witness and collaborator.
Having returned to Turin in 1847, he continued his ministry at the sanctuary of the Consolata until 1858. He was also a good musician, and some hymn of praise to the Madonna, still current in popular usage, is his work.