Gabriel Mary Allegra was an Italian Franciscan friar and biblical scholar born in 1907. After joining the order and being ordained a priest, he dedicated most of his life to missionary work in China. He is most renowned for his monumental achievement in completing the first full translation of the Bible into Chinese, a task that occupied four decades of his life. Beyond his translation work, he was a respected philosopher and sociologist who served the poor and sick during his time in Asia.
Life and mission
Born in San Giovanni la Punta, Allegra entered the Franciscan seminary in Acireale before studying in Rome. He traveled to China in 1931 to begin his missionary service. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he faced significant challenges, including losing much of his translated text, yet he continued his work in Beijing and later in Hong Kong. He was known for his intense dedication to his studies and his tireless service to lepers in Macau.
Biblical work
Allegra led a team of Chinese friars to produce the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. This collaboration resulted in the first complete Chinese Bible, published in volumes between 1948 and 1968. His translation remains a definitive version for many Catholics. He also contributed to the field of philosophy, specifically regarding the works of Duns Scotus, and published several books on theology and the Virgin Mary.
Veneration
He died in Hong Kong in 1976. Following his death, his cause for beatification was initiated in 1984. He was officially declared blessed by the Catholic Church in 2012. His feast day is observed on January 26, and his relics are held in the Church of San Biagio in Acireale, Italy.