Matt Talbot not only prayed constantly to be sober and do the will of God but also prayed for others who had a "drink" problem.
He also worked the twelfth step of AA (well before AA was founded) by trying to help others, including his brothers and co-workers, to overcome their addiction to alcohol.
A supporter of our resource center, Sober Catholic at http://sobercatholic.blogspot.com/, has begun a Novena to the Holy Spirit for addictions and recovery leading up to Pentecost. The Introduction and Day 1 are posted below. Subsequent days of posting this novena can be found at his link.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Novena to the Holy Spirit for Addictions and Recovery
On May 11, the Church celebrates Pentecost, the time the Church was officially 'born' when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Mary. It is also the birth of the Catholic devotion known as a "Novena", or nine days of prayer. When Jesus ascended into Heaven He promised them a new Advocate would lead and guide them. This Advocate is the Third Person of the Trinity, or the Holy Spirit. During the time after Jesus' Ascension, the Apostles and Mary spent 9 days in prayer.
The Novena begins today, and will continue once a day ending a week from tomorrow.
What I will do is today write a general prayer for the Novena, and then each day come up with a prayer for each of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord). Since that would only give me 8, I decided to add a final request for the gift of sobriety. Although not one of the gifts, it would make a fitting conclusion for this Novena.
Friday, May 2, 3008
Day 1 of Novena to the Holy Spirit for Addictions and Recovery
Beginning Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and rekindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the Earth.
Ask the Holy Spirit for healing during this Novena. Regardless of how long you have been sober, most of us are all still one or more drinks away from returning to our previous status as practicing alcoholics. Even if you are still in the death grip of alcohol, there is still time. When there is still life, there is still hope. God allows u-turns!
Why might there still be the threat of drinking? Perhaps we still are at odds with how to handle sobriety. Reality is still difficult to cope with on its terms. All of us, sober or not, need the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide us on our way. He is the real "Higher Power," the only One through whom God the Father guides and protects His own.
We have nine days of prayer and meditation before Pentecost Sunday. Spend the time wisely. Daily petition the Holy Spirit to help you. Reciting the prayer beginning each day's novena is good, as well as adding your own humble requests.