[On this eve of the 88th anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt
Talbot, Terry Nelson has announced that he is creating a new icon of Matt at http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2013/06/matt-talbot-eve.html.
He has previously created the increasingly popular icon of Matt
pictured below.]
“Venerable Matt Talbot exemplified the heroic virtue
of temperance. He practiced the Christian life more or less as a solitary,
although he was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. The spiritual combat
Talbot engaged in was associated with alcoholism, which in his case demanded the
renunciation of a behavior, as well as an adjustment in lifestyle.
Talbot overcame his attachment
to the disorder through the practice of the virtues, prayer and fidelity to the
duties of his state in life, and mortification. He found support in the
sacraments, spiritual direction and spiritual reading. Although he 'took the
pledge' to abstain from alcohol, he did not have a support group such as AA to
aid in his recovery. I especially admire Talbot's fortitude and perseverance,
demonstrating that with God all things can be overcome... "In your strength I can crush an army;
with my God I can scale any wall."
Tomorrow, June 7 is the anniversary of his death.
Matt died in 1925.
I
mention Matt Talbot today because I just started a new icon of him yesterday.
It is smaller than the one shown above, the new figure is a bust, cut off just
below the hands. My intention is to redo the head and face somewhat. The image
shown here is in a private collection.”
