Sunday, April 22, 2018

An Example of Matt Talbot’s Virtue


Having mentioned Matt Talbot in this keynote speech probably has expanded awareness about Matt and his life.

Keynote Speech by Sr Catherine Joseph Droste OP (Vice-Dean of Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas) at Diocesan Forum on Marriage in Helsinki on October 28, 2017 (https://www.studium.fi/uploads/4/2/7/2/42724907/sr_catherine_joseph_droste_op_keynote_the_beauty_of_marriage_helsinki_2017.pdf

“Virtue, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, is a good quality of mind, by which a person lives righteously, and of which he / she cannot make bad use...”

“...A concrete example of Thomas’s definition of virtue arises in the life of Matt Talbot, an Irish drunk of the early 20th century. Talbot spent his evenings and weekends getting drunk in local pubs. One Friday evening, he found himself in sorry situation, not only had he spent his week’s wages, but none of his friends were willing to buy him a pint. In a moment of grace, Matt realized just how low he had sunk. He didn’t get drunk that night but went home to bed. Talbot knew that one night of sobriety did not mean he possessed any virtue, and that the slightest temptation would send him headlong into a drunken stupor. But firmly determined to change his life, and to avoid temptation, he not only changed his normal path of walking to work (to avoid the pubs) but kept no money in his pockets. Eventually his perseverance paid off and he acquired the virtue – ‘a permanent disposition’ not only to avoid getting drunk, but to do it with facility, promptly, and with joy. That’s virtue.”

Friday, April 13, 2018

Matt Talbot Prayer Cards Sent to Pope Francis



A few months ago Archbishop Diarmuid Martin invited people to write Pope Francis to encourage him to visit the tomb of Venerable Matt Talbot while visiting Dublin in August of this year http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2017/06/world-meeting-of-families-21-26-august.html and http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2017/12/personally-invite-pope-francis-to-visit.html

Gregory (Grzegorz Jakielski) did so last week and enclosed prayer cards with three new images of Matt 
(https://www.facebook.com/VenerableMattTalbot/photos/a.305602539561773.67924.304690079653019/1577210962400918/?type=3&theater).

“Yesterday I sent a letter to the Holy Father Francis inviting him to visit Shrine of Venerable Matt Talbot during the August pilgrimage to Dublin. I also included several cards with the image of Venerable Matt.”

 Image may contain: 3 people
 


Sunday, April 8, 2018

Pray for Families Affected by Addictions


Let us pray for families suffering the scourge of addictions. (Mention your intentions here.)
Pray the Act of Consecration of the Family to The Divine Mercy (below).
Venerable Matt Talbot, pray for us.
 
 
Act of Consecration of the Family to The Divine Mercy 
O Jesus, you showed us
your infinite compassionate love
by exhausting the very last drop
of blood and water from your body.
From this day forward, with full confidence,
we entrust our families to Your Divine Mercy.
We abandon our past,
our present and our future.
We place into your wounds
all of our wounds
which are caused by lack of love,
understanding and trust.
Jesus, expel Satan
and all evil from our families,
free us from the consequence of sin
and protect us from further harm.
Heal our wounds.
May our families learn
to venerate your Divine Image
that they will never perish
but experience your loving mercy.
Amen.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

A Monthly Venerable Matt Talbot Novena Mass

A Venerable Matt Talbot Novena Mass will be celebrated on the first Friday of every month at 7:30 pm at St. Bernadette’s Church, Clogher Road, Dublin 12.

The parish priest is Very Reverend Brian Lawless, P.P. who also continues to serve as the Vice Postulator: Cause of the Venerable Matt Talbot.