Venerable Matt Talbot: A Link in the Chain of Hope

                         

Few of us have the opportunity to hear Fr. Brian Lawless, Vice-Postulator of the Cause for Canonization

of the Venerable Matt Talbot, speak about Matt. Now we do.

During the first half-hour of this informative hour-long program aired January 26, 2012 by HMWN Radio Maria at http://www.hmwn.net/audioarchive/search_results_id.php?title=20071623, Sharon DiCecco interviews Fr. Brian

about Matt’s life, his progress toward canonization, and his relevance for people today.

After a brief musical interlude,

Mrs. DiCecco interviews Michael and Noeleen Murphy, who frequently accompany Fr.

Brian in speaking about Matt Talbot. Michael speaks about his interest in Matt and his work with recovering addicts. Later,

Noeleen shares her very moving experience in coming to know Matt as well as writing and performing her song in its entirety,

In Your Presence Lord “Matt Talbot.” (More information about her song can be found at

http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2011/04/inspiration-for-song-in-your-presence.html)  Her song can be heard at 53 minutes in the tape at http://www.hmwn.net/audioarchive/search_results_id.php?title=20071623

 

Note: We appreciate such interviews being available free online at http://www.hmwn.net/

Matt Talbot: Inspiration for Addicts

In connection with a visit by Noeleen Murphy to “The Rosary Centre: The Rosary Apostolate in Ireland” where she shared her inspiration to write a song in dedication to Matt Talbot, the author of this two-page article provides a brief biography about Matt “who became the weight bearer and inspiration for those crippled not only by alcohol addiction but addictions of all kinds.”

To read this, click

.com/PDFs/2010/AprMay2011.pdf. Scroll down to pages 18-19.

Inspiration for the song, "In Your Presence Lord 'Matt Talbot'

We have noted earlier today that Noeleen Murphy has released a new CD in remembrance of Matt Talbot http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-your-presence-lord-matt-talbot.html

We greatly appreciate Noeleen kindly agreeing for us to post a letter she wrote to us about the circumstances surrounding her song:

“I do believe Matt Talbot touched your heart the way he touched mine. I knew very little about his life until my husband was given an image of the Venerable Matt Talbot. When the image was placed on the wall and it was blessed, from that day Matt Talbot touched my heart. The words of the song gave me to feel the feeling, the sadness of his life. He handed everything over to Jesus.

When I asked my husband to type the words of the song for me, he asked me for the name of the song. At that time I didn’t have the name of the song, and once again I asked Matt for his help. I looked up at the image and said, “this is not my life, it is yours.” Within a few minutes it came into my head the name of the song, “In Your Presence Lord ‘Matt Talbot.’” I was very excited just to get the name of the song and to have it finished. I later found out when Matt was asked, “What do you be doing in the church?” he would answer, “I was in the presence of the Lord.” So that was the first time it was confirmed for me.

I went to visit Matt Talbot’s tomb and could not stop crying; my husband was with me that day. A lady gave him two prayer cards, and when he looked at them, he said, “O my God! Look what is on the top of the card.” I could not look at it. I told him I would see it when we returned to our car. When I got into the car, my husband handed me the prayer card. On the top of the prayer card it said, “Asking Matt’s help in the presence of the Lord.” And that is what I did; my life has changed. We go and visit churches and prayer groups promoting the Cause of the Venerable Matt Talbot.”

IN YOUR PRESENCE LORD-'MATT TALBOT'

Noeleen Murphy has released a new CD in remembrance of Matt Talbot. Ordering information can be found at http://www.matttalbotcounselling.ie/cd.html.

With permission to quote her, Noeleen writes, "I got the inspiration to write this song from an image of Matt Talbot. Just looking at the image, I was touched by the sadness and heartbreak of addiction.

Since writing and recording this song, I have been privileged to be asked to sing in many different venues throughout Ireland promoting the Cause of Matt Talbot. The highlight of 2011 so far for me is being asked by the Irish Pioneer Total Abstinence Association to sing the recording at the Matt Talbot/PTAA Knock Shrine Pilgrimage on Sunday 17th July 2011."

 

Below are the first two verses of the song as they appear in a 4 page booklet that accompanies the CD"

IN YOUR PRESENCE LORD-'MATT TALBOT'

I carry my cross for you my Lord
As you walk gently with me today
In my addicted state my body aches
And I hand it right into your arms O Lord
Stay close to me today

As I place these chains in the palms of my hands
And I offer them into your arms O Lord
In my addicted state my body shakes
And I hand it into your arms O Lord
Stay close to me today

 

Update:  Noeleen can be heard singing the entire song at 53 minutes into the tape at http://www.hmwn.net/audioarchive/search_results_id.php?title=20071623