Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center
The Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center exists to compile writings about the life, times, conversion, and recovery from alcoholism of Matt Talbot (1856-1925) of Dublin, Ireland. Disclaimer: The placing of information on this site from external linked sources does not necessarily imply agreement with that information. This center is independent of any other center, group, organization, website, or Facebook page. Comments are welcome at: ven.matt.talbot.resource.center@gmail.com
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Everyone is called to holiness
From that day in 1884 when he first took the “pledge” not to drink, Matt Talbot strove to imitate Christ for the remaining forty-one years of his life. (JB)
The Pope’s 3 Simple Rules for Holiness: Mass and the Eucharist, prayer, and the Ten Commandments are key, as well as the example of the saints.
by CINDY WOODEN (CNS) 04/13/2011
The Pope’s 3 Simple Rules for Holiness: Mass and the Eucharist, prayer, and the Ten Commandments are key, as well as the example of the saints.
by CINDY WOODEN (CNS) 04/13/2011
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Everyone is called to holiness, which is simply striving to imitate Christ, particularly in loving God and loving others, Pope Benedict XVI said.
Ending a long series of general audience talks about saints and doctors of the Church, the Pope spoke about the meaning of holiness and how it is achieved.
Addressing an estimated 12,000 people in St. Peter’s Square April 13, Pope Benedict said there are three simple rules for living a holy life:
“Never let a Sunday go by without an encounter with the risen Christ in the Eucharist; this is not an added burden, it is light for the entire week.”
“Never begin or end a day without at least a brief contact with God” in prayer.
“And along the pathway of our lives, follow the road signs that God has given us in the Ten Commandments, read in the light of Christ; they are nothing other than explanations of what is love in specific situations.”
The Pope said he knows most people, aware of their limits and weaknesses, think it wouldn’t be possible to be a saint.
The doubts, he said, are one of the reasons the Church proposes “a host of saints — those who fully lived charity and knew how to love and follow Christ in their daily lives” — be remembered on specific days throughout the year. The saints come from every period of the Church’s history, every part of the world, every age group and every lifestyle, he said.
“I must say that, personally, for my faith, many saints — not all of them — are true stars in the firmament of history,” the Pope said. “But I also want to say that, for me, it is not just the great saints, who I know well, who show me the path to follow, but the simple saints — the good people who I have known in my life and who will never be canonized.”
The unnamed saints “are people who are, so to say, ‘normal,’ without visible heroism, but in their goodness each day, I see the truth of the faith, this goodness that has matured in the faith of the Church. For me, their goodness is the surest form of apologetics for the Church and a sign of where truth lies,” the Pope said.
“It is in the communion of the saints — canonized and not canonized — that the Church lives,” Pope Benedict said.
“We enjoy their presence, their company, and we should cultivate the firm hope of imitating their journey and of joining them one day in the same blessed life, eternal life,” he said.
Pope Benedict said the Holy Spirit wants to transform each and every Christian into “tiles in the great mosaic of holiness that God is creating in history.”
He said, “How great and beautiful and also simple is the Christian vocation seen in this light. All of us are called to holiness.”
Source: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-popes-3-simple-rules-for-holiness/
Ending a long series of general audience talks about saints and doctors of the Church, the Pope spoke about the meaning of holiness and how it is achieved.
Addressing an estimated 12,000 people in St. Peter’s Square April 13, Pope Benedict said there are three simple rules for living a holy life:
“Never let a Sunday go by without an encounter with the risen Christ in the Eucharist; this is not an added burden, it is light for the entire week.”
“Never begin or end a day without at least a brief contact with God” in prayer.
“And along the pathway of our lives, follow the road signs that God has given us in the Ten Commandments, read in the light of Christ; they are nothing other than explanations of what is love in specific situations.”
The Pope said he knows most people, aware of their limits and weaknesses, think it wouldn’t be possible to be a saint.
The doubts, he said, are one of the reasons the Church proposes “a host of saints — those who fully lived charity and knew how to love and follow Christ in their daily lives” — be remembered on specific days throughout the year. The saints come from every period of the Church’s history, every part of the world, every age group and every lifestyle, he said.
“I must say that, personally, for my faith, many saints — not all of them — are true stars in the firmament of history,” the Pope said. “But I also want to say that, for me, it is not just the great saints, who I know well, who show me the path to follow, but the simple saints — the good people who I have known in my life and who will never be canonized.”
The unnamed saints “are people who are, so to say, ‘normal,’ without visible heroism, but in their goodness each day, I see the truth of the faith, this goodness that has matured in the faith of the Church. For me, their goodness is the surest form of apologetics for the Church and a sign of where truth lies,” the Pope said.
“It is in the communion of the saints — canonized and not canonized — that the Church lives,” Pope Benedict said.
“We enjoy their presence, their company, and we should cultivate the firm hope of imitating their journey and of joining them one day in the same blessed life, eternal life,” he said.
Pope Benedict said the Holy Spirit wants to transform each and every Christian into “tiles in the great mosaic of holiness that God is creating in history.”
He said, “How great and beautiful and also simple is the Christian vocation seen in this light. All of us are called to holiness.”
Source: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-popes-3-simple-rules-for-holiness/
Sunday, April 10, 2011
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
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Lenten Life of Matt Talbot
Barbara McGuigan hosts an EWTN series titled, “The Good Fight.” The two-hour episode produced on 3/19/2011 is named, “Addiction,” and focuses on the Venerable Matt Talbot, whom she describes as the “patron of all those who suffer with the scourge of abuses, disorders, and sin.”
After presenting an overview of Matt’s life, she interviews her guest, Fr. Killian McCaffrey, who briefly describes his own journey into the priesthood and then shares his insight on Matt Talbot.
Source: If the “Listen Now” doesn’t work, click Program 3 at http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=7084&T1=
Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache |
Monday, April 4, 2011
Pilgrimage Mass at the Tomb of the Venerable Matt Talbot
Inter Parish Pilgrimage Mass at the Tomb of the Venerable Matt Talbot (“Friend of Addicts”)
in Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean Mc Dermott Street, Dublin 1 on Sunday the 10th of April 2011 from 3.00-5.00pm. Petitions (or notes on favours received) can be brought to the mass or sent to Fr. Brian Lawless, Parish Office, St Agatha’s North William Street, Dublin 1.
in Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean Mc Dermott Street, Dublin 1 on Sunday the 10th of April 2011 from 3.00-5.00pm. Petitions (or notes on favours received) can be brought to the mass or sent to Fr. Brian Lawless, Parish Office, St Agatha’s North William Street, Dublin 1.
You might also email Fr. Lawless at frbrian@stagathasparish.ie with your petitions or favours received.
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