Venerable Matt Talbot profiled for teens and young adults

The Dead Theologians Society is a “Catholic apostolate for high school age teens and college age young adults. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow.”

 

In the January-February 2014 Newsletter, their “Profile in Heroic Virtue” features Venerable Matt Talbot, which is available at

http://www.deadtheologianssociety.com/pictures/brochure/Jan-Feb%202014%20Newsletter.pdf, pages 4-6.

Serve only the Lord your God

 

Fr Seán Coyle, a priest in the Philippines and a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban, from Dublin, periodically reflects on aspects of the life of Venerable Matt Talbot in his Sunday Reflections. He does so again in “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him,” First Sunday of Lent Year A (07 March 2014) at http://bangortobobbio.blogspot.com/2014/03/worship-lord-your-god-and-serve-only.html.

Satisfying a Thirst

Related to the mass readings for this Third Sunday of Lent, what does your thinking and behavior suggest who or what you thirst for?

After 16 years of drinking, Matt Talbot replaced his thirst for alcohol with a thirst for God for the remaining 41 years of his life.

Echoing the Calix Society motto, Matt “substituted the cup that stupifies for the cup that sanctifies.”

 A homily for today that might be of interest: http://blog.adw.org/2014/03/is-the-lords-promise-that-never-thirst-again-real-yes-heres-how/

Prayer when Powerless over Addictions & Dysfunctions

by S. O. Brennan. 

http://christians-in-recovery.org/Tools_Prayer_CIRPrayer2

 

Dear Lord,
I am powerless over my addictions dysfunctions.
Grant me today, the ability to turn my troubles,
my will and my life over to your loving care.

I trust in you to completely restore my
brokenness into wholeness, insanity to saneness
willfulness into willingness and fear into courage.

Lighten my load and free me from all bondage
that I may walk through this day
in freedom and in peace.

Recovery Prayer Cards

Unique recovery prayer cards are now available (for a donation) through The Twelve Step Review, a publication of the Western Dominican Province (USA).

All eight cards can be viewed at http://www.12-step-review.org/newsltr/1_14TwelveStepNwsltr.pdf, pages 2-4

Matt Talbot Novena Masses

Matt Talbot Novena Masses at St. Agatha’s Parish, North William Street, Dublin 1, begin tonight, where Fr. Brian Lawless, Vice-Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot, is the priest. The following is from the parish’s website at http://www.stagathasparish.ie/

Every First Friday of the Month 7th March - 4th April - 2nd May - 6th June - 4th July / 2014 Matt Talbot Novena and Prayers for Healing Matt Talbot was born on 4th May 1856 in 3 Alldborough Court, off Portland Row. He was the 2nd oldest of twelve children. Before Long he established a pattern of work and heavy drinking and by the age of 16 he was a confirmed alcoholic. Fortunately for him after so-called friends abandoned him, he decided that he would give up drink and take the pledge. With the help of prayer he reformed hid life. Until his death in 1925 he lived a life that was radically different, marked by charity, gentleness and serenity. Matt is seen as a champion of workers and he played a significant role in his union. He experienced unemployment and poverty. World wide today Matt's name is synonymous with fighting addiction of all kinds.

A Lenten Challenge

Venerable Matt Talbot was a member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. Neknomination (or neck nomination), referred to in this article, is an online drinking game.

 
"Lent is almost upon us - Ash Wednesday falls on 5th March. This year the Pioneer Association is asking people to take a short term pledge for the Lenten season. They hope that by signing up to their Lenten challenge the general public will take time to reflect on the negative role that alcohol often plays in our society and help transform society's often over-indulgent attitude towards it.

The new phenomenon of Neknomination, which has already led to several deaths, has added a fresh hazard to the abuse of alcohol. The Pioneers are asking Irish people to consider taking a break from alcohol, and taking time to reflect on their relationship with it: and this not just to avoid abuse, but to claim the bonus of improved physical and mental health; and to offer the challenge up as a prayer for someone they know who has a problem with alcohol or other drugs.

Those who are ready to sign up to the Lenten challenge, can do so by visiting our website and completing the process online. http://www.pioneerassociation.ie/index.php/media-centre/10-news/427-lent2014”

Source: http://jesuitcommunicationcentre.newsweaver.com/Newsletter/1ha3b7f93eb?a=1&p=45131645&t=20449685

An additional link to consider is http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/?page_id=983
and for a brief illustration about Ash Wednesday & Lent in two minutes, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3L3c23MfC0