Venerable Matt Talbot - Patron of a Polish Foundation

Venerable Matt Talbot is one of three patrons of the "Helpers of the Queen of the Rosary" (Fundacja “Pomocnicy Królowej Różańca Świętego”) at http://pkrs.org.pl/en/o-fundacji/nasi-patroni/, which is available in multiple languages including English.

The Foundation's current initiatives include the “Queen of the Holy Rosary Quarterly” (“Królowa Różańca Świętego”) and a website “mainly intended for those seeking help after entanglement in various forms of occultism, spiritualism and other spiritual threats” at http://pkrs.org.pl/en/projekty-inicjatywy/nasze-inicjatywy/.

A planned initiative is a journal designed for people at risk of various addictions and dependences  and their families at http://pkrs.org.pl/en/projekty-inicjatywy/planowane-projekty/.

Your prayers and financial support of the Foundation are welcomed.

A Call for Canonisation of Venerable Matt Talbot

Cathal Barry

May 8, 2014

 

Cathal Barry, a columnist for The Irish Catholic, published the following article titled , “Lobby Pope for Matt Talbot Sainthood--Call,” at http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/lobby-pope-matt-talbot-sainthood-%E2%80%93-callon  on May 8, 2014.  It is based on an interview with Fr. Brian Lawless, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of Matt Talbot, who urges Irish Church leaders to lobby Pope Francis for this canonisation. 

 

Although not explicitly stated in this article,  “Friends of Venerable Matt Talbot” worldwide are also invited to urge their church leaders to do the same.

gleplus0  New

Irish Church leaders are being urged to lobby Pope Francis for the canonisation of the saintly Dubliner Matt Talbot.
The Dublin-based priest responsible for Matt Talbot’s cause for sainthood made an impassioned appeal to the hierarchy ahead of the 89th anniversary of the well-known Dubliner’s death next month.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Brain Lawless, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of Venerable Matt Talbot insisted the bishops “should be pushing for Matt Talbot to be canonised”.
“Matt was a poor working man from Dublin. He wasn’t a member of a religious order and he doesn’t have the big machinery behind him that the Franciscans or the Jesuits have to get their saints through. That’s why his cause is so important and needs support,” he pleaded.
“Part of his charm and endearment is that Matt is just like one of us. But that also goes against him to a certain extent. That’s why I’m batting for Matt. He’s one of the little guys,” he said.
The Informative Process for the Beatification of Matt Talbot (illustrated) was opened in 1931 by the then Archbishop of Dublin, Edward J Byrne. The Church subsequently recognised Talbot as ‘Servant of God’ and on October 3, 1975, he was declared ‘Venerable’ by Pope Paul VI.
Fr Lawless, who is responsible for eliciting a miracle that could lead to the beatification and eventual canonisation of Matt Talbot, claims a “physical miracle” is needed now for his cause to progress to the next stage.
“We need a miracle now that is not explainable by science, which is more or less instantaneous, and one that would verify that Matt enjoys the same devotion and regard in Heaven as he does here on Earth.”
“There is still every chance that Matt Talbot could be made a saint in our life time. It’s just a matter of building up interest and momentum,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/lobby-pope-matt-talbot-sainthood-%E2%80%93-call#sthash.efTQIcI9.dpuf

gleplus0  New

Irish Church leaders are being urged to lobby Pope Francis for the canonisation of the saintly Dubliner Matt Talbot.
The Dublin-based priest responsible for Matt Talbot’s cause for sainthood made an impassioned appeal to the hierarchy ahead of the 89th anniversary of the well-known Dubliner’s death next month.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Brain Lawless, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of Venerable Matt Talbot insisted the bishops “should be pushing for Matt Talbot to be canonised”.
“Matt was a poor working man from Dublin. He wasn’t a member of a religious order and he doesn’t have the big machinery behind him that the Franciscans or the Jesuits have to get their saints through. That’s why his cause is so important and needs support,” he pleaded.
“Part of his charm and endearment is that Matt is just like one of us. But that also goes against him to a certain extent. That’s why I’m batting for Matt. He’s one of the little guys,” he said.
The Informative Process for the Beatification of Matt Talbot (illustrated) was opened in 1931 by the then Archbishop of Dublin, Edward J Byrne. The Church subsequently recognised Talbot as ‘Servant of God’ and on October 3, 1975, he was declared ‘Venerable’ by Pope Paul VI.
Fr Lawless, who is responsible for eliciting a miracle that could lead to the beatification and eventual canonisation of Matt Talbot, claims a “physical miracle” is needed now for his cause to progress to the next stage.
“We need a miracle now that is not explainable by science, which is more or less instantaneous, and one that would verify that Matt enjoys the same devotion and regard in Heaven as he does here on Earth.”
“There is still every chance that Matt Talbot could be made a saint in our life time. It’s just a matter of building up interest and momentum,” he said.
- See more at: http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/lobby-pope-matt-talbot-sainthood-%E2%80%93-call#sthash.efTQIcI9.dpuf

Lobby Pope for Matt Talbot sainthood

“Irish Church leaders are being urged to lobby Pope Francis for the canonisation of the saintly Dubliner Matt Talbot.

The Dublin-based priest responsible for Matt Talbot’s cause for sainthood made an impassioned appeal to the hierarchy ahead of the 89th anniversary of the well-known Dubliner’s death next month.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Brain Lawless, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of Venerable Matt Talbot insisted the bishops “should be pushing for Matt Talbot to be canonised”.

“Matt was a poor working man from Dublin. He wasn’t a member of a religious order and he doesn’t have the big machinery behind him that the Franciscans or the Jesuits have to get their saints through. That’s why his cause is so important and needs support,” he pleaded.

“Part of his charm and endearment is that Matt is just like one of us. But that also goes against him to a certain extent. That’s why I’m batting for Matt. He’s one of the little guys,” he said.

The Informative Process for the Beatification of Matt Talbot (illustrated) was opened in 1931 by the then Archbishop of Dublin, Edward J Byrne. The Church subsequently recognised Talbot as ‘Servant of God’ and on October 3, 1975, he was declared ‘Venerable’ by Pope Paul VI.

Fr Lawless, who is responsible for eliciting a miracle that could lead to the beatification and eventual canonisation of Matt Talbot, claims a “physical miracle” is needed now for his cause to progress to the next stage.

“We need a miracle now that is not explainable by science, which is more or less instantaneous, and one that would verify that Matt enjoys the same devotion and regard in Heaven as he does here on Earth.”

“There is still every chance that Matt Talbot could be made a saint in our life time. It’s just a matter of building up interest and momentum,” he said.”

Note:  The same day Mr. Barry also published a very informative and timely article titled, “Matt Talbot - Urban ascetic,” at http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/lobby-pope-matt-talbot-sainthood-%E2%80%93-call. The section subtitled “The ultimate layman” contains information that relates to the content of the above article.

Venerable Matt Talbot's life, influence, and road to sainthood

In this very informative and timely article, Cathal Barry presents the life, influence, and road to sainthood of Venerable Matt Talbot. 

Following his introduction, reproduced below, Mr. Cathal divides his article into three sections:  “Matt story,” a biographical sketch of his life, “The ultimate layman,” based on an interview with Fr. Brian Lawless, Vice Postulator of the Cause for the Canonisation of Matt Talbot, and “Matt Talbot changed my life,” an interview with addiction counsellor, Michael Murphy.

Matt Talbot - Urban ascetic

by Cathal Barry, Columnist

The Irish Catholic

May 8, 2014

Source: http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/matt-talbot-urban-ascetic

“We live in an age of addictions more sophisticated than ever before. Addictions to substances such as alcohol and other drugs soft and hard, prescription and illegal, addictions to gambling, the internet, work, money and power. All these have the ability to destroy our lives and often end up eating away at our very souls as well.

Matt Talbot gradually came to this awareness and from the time of his conversion as a young man of 28, he spent the rest of his life living to a heroic extent the Christian virtues through prayer, spiritual reading, work and acts of charity.

His life is a witness to the fact that people can, by God's grace and their own self acceptance, say no to that which leads to addiction or addictive behaviours...”

Note: A companion article by the author can be read at http://www.irishcatholic.ie/article/lobby-pope-matt-talbot-sainthood-%E2%80%93-call

Terry Nelson's 2014 Image of Venerable Matt Talbot

Terry Nelson unveiled his new image of Venerable Matt Talbot today at http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-little-art-exhibition-for-our-lady-of.html.

      Ven. Matt Talbot by Terry Nelson, 2014

Terry’s narrative about this painting is available at http://upyourstreet.blogspot.com/?zx=ff8dc82b4705d20e, a portion of which is reproduced here:

”In this painting I depict Matt around the age he died, he is holding a rosary indicating his devotion to Our Lady and the means of his overcoming addiction.  I relied upon the sculpture of Matt in Dublin and the only known photo of him to capture the likeness I produced in my painting.  In the background is a facsimile or impression of Newcomen  Bridge crossing the Royal Canal, at the moment when he decided to stop drinking at the age of 28.  On the other side - as if completing the bridge - which symbolizes conversion, we see the door of a church, within Matt being embraced by Christ.  This is suggestive of the doctrine of St. Catherine of Siena who understood the cross - or rather Christ Crucified - as the bridge between men and God.”

His increasingly popular 2009 image of Matt Talbot is below:

Our previous posts about and by Terry can be found at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/search?q=terry+nelson

Remembering the Birth of Venerable Matt Talbot Today

One hundred and fifty eight years ago at 13 Aldborough Court, Dublin, Ireland, Elizabeth Talbot gave birth to her second of twelve children, who she and her husband, Charles, named Matthew.

Only God knew that we would remember this birth and his life today as Venerable Matt Talbot, patron “saint” of alcoholics and those seeking sobriety.

Matt is not yet an official Roman Catholic canonized saint since he lacks two known physical miracles credited to his intercession. While there are alcoholics (and other addicts) worldwide who consider their sobriety through Matt’s intercession a miracle, these are currently viewed by the Church as "moral miracles."
(For a discussion on types of miracles see http://www.amazon.com/Making-Saints-Catholic-Determines-Becomes/dp/0684815303 pages 212-213 and http://www.amazon.com/The-Miracle-Detective-Investigative-Investigates-ebook/dp/B008RZKOFQ, page 31.)

Prayer for the Canonisation of Matt Talbot

 

Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot you
have given us a wonderful example of
triumph over addiction, of devotion to
duty, and of lifelong reverence for the
Holy Sacrament. May his life of
prayer and penance give us courage
to take up our crosses and follow in the
footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.

Father, if it be your will that your
beloved servant should be glorified by
your Church, make known by your
heavenly favours the power he enjoys in
your sight. We ask this through the
same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.