In this 2006 church bulletin article at
http://www.stjamesthomas.org/bulletins/2006/110506.pdf, Fr. A. Richard Carton discusses why a prayer for
those who struggle with addictions is often heard during the Prayer of the
Faithful at Mass.
PASTOR’S
CORNER:
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH
ADDICTIONS.
This prayer is often heard during the
Prayer of the Faithful at Mass. Some would say that every human being has an
addiction of some form or another. There are others who maintain that we often
exchange one set of addictions for another. Either way, it is when any addiction
becomes overwhelming and controls the life of a human, that a path which could
lead to destruction is set. For years I have been intrigued
with programs which offer support to addicts. In seminary, we studied the Twelve
Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous chiefly because of its spiritual nature. I
have often stated that the 12 step program is one for all who are serious about
living a full life of faith whether chemical dependency is an addiction in our
lives or not.
Recently, I went to a meeting of
Alcoholics Anonymous. I had never been before. A close friend was celebrating a
milestone in his life. Five years of sobriety. I wanted to be there to support
him and also to understand a little more about the dynamic of what a meeting is
about. Unfortunately, one can have many preconceived ideas of what individuals
at an AA meeting look like and how they act. What I found were men and women who
in their day to day environment would not stand out in
any way that would indicate that they were alcoholics. There was none of the
stuff that might sometimes be seen in movie versions of AA meetings. I was told
before the meeting that a celebration meeting was different than other meetings
in format. As I witnessed it, a celebration meeting affords the person
celebrating an opportunity to ask two friends who are alcoholics to share a
little about the one celebrating, but, more importantly, to share their own
stories of struggle and addiction. As I listened and watched, I noted the men
and women there often shaking their heads in agreement with the experiences of
the speakers. There was a common bond of pain and struggle with those who had
gathered. As I listened, I began to wonder
about the others in the room. What was their story? What had happened to bring
them to an addiction that they would battle for the rest of their lives?What is
it within the human person that causes addiction to become part of our pattern
of behavior? Many questions came to my mind as I
continued to listen and learn.
Growing up in Ireland, I remember in
religion class learning about a man who struggled with alcoholism. Matt Talbot
(1856 - 1925) was born in the poverty of Dublin's inner city. He began drinking
at twelve years of age and became a chronic alcoholic. Matt was an addict. After
sixteen years, he decided to 'kick the habit'. A priest helped him, giving him a
rehabilitation program, which incorporated the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics
Anonymous. That was fifty years before AA
was founded. After a horrendous struggle, he found sobriety through prayer and
self-sacrifice. He remained sober for forty years until his death. His life
story has been an inspiration for alcoholics and addicts throughout the world.
Matt's program of recovery was built around devotion to the Eucharist, love of
Mary, Mother of God, spiritual reading, self-discipline and manual work. But he
never forgot his struggle with his addiction. "Never look down on a man who
cannot give up the drink", he told his sister, "it is easier to get out of
hell!" He is now being considered for Sainthood and has been declared Venerable
by the Church.
I have no doubt that there are more
who participate in that struggle than we will ever know. That is why our prayer
is so important. An alcoholic once told me that when we pray for addicts during
Mass, she knows that she is not alone and can feel the power of our prayer.
Perhaps as we pray, we can ask the intercession of Matt Talbot for all who
suffer with addictions. It is possible that one day he may be declared a Saint
and Patron of those who suffer with addictions. I am most grateful for the
example of my friend in his desire for sobriety. As he told me after the
meeting, it is cooperating with God’s grace that makes the struggles bearable.
For all who suffer from addictions – we pray to the
Lord.