We are grateful to readers of this blog who share
their reflections about the perceived impact of Matt Talbot in their
lives. One such reader, Brian W., has given us permission to
post his reflection:
“In 1978, as a tourist to Dublin, I serendipitously visited
the shrine of the Venerable Matt Talbot. At the time, I was a non-practicing
Methodist. In spite of being the grandson of a Methodist minister, I had left
that denomination over the politicization of their services and lukewarmness of
their spirituality.
I had also developed a drinking problem—I slowly became aware
that I was spending every waking moment either getting drunk or recovering from
the previous occurrence. I had quit drinking unsuccessfully many times by that
point.
When I visited the shrine, I was unfamiliar with the Catholic
veneration of saints, but thoroughly intrigued with the story of Matt’s history
and conversion. I spontaneously gave as sincerely a prayer as I ever have for
Matt to intercede to me quit drinking.
This did not happen immediately. But on New Year’s Eve, 1980,
I become very ill from drinking. On this occasion, I finally did succeed in
quitting. The more time has passed since that inflection point in my life, the
clearer it seems that it was the intercession of Matt Talbot in response to that
prayer that made the difference.”
Note: The Venerable Matt Talbot Shrine is located at Our Lady of Lourdes
Church, Sean McDermott St, Dublin