Saturday, October 28, 2017

Matt Talbot Novena 2017

For the past 25 years, the people of God in Shannon and Kilrush have gathered together on Monday and Tuesday nights during the months of October and November to pray for and support all called to share life with addiction, either personally, or in family, or with a colleague or neighbour. 

The Gospel message is very much a story of God’s generosity. That same generosity is available today to you and yours as it was to Matt Talbot over one hundred years ago. St. Paul tells us:“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

This year’s Novena began in both venues; Kilrush on Monday evenings and SS. John & Paul Church on Tuesdays and will continue for the months of October and November.

Petitions can be left at the shrine in both churches or, in an attempt to reach out to as many people as possible who are dealing with addiction, sent anonymously via the petition form on the Shannon parish website at http://www.shannonparish.ie/2017/10/matt-talbot-novena-week-5/

A warm welcome waits all who come. The Novena can be viewed live each week on Tuesdays at 7pm on http://www.shannonparish.ie/our-parish/webcam/

More details, including scheduled preachers, are available at http://www.shannonparish.ie/2017/10/matt-talbot-novena-2017/.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

The Matt Talbot Way to Sobriety with Podcasts

https://www.yourprayerlife.com/uploads/7/2/6/5/72656183/background-images/985638262.jpg


Max Michili notified us on 10th October 2017 about a page he created on his website (www.yourprayerlife.com/) about Matt Talbot. 
"My mission with the site is to teach people to pray always."

Max stated he had previously no idea who Matt Talbot was until a friend mentioned that his devotion to Matt helped him overcome alcoholism. This friend was apparently very excited to share how the Lord has used the rosary and Jesus Prayer podcasts on Max’s site in conjunction with Matt Talbot's Way to become sober. “He suggested I make a concerted effort to integrate these devotions on my site, and I think it is a great idea.”
  
Therefore, what Max has posted thus far can be viewed at http://www.yourprayerlife.com/matttalbot.html.





Sunday, October 15, 2017

Sobriety With Faith

Venerable Matthew Talbot Won Sobriety With Faith
http://www.bigccatholics.com/2017/06/venerable-matthew-talbot-won-sobriety.html

"For anyone who has ever struggled with alcoholism, it should come as no surprise that Matthew Talbot, who sank to the depths of heavy drinking and soul crushing despair, also rose, through his struggle for sobriety, to the heights that the Church calls “venerable.” His story is an inspiration, not only to recovering alcoholics, but to anyone struggling with a seemingly overwhelming obsession.

Matt Talbot was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1856, the second of twelve children of Charles and Elizabeth Talbot. He began drinking when he was only 12 years old. after becoming a messenger for liquor merchants. In fact, with the exception of his oldest brother, all the Talbot men, father and sons, drank to excess often. 

For the next 15 years, Talbot continued to drink heavily. It wasn’t until he was 28 that he finally "hit bottom" and promised his mother he would "take the pledge." Her reply was prescient: "May God give you strength to keep it." Matt went to confession and attended daily Mass. He prayed as intensely as he used to drink.

From that time forward, Talbot was a changed man. He began to pray and attend Mass with the same zeal he had formerly devoted to drinking. In 1891, at the age of 35, he joined the Third Order of St. Francis. Once known for his drunken rages, he instead became known for piety, humility, and generosity. His drinking had compromised his health and he suffered from kidney and heart ailments.

On June 7, 1925, Matthew Talbot collapsed and died as he was walking to Mass on Trinity Sunday. Matthew Talbot was declared venerable by Pope Paul VI in 1973. His feast day is June 18th. 

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 bravely follow Our Lord, Jesus Christ."

Saturday, October 7, 2017

A Venerable Matt Talbot Relic in Poland

Grzegorz Jakielski, a good friend and major promoter of Matt Talbot at https://www.facebook.com/VenerableMattTalbot/, has posted the following photo today of Father Zbigniew Kaniecki with a Matt Talbot`s relic - piece of coffin in which his body rested for exhumation in 1952.