The Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center exists to compile writings about the life, times, conversion, and recovery from alcoholism of Matt Talbot (1856-1925) of Dublin, Ireland. Disclaimer: The placing of information on this site from external linked sources does not necessarily imply agreement with that information. This center is independent of any other center, group, organization, website, or Facebook page. Comments are welcome at: ven.matt.talbot.resource.center@gmail.com
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Although books about Matt Talbot may have the same title, author, and content, the book covers may differ depending on the publisher, date, edition, or printing. For example, the above book cover is from Matt Talbot and his Times by Mary Purcell, published in by C. Goodliffe Neale Ltd, Dublin, Ireland in 1976. The American edition of this book, however, was published by Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, Illinois in 1977 and has a different cover as noted below.
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The opening lines of this hymn help to provide a focus for the feast we celebrate today. “For all your saints still striving; for all your saints at rest” this is what we are remembering today. The gigantic catalogue of Saints, Blesseds and Servants of God staggers any one individual’s memory. Furthermore, this list is just the beginning for the Church’s memory.
All Saints Day is about all those who choose to make the Gospel of Christ a living thing. When Saint Theresa of Avila remarked, “Some say that the saints are dead. I say that they are more alive than we are.” And Saint Ireneus’, “The glory of God is humanity fully alive.”, alert us to a choice that we can make every day.
This choice is not usually something that makes for headlines or consists of grand heroic acts. Most often , it tends to be known only to the person who makes it. To the casual observer, it looks ordinary and simply taken for granted. Yet, for the individual making it, there can be great heroism.
Take for instance the single mom who works an eight-hour day, perhaps as a sales clerk. As she stands behind her cash register, greeting each customer with respect, regardless of his or her mood at the time. Behind the scenes, she is concerned with the well-being of her young family, wondering if she’ll make it through another month of bills and childhood crises. The fact that she manages to do the “ordinary” is expected and not considered miraculous –the stuff of sainthood. Yet, in light of the Church’s memory of what makes for a saint, she is “on the list”!
What makes for a saint? Perhaps what Matt Talbot wrote in his journal would help broaden our appreciation for this feast day. Talbot spent his youth, from about the age of 12 until his mid twenties in an alcoholic stupor. One day, having nothing to drink and no friends around to buy him his liquor, he decided to “make the pledge” to remain sober for three months. One day at a time, he not only stayed sober, but began living “fully alive”. Sustained by daily prayer and the sacraments, his ordinary life was a series of daily choices, marked by his reliance upon God’s grace. His note to himself read: “Three things I cannot escape: the eye of God, the voice of conscience, the stroke of death.” Here we read the foundation for living in the moment; in touch with life as it is. Further on he writes down the “How” he does it. “In company I guard my tongue. In my family I guard my temper. When alone, I guard my thoughts.” Here’s the stuff of saints!
Happy feast! It’s YOUR day!
Note: This article refers to Matt keeping a "journal;" he actually wrote comments in his books and on scrapes of paper.
A neighboring priest, rather well known in an adjoining diocese, recently made me aware of Venerable Matt Talbot. Talbot was born the second of twelve children of Charles and Elizabeth Talbot in Dublin, Ireland on May 2, 1856. His father was a drinker, and Matt began drinking at age 12 and quickly became an alcoholic. In 1884, in dire straits, he went to Holy Cross College and pledged to not drink for three months. After the three months, he resolved to not drink for six months, and then later for life. He died in 1925 of a heart attack on the way to Mass.
For the next forty years he remained sober. He attended daily Mass, repaid all his debts and was very keen in his sense of justice to others. He gave his time and energy to others. He fasted rigorously, rose each day at 5 AM to attend Mass and spent hours each morning on his knees in prayer.
It is said that Matt Talbot is the “saint in overalls.” He would kneel outside the doors of the church and once inside, would prostrate himself before the Eucharist before entering the pew. Every Sunday he would spend seven hours in church without moving, kneeling the whole time. He did this every Sunday for forty years.
There is a prayer that one can say for a friend or family member who is afflicted by alcoholism or another form of chemical dependency. Make a novena out of it, i.e., say it for nine days.
God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who came to Him.
Give Your strength to ____, Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction.
Enfold him/her in Your love and restore him/her to the freedom of God’s children.
Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom.
Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, and strengthen them in the work of recovery.
To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you Venerable Matt Talbot!
Source: http://bob.yerhot.org/?s=matt+talbot
Note: We might never assume that others know of Venerable Matt Talbot, such as Deacon Bob until recently. Therefore, we might always be prepared to provide information about Matt Talbot to others. (JB)
Suffering has many human faces; young, old, rich, poor, town, country, tall small, married, single, separated; it does not discriminate. A parent grieving the loss of their child, a young person rejected because they are “different”, a spouse separated due to compulsive drinking or some other addiction, a family with a drug addict, a person cut in their prime due to illness or disability. We all know the faces; we see them every day. Perhaps we see one when we look into the mirror.
Often it is hidden but the telltale signs of strain are there. Tragically some take their own lives; others take pills, drugs or alcohol, try to escape but only adding to their portion of suffering humanity. It is vain to try and explain their situation by neat spiritual formulae. Suffering is too commonplace and pain too real.
Suffering may be mysterious, widespread and at times overpowering but no more so than the reality of the grace and courage of sufferers. The secular world, that we are all part of, speaks of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of tragedy, but would this be possible if the human spirit were not part of God’s spirit?
Matt Talbot, whose annual Novena begins in SS John & Paul Church on Tuesday October 5th at 7pm is an example of a fellow Irish man who in his own life knew suffering as a result of his addictive behaviour, but he also knew the other side of the coin when he experience God’s love at work in his life. Matt Talbot is just one example of many who through their plight caused in part by circumstances, and in part by a personal vulnerability, still shine through and stay faithful to what they cherished and loved.
Despite all the reasons in the world for caving into deaths inevitability, Matt Talbot stayed focused on life’s hope and by so doing, shows us the truth of the cross’s triumph over suffering and death. Suffering from addictions, or indeed sharing in the life of addictions, has many human faces. It often defies explanation, leaving us stuck for worlds and at times helpless. However there is help available, be it medical or professional. There is also spiritual help available.
At this time of year our annual Novena in honour of Matt Talbot takes place in both Kilrush and Shannon. It’s the time of year when people gather for one hour each Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm to pray for all suffering or sharing in the life of addictions. This is the 18th year of the Novena and attracts hundreds of people at both venues for each of the 9 nights.
This year’s Novena begins on Tuesday October 5th and continues each Tuesday during October and November. This year’s preachers include:
| October 5th | Bro. Martin Browne OSB Headmaster Glenstal Abbey |
| October 12th | Rev.Pat Conroy PP Ballinakill Co. Galway. |
| October 19th | Rev. Tom Whelan CC Nenagh Co. Tipperary. |
| October 26th | Rev. Gearoid O’ Griofa CC, Gort,, Co. Galway. |
| November 2nd | Rev. Frank O’Connor, Pastoral Centre, Limerick |
| November 9th | Rev. Ulic Troy OFM, Guardian, Franciscan Friary, Merchants Quay, Dublin |
| November 16th | Rev.Kevin O’Boyle SSC, Quilty, Co. Clare |
| November 23rd | Ms. Ellen O’Neill, Bushy Park Treatment Centre, Ennis |
| November 30th | Rev. Pat Larkin PP, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Co. Clare |
Petitions can be left at the shrine in SS John & Paul Church. This year for the first time ever people can send petitions to the novena via the internet. The Shannon parish website has a section dedicated to the Matt Talbot Novena in an attempt to reach out to as many people as possible in their struggle with addictions or with people whose lives are caught up in addictions. The Matt Talbot Novena is offered each year to give encouragement and spiritual support to people in times of suffering and stress. A warm welcome awaits all who come.
"St. Paul exhorted the young Church to pray always. And over the course of centuries, the Church introduced the Rosary, a simple yet profound prayer for praising God and meditating on the holy mysteries of Christ and His Blessed Mother. Now there is a way to pray the Rosary "around the clock," whereby a decade, with its own special theme, may be prayed for each of the twenty-four hours of the day.
Q: In the process of canonizing someone, what is the difference between Blessed and Venerable? I am very fond of Venerable Matt Talbot (1856-1925), who achieved sobriety after years of battling alcoholism. Do you have any information about the status of his cause?
A: The progression of titles is Servant of God (cause has been completed on the diocesan level and accepted in Rome), Venerable (a person's life and writings have been investigated and found to reflect heroic virtue), Blessed (can be venerated liturgically in certain places or by certain groups of people) and Saint (can be venerated liturgically throughout the world).
A person moves from Venerable to Blessed in one of two ways: he or she is judged to have died because of "hatred for the faith" or he or she is judged to have been involved in the miraculous cure of an individual. A second miracle is needed to be declared a saint.
In our world of instant communication, the local-versus-worldwide distinction regarding veneration has become harder to maintain. Blessed Padre Pio (1887-1968) was venerated far beyond Italy and the Capuchin family before his canonization in 2002. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) inspires some people much more than many canonized saints. Both were widely admired before they were beatified.
Matt Talbot was declared Venerable in 1975. A miracle is needed before he can be beatified. A Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center is available on the Internet.
Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Aug2010/Wiseman.asp#top
| Source: http://www.dublindiocese.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1945&Itemid=44 | ||
