This I Believe

Philip
October 21, 2005

http://thisibelieve.org/essay/7382/

Alcohol has always had a hold on me. Though I gave it up years ago, it still has a grip of sorts on me.

After many years of loving it, abusing it, and then trying to control it, I finally admitted that I couldn't go on drinking; I gave it up completely. Though I haven’t had a drink in years, my life still seems to revolve around it. More important, I believe my experience may help many others who want to quit.

No. I don’t go to A.A. meetings. I tried A.A. several times and was extremely impressed by many of the gripping stories and how these alcoholics were able to turn their lives around. A.A. insists that alcoholics are powerless about their drinking. Just go to meetings, follow the 12 Steps and you’ll be able to quit. But that way was not for me. If I was going to quit, I had to be in charge. A.A. says that alcoholics must rely on a Higher Power — presumably God—to keep them sober. But that was not good enough for me; I had to be in charge. I wanted power, control over my life. Substituting one dependency for another wouldn’t do. I was tired of being powerless over alcohol.

After these false starts with A.A., I remembered the story of Matt Talbot that I had heard years earlier. Matt Talbot was a poor Irishman, a Catholic, who as a teenager had turned to drink. After years of drinking, with the grace of God he was able to quit. He became a sort of patron saint of alcoholics after his death in 1925. In fact, he is up for canonization in the Catholic Church. But I had conveniently forgotten all this during my drinking days.

So I developed a plan, taking the experience of Matt Talbot as my guide. I, too, was a Catholic, and had slowly come to realize I would be able to quit only by having a greater love for something else — and that something else could only be God. Unlike A. A., I wouldn’t depend on God to keep me sober. Rather, I turned the tables; I would give up alcohol for love of God — though I believe that the power to do this, to do anything, comes from God. It sounds a bit pious for me to say that I don’t drink for love of God, but I do it in a totally hidden way, with no outward display. From the very start, I was able to quit completely, with no relapses. I can honestly say that it’s not been one day at a time for me. I’ve had no daily battles to fight — should I drink or should I not? — though every day I do make a gift to God of my sobriety. Yes, to this extent alcohol still has a hold on me.

When I finally quit I was overjoyed. And completely surprised at how easy it was. An all without going to meetings. I was amazed. I couldn’t contain myself, so I wrote a book about it. The do-it-yourself method, which I call the Matt Talbot way to sobriety, is much more complicated than what I have described here.

This I believe: Much good can come of my battle with alcohol other than my own sobriety. Many of the alcoholics who have failed to quit the A.A. way or simply don’t want to go to its meetings or any other meetings, and who are Christian, may also be able to quit the Matt Talbot way.


[Note:  Readers of this essay by Philip might be interested in exploring this website (http://thisibelieve.org/about/) not only for articles on addiction but many other
topics. The book he is referring to is, To Slake a Thirst: The Matt Talbot Way to Sobriety (2000).]

Matt Talbot as an example of commitment

The book description of the newly published 74 page book, Freedom Fighters, by Amanda Maria Riley states, “Freedom from addiction or habits that enslave us is not a moment of accomplishment but a battle fought every day. From this perspective, Freedom Fighters enlists readers in boot camp. A series of "training exercises" with Bible quotes and Christian reflections strengthens the reader providing a new perspective, a greater awareness of the patterns leading to addiction, a deeper understanding of self-discipline, and Christ as a model for strength.”

 

The third training exercise on commitment centers on Matt Talbot, page 8, which is included in the book preview at http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Fighters-Amanda-Maria-Riley/dp/1481275437#reader_1481275437.

A Retablo of Venerable Matt Talbot

This retablo of Venerable Matt Talbot was created by Patricia Hostetter-Lopex of Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Retablos, referred to as “laminas” in Latin America, are small oil paintings on tin, zinc, wood or copper. The literal translation for “retablo” is “behind the altar.”)

Source:http://www.hlbiznartz.com/hispanicfolkart.html

Remembering Venerable Matt Talbot

Whereas a feast day is only officially declared by the Church when a holy person is canonized, multiple websites list holy persons who are not yet canonized as “Saint of the Day” but with different calendar dates. Such is the case with Venerable Matt Talbot. 

We have previously noted various feast day dates or what we call Remembrance Day for Venerable Matt Talbot.  Most sites lists either June 18 or June 19. One very popular “Saint of the Day” website, however, lists Matt Talbot for June 18 at one of their links
(http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/default.aspx) and June 19 at another (http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1418,although  the recorded message at both links refer to only the June 18th date. (Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, posted “Year of Faith-The Saints-Ven. Matt Talbot” on June 19 at http://homiliesarchbishopcharlesbrown.blogspot.com/2013/06/year-of-faith-saints-ven-matt-talbot.html)
 

A third date that seems to be on the increase is June 7, the date of Matt Talbot’s death, such as at http://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/matt-talbot-the-workers-saint/, http://www.loyolapress.com/saints-stories-for-kids.htm?cId=403542, http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2011/06/naomh-lae-saint-of-day_07.html, and http://www.gloria.tv/?media=163920). This may be the date that will be selected by the Church upon his canonization. Of course, each of us may choose to remember Matt each and every day.

"Living proof of Christianity"

 

 In his homily for Divine Mercy Sunday 7th April 2013 at Knock Shrine, Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, refers to both living and deceased Christians, including Matt Talbot, as proof of Christianity:

“...Jesus said to Thomas: “You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Jn 20:29).  Thomas wanted proof.

What is the proof of Christianity for those who cannot see Jesus the way Thomas saw him?  Individual Christians.  We are the proof of Christianity.  Christians who live their Catholic faith in a radiant and wholehearted way; Christians like Matt Talbot, Edel Quinn and Sister Faustina Kowlaska.  They are the proof of Christianity.  They are the ones who help people who have not seen Jesus the way that Thomas did, to believe in him, to love him and to serve him.  Let us entrust ourselves and all our petitions today to Mary, the woman of faith and love, the Mother of God, Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland.”


Source: http://homiliesarchbishopcharlesbrown.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-homily-of-archbishop-charles-brown.html

Archbishop Brown also posted the following about Matt Talbot at http://homiliesarchbishopcharlesbrown.blogspot.com/2013/06/year-of-faith-saints-ven-matt-talbot.html

Reflection on Venerable Matt Talbot's Death and Legacy

Each of us will have a different way of reflecting on Matt Talbot’s death and legacy today, the 88th anniversary of his death.

One approach is to read http://www.matttalbot.ie/ultimate-victory.htm and the following two Dublin Diocesan Matt Talbot Website pages and/or play the "5. Death & Legacy" video at  http://www.matttalbot.ie/videos.htm and then record your reflection in a “Matt Talbot Journal.”

 

We have pasted the third page of the recommended reading below:

Matt sets before us a radical example which demonstrates that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. 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 and that in the meantime our communities must never lose hope and must continue to care for them.

Maybe it is because of this that so many have come to love and admire Matt Talbot. Matt's friend Paddy Laird always found it extraordinary that there were only seven people at Matt's funeral, but upon making public his life story hundreds of thousands have come to see him as a hero and a beacon of hope.

People need heroes, not in the sense of comic book or movie superheroes with superhuman powers, not pop stars or celebrities all art and pizzazz but with little or no moral substance. No what we need are ordinary people who against extraordinary odds do the right thing, like saying no to addiction or compulsion. Matt Talbot understood this and he would say to others, "If I can do it so can you with the grace of God".

Matt example has inspired many institutions, movements and individuals around the world giving hope of recovery to those who are willing to accept their weakness and need. Such people stand as beacons in our world to the truth that we can overcome addiction rise above our weakness and achieve great things even sainthood.

Jesus said, "Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest shoulder my yoke and learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls" Matt 11:28-30.

Matt Talbot's life as a labourer who was overburdened by addiction and guilt gradually grew in awareness through the gift of grace and the Holy Spirit that a life of meekness and humility of heart will lead to rest for our souls, and towards a better world where all self destructive drive will come to an end, where people will live in harmony of body, mind and spirit, in harmony too with each other, with creation and with God.

By following the example of Matt Talbot you tell the world that there is more to life than "sex, and drugs and rock n roll," that there is hope for every broken heart and that by God's love his kingdom comes into our hearts, our homes and our world.

At this time when so many of our communities are affected by the scourge of alcohol and substance misuse, God has chosen Matt to be set before us as a model of temperance and a source of strength and support to all who suffer from addiction or additive behaviors.

Matt Talbot ascetic and urban spiritual mystic, who overcame addiction by the Grace of God, his higher power, whose faith was nourished by his extraordinary love of the Eucharist and his sublime devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Christ told his followers, "You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," Matt 5:48. When Matt found sobriety through prayer, his desire for drink was replaced by a desire for Christian perfection.

New Matt Talbot Icon by Terry Nelson Forthcoming

[On this eve of the 88th anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt Talbot, Terry Nelson has announced that he is creating a new icon of Matt at  http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2013/06/matt-talbot-eve.html.  He has previously created the increasingly popular icon of Matt pictured below.]

“Venerable Matt Talbot exemplified the heroic virtue of temperance. He practiced the Christian life more or less as a solitary, although he was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. The spiritual combat Talbot engaged in was associated with alcoholism, which in his case demanded the renunciation of a behavior, as well as an adjustment in lifestyle. 

Talbot overcame his attachment to the disorder through the practice of the virtues, prayer and fidelity to the duties of his state in life, and mortification.  He found support in the sacraments, spiritual direction and spiritual reading.  Although he 'took the pledge' to abstain from alcohol, he did not have a support group such as AA to aid in his recovery.  I especially admire Talbot's fortitude and perseverance, demonstrating that with God all things can be overcome... "In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall." 

Tomorrow, June 7 is the anniversary of his death.  Matt died in 1925.

I mention Matt Talbot today because I just started a new icon of him yesterday.  It is smaller than the one shown above, the new figure is a bust, cut off just below the hands.  My intention is to redo the head and face somewhat.  The image shown here is in a private collection.”

                             

                                   

2013 Matt Talbot Committee Members

The 2013 Dublin Diocesan Matt Talbot Committee consists of:

Chairman: Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland, and Parish Priest of Saint Mary's Pro-Cathedral.

Executive Chairman: V. Rev. Brian Lawless, S.T.L. is the Vice-Postulator of the Cause for the beatification of the Venerable Matt Talbot and Parish Priest of St. Agatha Parish, Dublin.

46 North William Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 8554078

Email: frbrian@stagathasparish.ie
Secretary: Breege Morris
Email: info@matttalbot.ie               
Website: www.matttalbot.ie
Tel: 01 8554078.

Members: Mr. Patrick Behan, Brother Christopher Carroll,
Mr. Anthony Malone, Paula Murray, Vera Brady,
Sr. Briget O’Connor, D.C., Mr. Des Kelly, Mr Michael Murphy,
Mr. Shay O'Melia, Very Rev. Tim Wrenn & Mr. Michael Wall.

Source:  http://www.dublindiocese.ie/content/matt-talbot-committee

1936 article about Matt Talbot

In searching for information about Venerable Matt Talbot (1856-1925), one Google search link is titled, Matt Talbot - An Irish Saint - Ireland For Real. Clicking this link leads to the actual website page with the different titles, “Matt Talbot, The Unknown Man” and “Matt Talbot – written in 1936” above the article itself.  The website’s “Popular Pages,” however, lists the still different title of, "Matt Talbot - A Living Saint: One of Dublin's Most Famous” at http://www.ireland-for-real.com/popular-pages.html.

The original publication source is not stated, but the author may be Dennis Barry, whose name  appears at the end of the article. Please note that the article consists of numerous grammatical and spelling errors and some of its content is duplicated.

Matt Talbot's Story Included in Small Group Faith Sharing Resource

Christopher Ruff has authored a Discipleship Series of compact small-group resources “for busy people with busy lives but open hearts,” which has been used and well received in multiple US and Canadian dioceses and parishes.

One of these is The Greatest of These is Love (2008) which “features 6 engaging sessions, each reflecting on passages from the writings of St. Paul on love and illustrating the themes through brief stories of men and women touched by grace: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Damien of Molokai, St. Maria Goretti, Blessed Bartolo Longo, Irishman Matt Talbot and Immaculee Ilibagiza. It also includes prayer and discussion questions integral to growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ.” (This paperback has declarations of "Nihil Obstat" and "Imprimatur.") 

Information about the author is available at http://www.christopherruff.com/p/about.html 

and a 61 page sample of the contents (but without Matt Talbot’s story) can be viewed at

The Greatest of These is Love - Diocese of La Crosse or http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/103865109/Sample%20-%20The%20Greatest%20of%20These%20is%20Love.pdf

“I am an Alcoholic, Lord”

This is the title of one chapter from the book,  It's me again, Lord: Heart-to-heart chats between God and myself,” by the late popular Irish author and speaker, Fr. Jack McArdle. It was originally published in 1998 by Columba Press and can be read (and prayed) by anyone with an interest in alcoholism and other addictions at http://www.holyspiritinteractive.org/library/476, May, 2013.  We sincerely appreciate the content being available online. Other chapters that may be of interested are also listed. 

Before reading this chapter, however, it is worthwhile to read the introductory chapter regarding prayer and the book’s format at  http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/jackmcardle/itsmeagainlord/introduction.asp.

Monthly Calendar of Scheduled Matt Talbot Committee Events

Monthly Matt Talbot Committee's scheduled events over the coming months in Ireland and elsewhere are available at http://www.matttalbot.ie/events.htm.

 

For more information about these events or if you would like to enquire about booking the Matt Talbot Committee for an event, please contact http://www.matttalbot.ie/contact.htm.

Venerable Matt Talbot: Patron of Struggling and Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics

[The source of this article by Terry Nelson can be found at https://franciscanaction.org/earthcorps/resources/venerable-matt-talbot, dated 2013-05-14.  We have posted previous articles as well as his increasingly popular icon of Matt Talbot at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/search?q=terry+nelson. Terry’s blog can be found at http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/

"Matthew Talbot (1856 - 1925) lived at an incredibly difficult time. He and his 13 siblings were born into poverty in Dublin shortly after the Irish Potato Famine. One million people died from this largely human-made disaster that saw, even while starvation was rampant, the British government's siphoning off of profit from Irish crops and livestock. Another million people emigrated out of the country, and alcoholism was rampant among those who stayed behind.

Matt's father was one man who succumbed to alcoholism and spend much of the family's income on the cheap whiskey that was widely available. Matt and his siblings spent little time in school and worked odd jobs to bring in extra money. Matt's first job, at age 12, was to deliver Guinness stout to pubs. He began drinking the dregs of the returned bottles and, at the age of 13, he too was an alcoholic. Even then he was known as a very hard worker, but as an adult he spent all his wages on alcohol. His friends later testified: “[Matt] only wanted one thing—the drink; he wouldn't go with us to a dance or a party or a school function. But for the drink he'd do anything.”

Already in his 20's Matt incurred large debts and resorted to thievery, even stealing the violin from a blind street entertainer and selling it to pay for rounds of drinks at the bar. But, at the age of 28, he realized his life had become desperate and small and his relationships extremely shallow. He resolved to take 'the pledge' for sobriety organized by Capuchin Franciscans and others in the Catholic Church began to attend Mass daily. More changes were happening inside him and, even though his hard labor as a dockworker paid little, he began quietly giving money to those around him to pay for shoes for their children or overdue rent.

Matt joined the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi (now called the “Secular Franciscan Order”) in 1890. His spiritual life centered him in a joyful way of being, earning him the reputation as a "happy little man . . . who smiled at everything except a dirty joke.” He filled his life with prayer, fasting, and service. He gave away most of his wages every week to the poor in Ireland and to international Catholic missions. His commitment to the lay Franciscans was incredible—the attendance records show that in 35 years he only missed a couple of the monthly meetings.

Matt often read the Bible and the lives of saints, and he also began reading papal encyclicals on social justice and books on the labor movement. His faith and his concern for the poor led him to action, and in 1900 he joined a strike from the Dublin Port & Docks Board to demand a modest raise of sixpence to their daily pay of four and sixpence. When management refused, he was one of four workers who held out from returning to work while the rest slowly gave in to the financial pressure.

He became a loyal member of Ireland's Transport and General Workers Union. When the Dublin Lockout of 1913 led to sympathy strikes throughout the city, Matt consulted a trusted priest as he discerned joining the strike. The priest encouraged him, and Matt joined the strike also came to quote a phrase from a book the priest gave him: “No man has the right to starve a worker into submission.” During this strike, he refused the strike pay given by the union to ease financial hardship, saying that he had not earned it. Later he accepted the pay but shared it among the other strikers. Matt was a vocal supporter of James Larkin, a famous union organizer and major figure in Ireland's labor movement. One union leader, Stephen McGonagle, described Matt as “a beacon of light to Irish workers.”

After a life of heroic perseverance, Matt died suddenly while walking to Mass on June 7, 1925. He was declared Venerable by Pope Paul VI in 1975. He is the Patron of Struggling and Recovering Addicts and Alcoholics and many addiction treatment programs, retreats, and centers throughout the world bear his name.

Sources:

• The Franciscan Tradition by Rev. Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap. and Sr. Ingrid J. Peterson, OSF
• The Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center
• Dublin Diocesan Matt Talbot Website

[More information about the book, The Franciscan Tradition, and its chapter on Matt Talbot can be found at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2010/10/matt-talbot-and-franciscan-tradition.html

The Cause for Matt Talbot (in Fiction)

Irish writer and poet Gerry McDonnell has just published Martin Incidentally. While a novella, each chapter can also be read as a short story. 
 

One chapter is titled, “The Cause for Matt Talbot,” which begins on page 32 at  http://books.google.com/books?id=8LXZO_HuWpsC&dq=matt+talbot++sainthood&q=matt+talbot#v=snippet&q=matt%20talbot&f=false. The entire chapter, however, is not available for preview.


Update:  Upon request a complete copy of this chapter can be emailed to you from gerrypoet@gmail.com or us at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com


Another post related to a Matt Talbot radio play by Gerry is available at  http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2014/12/an-opportunity-to-produce-venerable.html

A Link to Avoid

In our continuous search for information about Venerable Matt Talbot, the following  web link and information was found:

“Matt Talbot book downloads | pekeiyar - From our blog pekeiyar.blog.com/2013/04/27/matt-talbot-book-downloads/‎Apr 27, 2013 – pekeiyar. Writing away with Blog.com. Search ... Please note that this 40 page book can now be viewed or downloaded free at.'”

Fortunately, our Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center’s antivirus denied access to the supposed free download of Eddie Doherty’s book, Matt Talbot. A random search of other book downloads at this site also resulted in denied access. Therefore, please avoid this site.

As to this particular book, which is not available to download, we have previously posted information about this author and book at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2007/12/eddie-doherty-biographer-of-matt-talbot.html.

Novena Mass for Those Suffering From Addiction

Mass and prayers for healing especially for those suffering from addiction and their families in St. Agatha’s Church (http://www.stagathasparish.ie/), North William Street, begin 3^rd May 2013 and every First Friday at 7.30 pm. 

The Parish Team includes Fr. Brian Lawless, Vice-Postulator of the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Venerable Matt Talbot.




 
                             St Agatha's Church

St. Jude Prayer for Addiction

 

A prayer for the intercession of Venerable Matt Talbot for those suffering from addiction (found, for example, at http://www.matttalbot.ie/prayers.htm and http://www.matttalbot.ie/petitions.htm) does not preclude a prayer for the intercession of St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless causes and desperate situations.

“God in heaven, help me to know your love includes me, even when I fail. Open my heart to your healing power. Come, Lord Jesus, and calm the waters of my soul just as you whispered “peace” to the stormy sea. St. Jude, most holy apostle, in my need I cry out to you. I pray that you will intercede for me so that I may find strength to overcome my weakness. Bless me with your mercy, and bless all those who struggle with addiction. Touch them, heal them, reassure them of the Father’s constant love. Remain at my side, St. Jude, to chase away all evil temptations, fears, and doubts. May the quiet assurance of your loving presence illuminate the darkness in my heart and bring lasting peace. Amen.

Post your prayer or petition below for those suffering from addiction. Or if you would like, send your special intentions for those suffering from addiction to the altar of St. Jude at the National Shrine of St. Jude where it will be prayed for by the Claretians."

There might also be value in reading some of the prayers or petitions of others at 563 Comments »

Source: http://blog.shrineofstjude.org/post/st-jude-prayer-for-addiction/comment-page-6/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Secret of Granby Lane

This 1960’s one-half hour syndicated television drama about Matt Talbot at

http://archive.org/details/TheSecretOfGranbyLane

is from an anthology series presented by The Hour of St. Francis. It was produced by Father Hugh Noonan, OFM (1907-1974) of Los Angeles, who had created a radio program with the same name years before. The host of this drama is American actor, Stephen McNally (1913-1994).

 

Although Matt collapsed and died on Granby Lane in Dublin on Trinity Sunday, 7 June 1925, his “secret” in the title was not actually identified until his body was taken to Jervis Street Hospital. 

 

Some comments in reference to this program are available at http://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/1bclu2/perspectives_on_the_secret_of_granby_lane/

Prayer for Recovery from Addiction

by Anonymous

http://nccatoday.org/be-the-food-to-make-me-strong/



How much time has passed since I really felt free?

My shackles seem locked tight and I can

think of nothing but the endless days and

nights before me.

When will peace return?

Looking in a mirror, I weep to see myself old

and worn.

“Once more, then I’ll stop. Once again and

no more…”

But today

I met you unexpectedly, God. I can’t say why,

But I felt your presence.


Lord, you are the only one who can heal me.

You can break my shackles of addiction;

I’m too weak to break them myself.

Show me your power, mercy, and tenderness.

Forgive my craziness and uncertainty.

Be the Food that will make me strong enough

to say “No” and walk away.

Let me look at you with the clear eyes of

new-found faith, and believe in a new day

dawning. Amen.

Matt on his Knees

This image of Matt Talbot is most appropriate since he spent his non-work related time on his knees praying, be it at home, in church, or waiting for the church doors to open. (His pants had slits at the knees so they touched the kneeling surface.)

                                               

Source: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Talbot/304690079653019

The Hole Within

Source:  http://beautifulangle.homestead.com/poster48.html

Catholic Alcoholic Website

An informative blog that may be of interest is the Catholic Alcoholic at http://catholicalcoholic.com. 
Its creator has a devotion to Venerable Matt Talbot as well as other holy people and saints. Her entries include both historical and contemporary topics. She also provides an extensive list of possibly relevant websites.

Venerable Matt Talbot Memorial in Poland

These photos were taken at the Matt Talbot Memorial in Plock, Poland. The carved words in the background of the top photo quote Matt, "First of all, I have to take into account the interests of the soul.”

Sources: http://www.parafiaswaleksego.plock.opoka.org.pl/ and http://www.duszp.trzezwosci.plock.opoka.org.pl/mat.htm

We appreciate the assistance of Grzegorz Jakielski regarding information about this memorial.

 

Venerable Matt Talbot on Facebook in English and Polish

While the Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center is not on Facebook, Venerable Matt Talbot is present on this social media platform.

The newest Facebook listing for Venerable Matt Talbot can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Talbot/304690079653019.  Its originator also has a Facebook page about Mateusz Talbot in Polish at https://www.facebook.com/SlugaBozyMateuszTalbot  and a website at www.mateusztalbot.pl.

Least one be surprised about a Polish interest in Matt, Blessed Pope John Paul II as a boy wrote a paper about Matt Talbot and as pope wanted to beatify Matt during his pontificate since he thought that Matt’s example could be very valuable for those addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Select Resources for Spiritual Growth and Recovery

We recently noted at http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/2013/02/new-pocket-prayer-booklet-for-those.html that the new prayer book for those affected by addiction has been published. Please note that this 40 page book can now be viewed or downloaded free at

http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/?page_id=839. Reference to Venerable Matt Talbot can be read at pages 30-31.

In the book, Divine Therapy and Addiction: Centering Prayer and the Twelve Steps, at http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Therapy-Addiction-Centering-Prayer/dp/1590561155 Fr. Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O, a Trappist monk, reflects on the wisdom and legacy of the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step approach to recovery and its connections to, and similarities with, the Christian mystical traditions of centering prayer and Lectio Divina.

At “Living Sober Through the Psalms,” found at http://onedayatatimecatholic.wordpress.com/,) the author prays one at at a time through the Psalms and other recovery literature with added brief personal commentary, and concludes each day with wisdom from Church thinkers. This author also has an article,

“Lectio Divina and the 11th Step of Recovery” at http://catholicalcoholic.com/2013/01/31/lectio-divina-and-the-11th-step-for-my-recovery/.

Additional resources will be listed periodically.

A Reflection on Spiritual Recovery

[Mr. Rose previously wrote a column at http://bustedhalo.com and now writes at http://www.patheos.com]

Spiritual Recovery

by Phil Fox Rose

June 8, 2009

http://bustedhalo.com/features/what-works-6-spiritual-recovery#

If you are an alcoholic or addict, being spiritually unfit can be fatal. If not literally fatal then, as in my case, a living death — one definition of Hell is being alive and active in this world, feeling separated from God. And I spent years there. But today I live — and have for some time now — free, awake, fully alive, vital.


My earlier What Works column on alcoholism and addiction focused on self-diagnosis, and I could easily explain my own alcoholism by pointing to genetics and circumstances; but the root cause is spiritual — that God-shaped hole, that feeling of brokenness and alienation I was trying to assuage. I’ve met other alcoholics who had no obvious “causes” but I think we all share a spiritual longing.


Carl Jung wrote, to Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson, that “craving for alcohol” is “the equivalent on a low level of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness,” famously concluding the letter “spiritus contra spiritum” — the Spirit against alcohol.


As I said about not getting enough sleep, when you don’t feel connected to God, it’s easy to slip into irritability. A more accurate word is probably “sullenness.” And, if you’ll forgive a moment of word-nerdiness, “sullen” comes from the same root as “solo” and originally meant “alone.” How fitting, because that’s really what’s going on — you feel alone in the universe.


Recovery is not self-help


Let me be as clear as possible here: Recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is not about self-help. The solution is not to gain knowledge and strength and willpower so you can beat it. As I’ve said before, it’s not even to admit you have a problem. Recovery is about recognizing that, alone, you are powerless to solve the problem. To receive the grace you need to recover, you must admit you need help from something greater than yourself.

So, to stay sober you stay connected to God and other people. As much as possible, that is. Because we all slip back into disconnectedness and the illusion of control. Addiction is a stark example of self-will, but all people struggle with self-will and attachment, with expectations and resentments. That’s why addiction is often used as a metaphor for the struggle of life.


Many people lead lives of quiet desperation, trying to fill the God-shaped hole and cover the pain with shopping, eating, and a million distractions. But addicts and alcoholics are physically predisposed to escape or numb themselves in ways that go directly into a downward spiral of self-destruction. My last few years before sobriety, life was little more than an isolated routine of coming to, muddling around in the apartment, watching TV, and mixing alcohol, Vicodin and Ambien to make things fuzzy until I passed out. Talk about sleepwalking through life.

 

Let go and let God

Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) He was quoting Hebrew Scripture, Deuteronomy 6:5. In even simpler terms, “Trust God.”


But, of course, we resist depending on God, don’t we? The serpent said to Eve: “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God”. (Genesis 3:5) Pride. We try, again and again, to play God; we try to manage the world, our own destiny, other people. The thing is, once you dedicate yourself to figuring out life without God, you find yourself smack dab in self-centered fear. Suddenly, managing the universe is your problem, and you know you’re not up to the task. My biggest trigger used to be trying to control what everyone thought of me. (I can still go there sometimes.)


Notice whenever life feels unmanageable. You’ll probably find it’s when you think you have to solve something on your own. How often we cause suffering by not accepting the way things are.

 

Spiritual tools

“Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today,” is the opening line of one of the most popular passages in recovery literature. What a challenge! To simply accept that things are the way they are. Could they be changed? Perhaps. Improved? It’s possible. But right in this moment, things are the way they are. To find acceptance of this is tremendous freedom and tremendous relief. This is why I am such a strong advocate of meditation. Meditation created the opening that began my journey toward greater authenticity. It continues to be a guide along the way, daily practice in detachment and acceptance.


The therapeutic and medical communities dissect the psychological and physiological aspects of addiction but often neglect or even deny the spiritual component. Self-help gurus say you can beat this addiction or that by learning their secrets. But the most helpful resource on the spiritual dimension of recovery remains A.A.’s foundational book, Alcoholics Anonymous (usually called the Big Book.) When it was written in the 1930s, A.A. was more single-minded in its view that recovery was a spiritual project. That approach is outlined in the book and still practiced by many in A.A.

Caveat addictus

  I want to make something absolutely clear before I close. A spiritual practice alone, without work specifically for addiction, is problematic. Worse, it’s all too easy for addicts and alcoholics to convince themselves they’re covered through meditation or church attendance. Not likely. After years of sobriety, as lay leader of my congregation, I started drinking wine at potlucks before Bible study! I’d forgotten I was an alcoholic and simply cannot drink safely — no matter how spiritual I may think I am.


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Maintenance of your spiritual condition
 

Here are some spiritual tools you can use to stay connected to God day to day. Next to each of the six items, I suggest specific practices. But of course, you should find what works for you. By having these six areas covered, you can devote far less energy to struggling to maintain your spiritual condition. Of course, you will slip up. It’s just like exercise: You know it’s good for you. You know you’ll feel better. But you don’t always do it. I hope you find something useful here.


Daily morning prayers — some fixed prayers to frame the day: the Serenity Prayer; the Lord’s Prayer; “Lord, I pray that I be of maximum usefulness to you and my fellows throughout this day, and that I find it easy to take the next right actions” — and a free-form period: briefly recall yesterdays achievements and events and thank God; briefly consider today’s events and ask for guidance and wisdom to make the best of what lies ahead; pray for spiritual guides, past and present, for those to whom you give guidance or support, and for anyone in your life facing a challenge.

1. Daily meditation — See my earlier column on meditation.
   
2. Daily spiritual reading — Daily readers, Scripture, or other spiritual books. The practice of following prayer and meditation with some careful spiritual reading is powerful. It grounds your day. And sometimes it triggers contemplation that leads to breakthroughs and insights that are life-changing. Be a student in our spiritual journey.
   
3. Throughout the day — Use various tools and techniques to maintain or restore serenity — meditation; the Welcoming Prayer; counting to ten; praying the Rosary — there are dozens of useful tools for this.
   
4. Regular recovery-focused group work — Opinions vary on frequency, but regular and frequent is the rule, not the exception. It is the experience of millions that A.A. is the most effective approach and A.A. meetings are available nearly everywhere. Other options include Celebrate Recovery and the Jewish organization, JACS.
   
5. Before bed — Review the day, letting go of any residue of bad feelings. Two methods for this are the 11th Step of 12 Step programs and the Ignatian Examen of Consciousness — which are strikingly similar.

Note:  If you have given up alcohol for Lent, you might find this author's article of interest: http://bustedhalo.com/features/what-works-44-what-are-you-giving-up-for-lent

New Venerable Matt Talbot Icon

This new Matt Talbot icon was posted 03 February 2013 at http://www.togherparish.ie/parish/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251%3A130203mt&catid=25%3Athe-project&Itemid=2. It was created by Sr. Irene Gibson of Raheeny in Dublin and commissioned by the Cork Regional Pioneers.

The broken bottle is a symbol of his break from the slavery of addiction. Chain round waist, which he wore as a penance after his conversion, is symbol of his enslavement to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (http://peaceofzionicons.blogspot.com/2013/01/venerable-matt-talbot-icon.html)

Faith & Spirituality Resources Related to Addiction

[The very informative “Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative” website at http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/ has recently been updated and is well worth your time to systemically review its content.

As only one example of additional information, the current “Faith & Spiritually” section at http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/?page_id=231

has been reproduced below.]

Church: drugs and drug addiction

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” —Galatians 6:2 Spirituality & Substance Misuse Each of us is a gift of God. When we give a gift to a meaningful person in our lives, we hope they will like and appreciate the gift we give them. God is like this, …
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Matt Talbot

Venerable Matt Talbot He was born on 2nd May 1856 in humble circumstance in Dublin’s inner city, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Talbot. In post-famine years Dublin and the rest of Ireland was in distressed state: an era of grinding poverty and appalling living conditions. Yet it was also a time when the Faith …
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12 Step Spirituality

Intercom Oct-2005 12 STEP SPIRITUALITY A programme of living for everyone As it’s main focus12-step Spirituality is based on the principle of living not in the yesterday, not in the tomorrow, but living in the day – today, one day at a time and allowing God to be God in my life. This spirituality is …
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Spirituality Perspective

Spirituality: Perspectives from Theory and Experience Irrespective of the language used, the process in all cases is one of fundamental discovery by the individual that they have an inner life that can help them become free persons – Christian spirituality seeks to free people and increase their freedom to choose to be people who …
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Homily notes

4. Homily Notes Temperance Sunday 10 Feb 2013 A good resource is Bishop Eamonn Walshe in February Intercom when he writes about balance and the forthcoming publication of prayers for those affected by addiction. Of interest is how Tara relates to her primary school teacher how she is “ashamed to bring my friends home …
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Order our new Prayer book.

Our new prayer book written for those affected by addiction. Forty beautifully illustrated pages with prayers. Please fill in the order form below. All donations kindly received will go towards the financial costs of supporting our nationwide Initiatives. Thank you.
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Temperance Resource Pack

TEMPERANCE SUNDAY REFLECTION – Bishop Eamonn Walsh Andy was six weeks out of treatment when he phoned, Friday afternoon at 4.30p.m., ‘Can we meet Eamonn, I am desperate and on the drink’. I suggested that we talk when he was sober, to which he replied – ‘I can only talk when I am …
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Lenten Period

LENT: Alcohol – Our Culture – Our Challenge With alcohol costing our country billions a year, along with the trail of destruction it leaves in its wake to individuals, families and communities. It is a positive sign to finally see movement towards the Government addressing the issues and standing up the powerful drinks industry. …
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Prayers of the Faithful

Prayers of the Faithful For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and the unemployed; for all those suffering from depression or addiction, and for all those in any kind of danger. For all those struggling with any form of addiction in our parish, especially alcohol, drugs, …
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New Pocket Prayer Book for Those Affected by Addiction

[The following is reproduced from http://www.catholicireland.net/prayers-reflections-affected-addiction-ibdi/]

"Bishop Éamonn Walsh launched a pocket booklet of prayers and reflections for those affected by addiction produced by the Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative (IBDI) at the Dundalk Institute of Technology on 6th February 2013.

This prayer book and reflections is intended as a pastoral and spiritual resource that is available through contacting The IBDI, Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare, or can be ordered through the website www.irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com.

The IBDI is a cross community support working in over 250 parishes involving over 1000 volunteers, to assist parishes and communities to address the challenges of alcohol/drugs misuse which affects every quarter of the country.

In his address at the launch, Bishop Walsh welcomed the statement on 4 February by Minister of State for Primary Care at the Department of Health, Alex White, regarding the practice of marketing of alcohol: “The biggest concern is marketing that is visible to children and young people.”

Bishop Walsh stated, “Society needs to find imaginative ways of protecting children from being used as drinks advertisements on sports jerseys. Only a strong public determination will enable legislators to tackle the many vested interests which gain from this and similar practices. We all need to put our shoulder to the wheel and add real weight to the Minister’s pledge to address minimum pricing for alcohol products and to curb gradually their corporate sponsorship in sport.” 

Full Text of address by Bishop Walsh

‘Andy’ was six weeks out of treatment when he telephoned on Friday afternoon at 4.30pm: “Can we meet Eamonn, I am desperate and on the drink.” I suggested that we talk when he was sober, to which he replied: “I can only talk when I am drinking.” He insists that we meet in a city centre pub. As Andy looks at his pint he says: “It is poison, it’s killing me, I asked my friends to shoot me but they refused. Can you help me? I hate myself. I am no good.” A week later he phones again to tell me that his GP has a new drug that has worked with ‘heavy drinkers’ allowing them have two or three a few times a week and not want for more. Andy has a long journey ahead. Every reader knows the story, it’s a familiar one, only the names change.

‘Tara’ tells her primary school teacher: “I am ashamed to bring my friends home as I don’t know what state my mother will be in drink or what mess the house will be in.” What a weight on such young shoulders.

The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative new pocket book of prayers and reflections is a reflective resource to give hope, support and the will to carry on, to all who are struggling with misuse of drugs/alcohol, their families, those in treatment, recovery and denial.

Temperance, balance in life, change of heart begins within. This booklet is an aid to inner reflection. It invites us to go into our inner room and “ponder God’s Word in our heart.” Gradually through reflecting on God’s love for each one of us, a person can regain their self-respect and begin “to let go, let God.” Day by day “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want” comes alive.

The Psalms speak to every mood and life’s happenings. They are the distilled faith-filled prayers that have stood the test of time. This one speaks to the person that feels that they are in the gutter and have reached “rock bottom”:

‘Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck,
I have sunk into the mire of the deep, where there is no foothold’(Ps:69).

I asked Paschal to write a reflection to help people affected by alcohol/ drugs. The following was among his prayers and reflections:

My faith waned when life strained
My faith left when I lost hope
My faith in you was all but gone
Until I realized it was you who helped me carry on

This booklet may serve some to open wide the “door of faith” (Acts 14:27). In a world of noise, reflection on God’s Word and meditation, allows us to hear the gentle promptings of God in the depths of our heart. It means more of “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”, rather than listen Lord your servant is speaking.

Through listening prayer, the temperate mind and heart gradually emerges. It was through this reflective prayer that Isaiah took courage and faced his fear and sense of inadequacy.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
Whom shall I send? Who will be my messenger?

I answered, ‘Here I am, send me. (Isaiah 6:8)

In his Apostolic Letter to launch this current Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI, in urging the opening of the “door of faith”, said: “It is possible to cross the threshold when the Word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace.” (Porta Fidei, par 1)

The listening prayer releases the “transforming grace” for those struggling with the misuse of alcohol/drugs and other addictive behaviours, those affected and people who see such needs as not their concern.

But what can any of us do? We can join forces and say enough is enough! The time has come for society to no longer stand idly by allowing conditions and practices continue which will expose our young people to a life of unnecessary misuse of drugs or alcohol.

I welcome the statement on 4 February by Minister of State for Primary Care at the Department of Health, Alex White, regarding the practice of marketing of alcohol: “The biggest concern is marketing that is visible to children and young people.”

Society needs to find imaginative ways of protecting children from being used as drinks advertisements on sports jerseys. Only a strong public determination will enable legislators to tackle the many vested interests which gain from this and similar practices.

We all need to put our shoulder to the wheel and add real weight to the Minister’s pledge to address minimum pricing for alcohol products and to curb gradually their corporate sponsorship in sport.

The Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative is a cross community support working in over 250 parishes involving over 1000 volunteers, to assist parishes and communities to address the challenges of alcohol/drugs misuse which affects every quarter of the country.

This prayer book and reflections is intended as a pastoral and spiritual resource that is available through contacting The IBDI, Columba Centre, Maynooth, Co Kildare, viewed or downloaded at http://irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.com/?page_id=839 , or can be ordered through the website www.irishbishopsdrugsinitiative.coIt mI

Temperance Sunday 2013

[Tomorrow, 10 February 2013, is Temperance Sunday. Temperance Sunday precedes Ash Wednesday on 13 February, the beginning of Lent.]

 

 

"Temperance Sunday - from Logos Missalette

I have yet to meet anyone who regrets that their parents were sober, temperate in their use of alcohol, or Pioneers. I have met hundreds whose lives were almost ruined by the misuse of alcohol by themselves or someone close to them, and suffered the poverty, or violence or abuse that went with it. All of us could probably agree with this.I have yet to meet parents who regret that their teenage children do not drink. I’m sure, you, dear reader, would agree. 

 

Drink Sensibly – Drink Less

In Ireland alcohol is more often abused than sensibly used. The squalor of late-night streets, the drunkenness associated with junior and leaving cert result ‘celebrations; are only some of its side effects. ‘Drink sensibly’ of the ads of alcohol for many would be ‘drink less’, though no ad for alcohol will recommend that! Most important events in Ireland involve an easy availability of alcohol. Many of our young people are drinking too much too young for the good of their physical health, not alone their spiritual well-being, at a time when the peer pressure and advertising impact are high.

Reflect, Thanks and a Call

Temperance Sunday is a day of reflection, of thanks and a call. To reflect as families, communities and as a society on our use of alcohol, to thank God for it as a gift to be moderately used and to be truly grateful for the example of people who use alcohol sensibly; and it is a call to educate by word and example a younger generation in the use of alcohol. Temperance Sunday is a day that we say, as a church, that we are concerned for the problems in our society caused through abuse of alcohol and want to be committed to doing something positive about them. So it is a day when we pray for and try to help people who are in any way effected by alcoholism - their own or that of others.

Lord, make us truly grateful for the gifts of your creation, and may we use them wisely for our own good and the good of others."

Donal Neary SJ

http://www.gardinerstparish.ie/liturgy/reflections-for-sunday-liturgy/reflections-for-year-a?start=20

 

A previously posted homily for Temperance Sunday, “Matt Talbot – Triumph over Alcohol Addiction,” by Fr. Tommy Lane can be found at http://www.frtommylane.com/homilies/other_homilies/matt_talbot.htm