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Venerable Matt Talbot

Venerable Matt Talbot

Venerable Matt Talbot

1856 - 1925

Venerable Matt Talbot - (1856 - 1925) From his early teens until age 28 Matt's only aim in life had been liquor. But from that point forward, his only aim was God. Matt Talbot was born May 2, 1856, the second of twelve children born to Charles and Elizabeth Talbot. In Matt's early years he knew little security or stability. Compulsory school attendance was not in force, and Matt never attended any school regularly.

At the age of twelve Matt ot his first job; it was in a wine bottling store and that is when his excessive drinking began. One evening when he was 28 he went out and found a priest, went to confession and "took the Pledge" for three months. Many times he felt he would not be able to hold out for three months, but within the year he renewed the pledge for life, never touching alcohol again (41 more years). His resolve was maintained by a new life of much prayer, daily Mass, hard work and much penance. Matt Talbot collapsed and died of heart failure on June 7, 1925. Penitential chains were found on his body after his death.

After Matt's death his reputation for holiness became widespread, and by 1931 the first inquiry into his life had begun. The decree on his virtues was issued October 3, 1975.

 
from Wikipedia

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1 - 16 of 16 Comments

  1. agnes
    2 months ago

    matt talbot has helped my son and daughter so much. i am so thankful!

  2. Mary McNeill
    3 months ago

    A friend gave me information about Matt some time ago. THis was truly a gift from God. THis friend has been active in promoting Matt's cause for sainthood, but I have heard nothing lately about how that is proceeding. Perhaps someone can help.

    Your sister in Christ, Mary

  3. Manuel Fedin
    3 months ago

    This is great, and Mat Talbot was attending the True mass,

    and not the New mass, Novus Order,

    You don't see any good fruit from the new mass.

    So I am not suprise, how many Saint, stories, and Holy Mysteries do we need to read about, to see the truth. ?

  4. M
    11 months ago

    Venerable Matt Talbot, help me to fight alcohol like you did. My marriage trouble is driving me to the bottle. Help me to be strong and fight my habits so I may be a good mother and a better person.

  5. james millar oneill
    1 year ago

    We had a new member come into aa 2 years ago ,she was very poorly. she kept drinking and was near death as I have saw any alcoholic .I my self prayed to Matt talbot for 2 weeks solid every night he could touch her with sobriety or she was going to die.Thank the lord and Matt she is a year sober now ,I believe it should be Saint Matt because it was a miracle she survived. James Oneill

  6. denise d
    1 year ago

    I have been trying to help my sister with her alcoholism for the past 7 years and things have just continued to get worse for her. I have finally realized she needs to help herself and all I can do is pray for her. I bought a prayer card with Matt Talbot on it a few years ago and gave it to my brother, a recovering alcoholic. I am wondering if anyone knows where I can buy another one. I have found comfort from praying to and for Matt Talbot and am hopeing he will become a saint someday. Maybe my sister will become one of his miracles! Please pray for my family and I will do the same for others.

  7. Chritine DeWan
    1 year ago

    I have been praying to Blessed Matt Talbot for the past 2 years for my family members who have alcohol issues. My Father-in-law passed away 2 years ago on March 21st, 2010 and the last thing he tried to accomplish was to help his alcoholic daughter. I love the Saints and knew there must be one who helped with addictions and so I found Matt Talbot. 2 things that grabbed my attention. Matt Talbot looks EXACTLY like my brother-in-law, the one who is married to my alcoholic Sister-in-law....AND Matt Talbot died on his way to church, on my Father-in-law's birthday....a coincidence? There IS power in prayer...and now I'm fervently praying for my 22 year old son Mike...who is also abusing alcohol and is heading down that same path. I'm begging for Matt Talbot's intercessory powers to help our family. We could be the ones that provide the miracle needed for him to become a Saint. What an absolute honor that would be to glorify God and be a witness to the communion of Saints. For all of us who pray through his intercession, may God's Grace grant us Peace~ I love you all and will pray for you all. Christine

  8. M
    1 year ago

    I just spent the weekend in Dublin and on a tour on Saturday, our tourguide pointed out the memorial statue for Matt Talbot and told his story. His story touched my heart and as I have been in some trouble lately and also gave up all alcohol for lent, I can understand some of his struggle. On Sunday walking around Dublin, after going to mass at an other RC church, we happend to stop into The Church of Immaculate Conception, a beautiful church, and there they had a small chapel deducated for Venerable Matt Talbot. I feel he is talking to me and I pray for him and his cause.

  9. Patsy C.
    1 year ago

    I heard about Blessed Matt Talbot while watching EWTN this week. So came to library to find out more about this alcoholic. What a miracle he was. I am sure someone was praying for his recovery from the disease of alcoholism. I truly believe if you seek out God's help with addiction He will give you hope and freedom one day at a time.

  10. kelvin gadd
    1 year ago

    i am trying to purchase a panphlet by C.T.S called a saint in overalls published in the 1930s

  11. David
    1 year ago

    I have every intention of returning to post a more in-depth message of my experience, now that I've found this site. I'm truly desperate to overcome this bondage, but I want to share my experience with all of you, from this point forward-tonight is the first time I have ever heard the name Matt Talbot uttered-I'm truly hopeful that next time I post something, it passes that hope onward (based upon a real-world experience which I hope God finds me worth of). Please pray for me my brothers and sisters.

  12. Bill
    2 years ago

    The biographical information about Matt Talbot was inspirational. Please pray for my special intentions.

  13. Gregory Mihalek
    2 years ago

    What can I do to further the cause for his sainthood. I am an acholic.

    Greg Mihalek

  14. Sonia
    2 years ago

    This is an example of how a person trying to change his whole life and he did successfully. Truly God has a plan for him and Matt never wasted his life thru bad vices but led a path to goodness.. Bless his heart..

  15. Diane Saia
    4 years ago

    I would like a prayer to blessed Matthew Talbot.

  16. jimmy p
    4 years ago

    awesome...

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