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"Do whatever He tells you."   Jn 2:5

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Venerable Matt Talbot
Feast Day June 19
 
Patron of Those with Addictions

Many MMG members pray for prodigals who suffer from addiction.  Whether it is addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, or any other craving that pulls someone away from responsibilities to God and family, let us pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give men and women the strength and courage to resist, and give a heart of compassion and understanding to those who love them.

Who was Venerable Matt Talbot?

    Matt was born in Ireland, to a working class family. Matt worked as a messenger for liquor merchants and there began drinking excessively. For 15 years—until he was almost 30—Matt was an active alcoholic.
     One day he decided to take "the pledge" and return to mass and the Sacraments. The next seven years were quite difficult for him. Avoiding his former drinking places was hard. He began to pray as intensely as he used to drink. He also tried to pay back people from whom he had borrowed or stolen money while he was drinking.
    While working as a builder’s laborer, he joined the Secular Franciscan Order and began a life of strict penance; he abstained from meat nine months a year. Matt spent hours every night avidly reading Scripture and the lives of the saints. He prayed the rosary conscientiously. Though his job did not make him rich, Matt contributed generously to the missions.
     In 1925 Matt died on his way to church on Trinity Sunday. Pope Paul VI gave him the title venerable.

~From Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons and Feast, By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.

 

 

Prayer for the Release of a Loved One from Alcohol or Drug Addiction Through the Divine Mercy and Love of Jesus

Lord Jesus, I put myself into Your hands this day. I ask You, with all my heart, to cure the terrible addiction to alcohol (drugs) in (name the person). Create in them an intolerance for alcohol (drugs) that will prevent them ever offending those who love them again. And grant their loved ones the grace to forgive them for all the hurt they have caused. Through the Divine Mercy and blood of Jesus, I also pray that they will be healed of all withdrawal symptoms of this terrible affliction. I sincerely ask this, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Comment:  Only alcoholic men and women who have stopped drinking can fully appreciate how difficult the earliest years of sobriety were for Matt.  He had to take one day at a time. So do the rest of us.

~ From Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons and Feast, By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.

Quote from Matt Talbot

“Three things I cannot escape: the eye of God, the voice of conscience, the stroke of death. In company, guard your tongue. In your family, guard your temper. When alone guard your thoughts."