Revolution of Love.com
Venerable Matt Talbot: From Alcoholic to Servant of Christ
(1856-1925)
Matt Talbot was born in Dublin Ireland in 1856. He was the second of twelve children. At age eleven Matt dropped out of school and went to work at the docks as a messenger for a wine merchant.
While working for this wine merchant Matt started to drink, which eventually led to alcoholism. For the next seventeen years of his life, after putting in a day's work, Matt would more often than not come home drunk. This pattern continued until one day in 1884.
Down and out, broke and unemployed, Matt decided to wait outside the pub he frequented patiently waiting for his friends to get off work. He was hoping that one of them would invite him in for a drink. Eventually Matt's friends came along. They greeted him, passed him by and went inside the pub. Matt was shocked. He stood outside the pub for a few minutes then went straight home.
That same night Matt went to confession and took the "pledge". The pledge was a promise to give up drinking for a certain period of time. Matt chose to give it up for three months. Because there were no associations like Alcoholics Anonymous, Matt was on his own. The only thing he could do was turn to God for help.
Matt not only started attending daily Mass, but lived a very austere and holy life. He slept on a wooden plank and would wake up early each morning to spend long hours in prayer and meditation. He fasted daily and immersed himself in spiritual reading. What little money he earned he used to help fellow co-workers and the poor within his neighborhood.
On Trinity Sunday 1925 Matt Talbot suffered a stroke and died. He was on his way to Mass. Matt's death would have gone without notice if it was not for a tightly bound chain being discovered around his waist. Matt used it to discipline his body, as a means of penance. The chain opened the door for others to make inquiries into Matt's life. Without this find, Matt Talbot might have died in obscurity.
I believe what makes Matt so inspiring is the way in which he turned away from sin and embraced Jesus Christ. Jesus gave this poor Irish laborer the graces necessary to overcome alcoholism and lead a holy life. If there is one lesson we can learn from Matt Talbot's life, it is this - nothing is impossible with God.
God bless!
For further information about Venerable Matt Talbot read or visit:
Matt Talbot and His Times by Mary Purcell (My personal favorite. -Brian)
Matt Talbot by Eddie Doherty
The Matt Talbot Website - Matt-Talbot.com