Saint of the Month - June 2015: Venerable Matthew Talbot

Ven. Matthew

("Matt") Talbot

Reformed Alcoholic; a new creation in Christ

Although not officially canonized a Saint by the Catholic Church, or even declared a Blessed yet, I am personally convinced that this holy person lived a life of solid virtue… and I sure hope, that sometime soon, the Church will raise him to the Glory of the Altars, as an exemplary role model for our modern society.

Born on May 2, 1856, in Dublin, Ireland, Matthew “Matt” Talbot was the second of 13 children born to a working class family.  His mother was relatively pious, but his father was an alcoholic… and sadly, the father’s condition was inherited by Matt and his brothers, except for the eldest.  From the age of 12 when he began working odd jobs for a liquor merchant, Matt also started taking to the bottle, which led to him becoming an alcoholic very early in his life. He was, what would be known today, as a “sloppy drunk” - a person who became obnoxious and ill-tempered while under the influence of alcohol - and he would often use foul language, get into violent fights, and even spend every cent he had just to satisfy his need for an alcohol fix.  Consequently, Matt was often in debt and, on at least one occasion, resorted to stealing in order to support his addiction.  All the while he was on the path to self-destruction, his mother pleaded with him to mend his ways but her words kept falling on deaf ears.

The only existing photo of Matt Talbot
(man in the center)

One day in 1884, when Matt was 28-years-old, he hit the bottom of the barrel and was completely broke.  He was loitering near his job worksite (he was a manual laborer) hoping that one of his partying buddies would invite him for a drink at a nearby pub, but to his dismay, not one of his so-called “friends” extended an invitation.  Disgusted, Matt went home to his mother and resolved to take “the pledge.”  His mother replied, “Go in God's name, but don't take it unless you are going to keep it… May God give you strength to keep it."  Matt then went to confession at a nearby church and vowed not to drink for the next three months.  The next day he went to Mass and received Holy Communion, which marked his transformation into a “new creation”.

Although it wasn’t easy, Matt successfully fulfilled his initial 3-month pledge, after which he solemnly vowed not to ever drink again.  He even gave up tobacco, which he once admitted to a friend, was even worse than giving up drinking… but Matt persevered through the grace of God.  To help strengthen his resolve, he attended daily Mass (often more than one a day) and took on a rigid program of prayer, fasting, spiritual reading, and self-mortification. In particular, he had special recourse to the Blessed Mother’s intercession and prayed the rosary conscientiously.  He also secretly wore iron chains around his waist and a leg, which without a doubt, caused him a measure of pain and discomfort; it was Matt's way of making up for his past misdeeds and reminding himself of the saving Passion of Christ.

On the exterior, the new and improved Matt became good humored and personable, and the use of profanity was a thing of the past.  Since he no longer drank and smoked, he used his wages to repay his many debts, and once that was accomplished, most of his earnings went towards charitable purposes: giving to the poor and  donating to local religious institutions. His family and peers who at one time loathed him, came to deeply respect (and even venerate) the man he had become. 

The present tomb (center) of Matt Talbot in

the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dublin (Ireland).

Matthew Talbot died on June 7, 1925, at the age of 69.  His former years of drinking had taken a toll on his health, which led to a heart attack while he was on his daily walk to attend Mass.  His life of addiction and eventual healing in body, mind, and soul inspired profound hope in all who knew him, and in others who came to know about him… and Matt's life was not forgotten; people continued to regard him as a Saint.  The local Church opened his Cause in 1947 and Matt was declared Venerable in 1975.  A verified miracle is still needed to advance his Cause - please pray for his speedy Canonization.

A Reflection

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

A Short Prayer

Lord, as you did with Ven. Matt Talbot, help us to overcome all earthly attachments and self-destructive addictions.  Make us a new creation.  Amen.