Venerable Matt Talbot "EXCLUSIVE"

The Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May, 1856 7 June, 1925) was an Irish ascetic who is revered by many Catholics for his piety, charity and mortification of the flesh. Talbot was an unskilled labourer. Though he lived alone for most of his life, Talbot did live with his mother for a time. His life would have gone unnoticed were it not for the cords and chains discovered on his body when he died suddenly on a Dublin street in 1925. From being an indifferent Catholic in his drinking days, Talbot became increasingly devout. He was guided for most of his life by Dr. Michael Hickey, Professor of Philosophy in Clonliffe College. Under Dr. Hickey's guidance Talbot's reading became wider. Dr. Hickey also gave him a chain to wear, as a form of penance. He became Third Order Franciscan in 1890 and was a member of several other associations and sodalities. Talbot was a generous man. Although poor himself, he gave unstintingly to neighbours and fellow workers, to charitable institutions and the church. He ate very little. After his mother's death in 1915 he lived in a small flat with very little furniture. He slept on a plank bed with a piece of timber for a pillow. He rose at 5 a.m. every day so as to attend mass before work. At work, whenever he had spare time, he found a quiet place to pray. He spent most of every evening on his knees. On Sundays he attended several masses. He walked quickly, with his head down, so that he appeared to be hurrying from one mass to another. To some enthusiasts his life was reminiscent of the early Christian monks in Ireland, who believed that a life of sacrifice, prayer and devotion would bring them closer to God.