This is the second volume I have read by Sir Joseph Glynn about Matt Talbot, the first a little booklet, The Kingdom of Matt Talbot, was excellent and so popular the author was asked to write an expanded version. The edition I read was from a fourth printing in 1942, and the earlier booklet had already been translated into several languages and republished around the world. This volume has the Nihil Obstat from Reccaredus Fleming and an Imprimi Potest from Ioannes Carolus. This volume also contains a number of block prints. photos or pen and ink sketches, a total of 8 interspersed throughout the volume.
The description of this volume is:
“On June 7, 1925, Matt Talbot, a labourer, known only to a small circle of friends, fell dead in a Dublin laneway. Within a year, his marvellous life story was known throughout the English-speaking world; within two years it had been 'told in French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hungarian, etc. In November, 1931, His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin (Most Rev. E. J.
Byrne, D.D.) initiated the Cause of his Beatification, the first, or ordinary, process of which is still proceeding.”
The chapters in the book are:
Preface
Introduction to First Edition
The Cause of Beatification
Birth and Early Life
Conversion
Growing In Holiness
Labour Troubles
The Daily Round of Prayer
The Evening Prayer
Fasts and Mortifications
Circle of Friends: His Charity
Illness and Closing Years
The Growing Cultus
Prayer for Canonization
Pastoral Letter Of His Grace Most Rev. E. J. Byrne, Archbishop Of Dublin
The prayer for canonization also appears on the inside of the back flap of the book cover. The book also provides a list of 39 volumes that indicate the type and quality of books that Matt Used to read, discuss and trained himself by. Of interest to me as I have read a number of books about Matt now is that some of the books indicate multiple readings of different volumes about the same Saint or subject. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, but not many as my highlighting and notes have been extensive from other books on Matt you can check out the links to other reviews below.
To date this is the most extensive volume I have read about Matt. I have one other and a couple of others I am still trying to track down. My fascination with Matt started with The Holy Man of Dublin: or the Silence of Matt Talbot by Alice Curtayne, and I have been hooked since. But I can state that this is the most complete version of his life I have read yet. It draws heavily from personal interviews by the author, of those who knew Matt, interacted with him, and first-hand accounts. It is an excellent volume and I can easily recommend it.
This is a book any Catholic could benefit from read. It will inspire and challenge readers of all ages. It is an excellent biography, and a continuation of the one that started it all. It is a story of overcoming addiction, and quietly living a deep devotional and prayer life, living to influence others by example, and occasionally work, and it is the story of faithfully living for God. An excellent read!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
For reviews in the CTS Biographies Series Click here.
Books about Matt Talbot:
Matt Talbot and His Times - Mary Purcell
Matt Talbot: His Struggle, His Victory over Alcoholism - Susan Helen Wallace
Matt Talbot - Xavier Carty
Spotlight on Matt Talbot - Edward O'Connor, S.J.
Matt Talbot - Simon O'Brynne
The quest for Matt Talbot - Philip Rooney
We knew Matt Talbot - Albert H Dolan
Matt Talbot - James F. Cassidy.
An address to Pope John Paul II from the Parish of Matt Talbot, The Worker.
Matt Talbot : the Irish worker's glory - James Francis Cassidy
Matt Talbot - Albon White
The Story of Matt Talbot - Malachy Gerard Carroll
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