Q. Who is the patron saint of alcoholics?
A. Great question. Matt Talbot was an Irishman who lived from 1856 to 1925. He is not a saint. He is known as “Venerable.”
The three stages toward sainthood are: venerable (meaning a person was heroic in virtue); beatified (recognition by the Church that a person is in heaven and is able to intercede for us through prayer); and canonization (when one is officially declared a saint).
Matt Talbot was an unskilled laborer who got hooked on alcohol by the age of 13 and tried and tried and tried to quit drinking. He spent most of his wages on drinking and ran up large debts. He later pawned his boots and clothes for money to buy alcohol. He even used to beg money for drinks.
At the age of 28, by the grace of God, he “took the pledge,” and swore off drinking and was sober the last 40 years of his life. Most people need structured support and 12-step programs to get sober from alcohol or other addictions.
Thus, Matt Talbot is the patron of alcoholics. Pray to him for intercession to God for help.
If you struggle with addition and want to get sober, with God’s help, you can do it. If you want contacts within the Catholic Church to help address addictions, contact me and I will help you.
Thanks for the question.
This question was answered by Father Kenneth Borowiak, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
