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Matt Talbot

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.

LIFE OF

MATT TALBOT

SIR JOSEPH A. GLYNN.

DUBLIN:
CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY OF IRELAND.

LIFE OF

MATT TALBOT

By

SIR JOSEPH A. GLYNN.

.11

DUBLIN:

' j

CATHOLIC TRUTH SOCIETY OF IRELAND.

The author desires it to be
understood that, unless where
he expressly states that the
Church or the Holy See has
recognised the truth of miracles
'or other supernatural mani-
festations referred to. -in the
following pages, he claims no
credence for them* beyond what
the available historical evid-
ence may warrant. f \

First Edition, February, 1928; Second
Impression, April, 1928; Third" Impres-
sion, September, 1928; Second Edition,
1930;. Third Edition, .1931; Fourth
Edition: 1942..

Obstat :
Reccaredus Fleming, - ,

Censor Theol. Deput.

Imprimi Potest : .

i&Ioan-nes Carolus,
- . Archiep. Dublinen.,

Hibernice Primas.

Dublini die 7 Nov. anno 19*2._ .
. MAJDE IN IRELAND.

: ^ : vl450315>:

/: .' .. ' : ; : '' ; .c^U6- ; .. , . ''
CONTENTS.

, / PAGE
'PREFACE* . . . . . , . . . iv

INTRODUCTION TO. FIRST EDITION . . . . v

THE CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION . . . . IX

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE . . -.:..:. . .1

CONVERSION :"~. . . . . . . . 9

GROWING IN HOLINESS . .. . . . . 18

LABOUR TROUBLES . . . . ^ .31

THE DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER . . . . 3^

THE E\TENING PRAYER 53

FASTS AND MORTIFICATIONS . . . . . 69

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS : HIS CHARITY . . _ . 80

ILLNESS AND CLOSING YEARS -. . . . .92

THE GROWING CULTUS . . . . .101

PRAYER FOR CANONIZATION . . . . .106
PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS GRACE MOST REV. E. J.

BYRNE/ ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN . . .107

ILLUSTRATIONS.

NO. 18 UPPER RUTLAND STREET Facing page 16

THE TIMBER YARD : CASTLE FORBES

AND .MATT' s OFFICE .' . ,, ,, 175

CHURCH OF ST. LAURENCE O'TOOLE ' . ,, ,, 48

THE NOTE-TAKING HABIT . . . ., ,, 49
AN ARTIST'S CONCEPTION OF MATT

TALBOT . . * . . ,, ,,' 80

NOTE TO DALGAN PARK . . . ,,81

GRANBY LANE .. s . . - ,, ,,96

THE GRAVE AT^ GLASNEVIN . . . , ,, ,,97:

.-.-A*;,

PREFACE TO PRESENT EDITION.

GHE last (Fifth) edition of this Life of Matt
Talbot was issued in 1034. In the preface,
it was recorded that when His Eminence Jean

- ' N ' v

Cardinal Yerdier, Archbishop of Paris, was 'in
Dublin two years earlier, for the 31st International
Eucharistic Congress, he knelt and prayed in the
room in No. 18 Upper Rutland Street, where" Matt
Talbot had kept vigil with Jesus down many years,
and, deeply moved by his experiences, had kissed
the floor. .

Wo desire to preserve that record in this edition,
and so we note it here, for excepting in Chapter X,
on " The Growing Cultus," which contains com-
pletely new matter, no change has been made in
the text, and no opportunity has offered, therefore,
to include it elsewhere.

A new picture facing page 80 has been included,
by courtesy of Rev. Mother Nealis, R.S.C.J., Canada.
Some who knew Matt Talbot well consider that
this picture, drawn, of course, from descriptions,
bears a striking resemblance to him. At the very
least, it helps us to envisage the holy man. as he
was, poor and simple, the spirituality of his
countenance giying to those with eyes to see a hint

"-)'< ,

of his high status among the friends of Jesus,

IV

Introduction to First Edition.

I'N March, 1926, the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland
published a short "Life of JMatt Talbot, a Dublin
Labourer." .The Life came to be written almost by accident,
as the name of Matt Talbot was altogether unknown to. the
writer until a friend and fellow member, of a, charitable society
wh.o had known Matt Talbot for 25 years, told something of the'
life of that holy man and suggested that the author' should-
write a short sketch for the edification of Matt Talbot' s fellow-
workers in Dublin. The booklet was written and ready before
Christmas, 1925, but several unforeseen events delayed its pufc
lication until the beginning of the Lent of 1926. During Lent
in Ireland it is customary to hold, in the cities and large
towns, missions and retreats for the parishioners, and the little
booklet was used by the various missioners to point out the
spiritual height to which the lowliest amongst their hearers
could aspire. ,

The' effect on the working people of Ireland wa.s remarkable.
The first edition of 10,000 copies '-was sold out in four days, and
Edition followed Edition until 120,000 copies had been sold in a
few months. . At the time this is being written, 140,000 copies
have been printed in Ireland. The spread of the fame of Matt
Talbot was equally remarkable outside Ireland. The Australian
C.T.S. republished the pamphlet under the title of " A Saint
in Overalls." Within a s,hort time, applications for permission
to translate it into foreign languages began to arrive, so that
within one year from the date of the original publication"
editions had appeared, or were in course of preparation, in
French, German (three separate editions, for Germany proper,
Alsatia and German-speaking Austria), Portuguese, Spanish,
Italian, Dufych, Polish, Hungarian, Czeckish, Yugo-Slavian, Kus.
sian, and Breton. At the same time there arose a demand for
more information about this remarkable man, and the writer
waa asked to prepare a larger life giving more intimate details
of Matt Talbot's daily life. .The result is the present book, -
which contains all that it has been possible to gather from every
available :source about Matt Talbot from his youth to his death.

, INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION

* ; -- ;

Realizing the seriousness of the task which he was compelled
by events to undertake, the writer personally interviewed a large
number of people who. were in a position to give him any
information on. the subject. Two" sisters gave full details of
their brother's life, and their evidence was corroborated in very
many essential particulars by fellow-workers and .personal
friends. In practically every case the statement of evidence
was written out and read over to the witnesses before bein.g
accepted by the writer, and where, there appeared to be a
discrepancy between statements every effort was made to clear
it up. Such discrepancies were usually the result of faulty
memory. As one of the sisters put it, "We always took Matt
for granted and never minded to take notes of what v he did..
We never thought anyone would want to write his life." Both
sisters were, very scrupulous in their statements and avoided
anything which might savour of exaggeration. The writer
found the same care exhibited by all the witnesses, who seemed
fully to realize that nothing should be set down which was not
in 'strict accordance with the truth. The only merit the writer
can. claim is that, having been a lawyer for many years, he was>
able to appraise the value of the evidence taken; by him and
not allow his imagination to run away with his discretion. In
all, some thirty witnesses were interviewed. It wag a wonder-
ful experience. Here one found oneself in touch with the actual
iriends of a saint, and saw reflected in them the holiness which
had spread from Matt Talbot to- those around him the little
. group which gathered on the steps of St. Francis 'Xavier's
Church, . Upper .Gardiner Street, at 5,30 a.m., winter and sum-
mer, waiting for the doors to open; the old lady, bent with age,v
who still wore the chains- which Matt Talbot had given her;
the men and women of another, rank of life who had known
and reverenced their poor friend and model; the fellow-workers
who had worked with him during the long years of common
toiL How unconsciously they revealed their own beautiful
lives as they told stories of their saintly friend, and how, as pne
listened to them,, one realized that' these were the true types of
our people, and not -, the wretched degenerates which a- so-'
called, National Theatre presents to the world 'as types of
Catholic Ireland.

VJU-- ...' ' '

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION

Those who 'mix amongst the poor of our Capital know that
beneath the squalor, and in spite of it, there exists holiness of
life and a wonderful charity ; holiness which reveals itself in the
resignation with which the poor bear the manifold troubles
which -are their daily lot; charity which, is seen in their kind-
ness'to those amongst them who are poorer than themselves. It
seems easy to be holy ht the cloister or in the sheltered sur-
roundings of a comfortable home, but to see real goodness go to
a. room in a tenement house and look around you. There is a
perpetual lamp kept alive somehow, even where there is- no
bread. There are the objects of piety crucifix, pictures, statues,
and the tiny altar decked in coloured paper and tinsel. There a
patienti wife alone with her little ones, for the husband is gone
on the never-ending quest for work, or the lonely widow who
earns a pittance for a, few "days ch'aring each week, will meet
you with a smile of welcome, and will thank the good God for
the little timely aid you have brought in His name to those,- His
little ones. Go to our churches on the night when the men's
sodalities meet and see the thousands of workers of every class,
who, after their day's labour in yard, or shop, or tram, come
week bjf week . or month by month, to gain new strength and
help from) their devotion to the practices of their sodality. Go
on the Sunday mornings to the early Masses, and see the
throngs of men and women who crowd the altar tails to receive
their Lord and Master. If you would go still higher, follow the
footsteps of the young men and the young women of the City
who visit the^ pool* in their own homes, the wanderers in the
lodging houses, the homeless in the Poor Law Union, and We
sick in the wards of the Hospital. These are our people, the
God-fearing men and women of our City from* whom Matt Tal-
bot sprang and who number amongst them many, who, like
Matt-Talbot, live lives of holiness and self-sacrifice in the midst
of their fellow-men. Why did they throng the book-shops for
the little booklet which; told of Matt Talbot's prayers and pen-
ances? Was it not in the depths of their own hearts they
felt spring up the desire for holiness such as his and the
thought that what he had done they could strive to accomplish?
Was it not because the life of Matt Talbot proved to the world
that sanctity is' not the preserve of the cloister, nor holiness of
- v vii. *

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION

life a matter of social position, and that in our own day, as in
the days of Christ, His friends .are to "be found amongst the
poor and the lowly. .

To the writer the life of Matt Talhot presents two aspects for
all workers : rugged honesty in the fulfilling) of his contract of
service with his employers, and a dignified confidence in the
cause of his fellow-workers. Every page of his life reveals these
points, as every page reveals how he regulated .all his de'alings
with his fellow-men by the rules of Charity and Justice.

It was. in the hope that this larger life of Matt-Talboti might
lead to still greater devotion to his memory, and, above all, to
the greater glory of God, that the writer undertook a task for
which he felt himseM utterly unfitted. However, it is now.
finished, and he humbly offers to the Christian workers -of
every land this life of one of themselves, who, in an. * age of
change and disillusion, never turned from the path of right-
eousness, but ever sought his true happiness in the bosom of
the Catholic Church, in obedience to her laws and in the^full
knowledge that she alone could shield him from! the false gods
of modern paganism which sought to drive the supernatural
from the lives of the people and would close the doors of Hope
on all who labour and are burdened.

One more word. Just as this life was being finished the
writer received an anonymous letter which raised two points:*
One, the use of the name " Matt " instead of " Matthew " ; the
other, that the original life left the impression that blasphemy
was common amongst Irish -workers some years ago/ On the
first point the writer considers that there is nothing irreverent
in describing a very holy man by the name by which he was
known all his life. Everyone spoke of him with deep affection as
"Matt" and the writer thinks that a name which is now so
familiar to all Irish Catholics might well be allowed to remain.
Qn. the other point the anonymous correspondent is right. The
use of the word "blasphemy" was not justified. Our Irish people
seldom blaspheme; they speak at times irreverently, through,
carelessness, and they use. the name of God or the Sacred
Name of Jesus without adverting to what they are doing. It is
hoped this short explanation will prevent any future mis-
understanding. -

yiii.

The Cause of Beatification of
Matt Talbot.

By the Notary of the Process.

The countless thousands in many countries, who
have read with such enthusiasm the accounts of
Matt Talbot's simple yet marvellous life story, pub-
lished by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland
and translated, into several languages, will greet
with joy the announcement that his Grace the
Archbishop of Dublin has decided to take the first
steps towards what, they wjll hope, will be his
eventual Beatification and Canonization/ By so
doing, His Grace will satisfy not merely his own
personal love for one of his humblest subjects but
also the ardent wishes of thousands in all condi-
tions of life.

s

It will not, therefore, be out of place in this new
.edition of his Life to give some particulars of what
a Process of Beatification and Canonization means.
It will not be possible to give a detailed account of
this Process; the care which the Church takes to
secure that the honours of the Altar are granted to
those only whose claims to them can stand the
severest examination makes necessary the holding
of investigations which are both lengthy and' in-
volved. ^The procedure to be followed is rnost
carefully drawn up and must be strictly followed;
any failure to do so in 'a serious matter would

IX.

S

render the whole Process invalid. For this reason
a difficult task faces those -responsible for the pro-
motion and prosecution of the Cause. For readers
. of this Life a more elementary exposition, avoiding
' as far as possible the technicalities of the Canon
Law governing such Processes, -will suffice.

Canonization, generally speaking, is a decree of
the x Holy See regarding the public ecclesiastical;
veneration of an individual. This decree is of two
kinds, preceptive and permissive. By a preceptive
decree is meant one commanding the faithful of
the Universal Church to venerate the "Servant of
God as a 'Saint; it is promulgated with that sol-
emnity of which most readers will have an idea
and constitutes Canonization. By a permissive de-
cree is meant one which permits, without com-
manding, such public veneration, or 'which pre-
scribes it but only for a particular country and not
for the Universal Church; such is the decree,- pro-
mulgated also with great solemnity, > which con-
stitutes Beatification and the Servant of God so

.

honoured is thenceforth called Blessed. :

It will be noticed that decrees of Canonization
and Beatification refer primarily to w the regulation
of public worship. But the, considerations which
move the .Church to., issue them are of great im-
portance and provide the= matter with which the
various preliminary Processes are concerned. They
involve a searching investigation into the life and
miracles .of the person on whose behalf a claim to
public cult is being advanced. :.

- ' "

The first stage of the lengthy procedure is what
is 'known as the Ordinary pr Informative Process.
Its name explains its authority and purpose. It is
called Ordinary because it is undertaken by .the
Ordinary or Bishop of the diocese acting on his
own authority and responsibility; the authority or
approval of the Holy See is in no way involved in .
the constitution of this Process. It is called In-
formative because its purpose is to -collect informa-
tion concerning the life and miracles of the Servant
of God. It is clear, therefore, that the initiating
of such a Process involves no ecclesiastical approval
whatever of any public cult of the person con-
cerned. In fact, part of the Process consists in
an enquiry as to whether any public cult, contrary
to the law of the Church, has been shown to him;
the existence of such a cult would seriously militate
against the Cause. This remark in no way con-
cerns private cult or devotion which is based on
private moral certainty of the sanctity of the Ser-
vant of God. Very many, who have read Matt
Talbot's Life, must have formed such an opinion
of his sanctity. They may act upon it by invoking
his intercession and by other forms of private de-
votion; they should, certainly, recite the beautiful
prayer for his Beatification which has been ap-
proved and enriched with an Indulgence by the
Archbishop of Dublin. But there, is a danger that
too enthusiastic admirers of him may go too far
and; extend to him signs of veneration due only to
those : whose cult has received the solemn approval
of "the Church", such as the erection of publi6 altars

in his honour, the decoration of his image With
such insignia as are proper to Canonized Saints^
the inclusion of his name in public Litanies, the
placing of lights or votive offerings on his tomb,
sermons in which his virtues are so treated as to
seem to anticipate the judgment of the Church
regarding his Cause.

For the holding of an Ordinary or informative
Process a Court has to be set up consisting of the
Bishop, who acts as Judge, an Assistant Judge or
Judges, a Promoter of the Faith (he is popularly

known as the Devil's Advocate because of the op-'

* .

position which he seems to offer at each step of the
Process; in reality he acts as the best friend of the
Process by seeing that its procedure is correctly,
carried out in every detail), a Notary, whose duties
are similar to those of a Secretary, and several
other officials. Outside the Court there are two
important officials, namely, the Postulator and
Vice-Postulator of the Cause. The former is usually
an ecclesiastic resident in Rome, whose duty it is,
to attend to everything that concerns the promotion
of the Cause when it comes before .the Holy See, '
whilst the latter looks after its interests at the
Diocesan Court and produces the witnesses, who are '
to support the claims set forth in the "Articles"
or statement of the virtues and miracles of the Ser-

."/'.'.

vant of God. As it is important that the Informa-
tive Process should be held whilst those who knew
the Servant of God are still living and able to give
eyidence, it is not delayed until such 'time as,
according to the designs of Providence', Divine con-

xii.

firmation of his fame for Sanctity is manifested by
miracles. The present Process, therefore, will be
mainly concerned with the collection of such
evidence, but it will also deal in a general way with
any miracles or favours attributed to the inter-
cession of Matt Talbot. Those of the Faithful who
have useful evidence to give on any of these points
should communicate at once with the Vice-Postu-
lator, who will decide as to whether their evidence
is necessary or useful. It will be clear tfrom what
has been said that the Informative Process alone
will require much time and labour. Every
witness must be examined separately and under
oath, and his or her statement taken down in full
by the Notary. This examination will cover not
merely the Articles put forward by the Postulator
but also certain secret Interrogatories, which will
be drawn up by the Promoter of the Faith. Should
any claim to miracles be adduced, expert medical
testimony will have to be called to report upon it.
All evidence must be given under an oath of secrecy^
so that it will be impossible for one witness to
know what another has testified; in this way any-
thing in the nature of collusion between witnesses,
is made impossible. When all the witnesses have
been examined, a carefully collated and authenti-
cated copy of their evidence must be prepared and
sent to the Holy See for consideration. With this,
the business of the Informative Process closes for
the -time being and the second stage of the long
road "to Beatification is reached.
The: Cause is then in the hands of the Sacred

xiii.

Congregation of Rites and x its further promotion
devolves directly upon the Postulator. He. wilt be
assisted by a Cardinal v appointed by the Pope to act
as.'/'' Ponente 5? or patron and by an ecclesiastic
versed in the procedure of the Sacred Congregation
who will be 'employed .as Advocate to plead the
Cause, before it. The evidence sent out', from the
Diocesan Court is first translated into Latin or
Italian and a summary of it printed and distributed
tg the .Cardinals who form .the Congregation of
Rites, along with the statement of the Advocate and
the, animadversions of the Promoter-General. of the
Faith, After, allowing due time for .consideration,
a Congregation is held at which the Cardinals give
their views as to the merits of the Cause. Should
they be favourable, a. Decree is prepared and sub-
mitted... to the Holy Father for signature; by this
decree the Cause is formally introduced and the
local Bishop is authorised to hold a further Process
. in prosecution of the- enquiries which the Holy See
4eems necessary for the particular case. .

This brings us to the third stage, the, Apostolic^
Process^ It is held once more by the local ecclesi-
'astical authority, who, however, now acts as Dele-
gate of the .Holy See. . The procedure is practically
similar to that of the Informative Process and the
evidence given is once more -sent to Rome and pre-
pare'd for an, even stricter examination than in the
case of the Informative Process . After careful in-
vestigation as to the validity. of all the acts of : the
Diocesan Court, the first point debated, at Ihree-
distinct Congregations or assemblies, is whether the-

xiy. - . .".. :

'. .-V.

Servant of God practised virtues, both theological
and cardinal, in a heroic degree. At each of these
Congregations a majority of the Gonsultors must
decide that the difficulties ^raised by the Promoter-
General of ^the Faith have been satisfactorily
answered. Should this be secured, a Decree is pre-
pared and submitted to the Pope, who ' only after
fervent prayer for Divine Guidance, signs it and
thereby gives his supreme confirmation of the judg-
ment of the Sacred Congregation.

The question of Miracles is next considered, of
which at least two and sometimes four of the first
class are required. The same elaborate investiga-
tion and consideration,. both by the Diocesan Court
and by the Roman Congregation 1 is prescribed here
also. When all the requirements have been satis-
fied and a favourable judgment given by the Sacred
Congregation of Rites, the final Decree of Beatifi-,
catipn is prepared and submitted to the Holy
Father, Who signs it and appoints the great day
for the solemn ceremony of Beatification. Then,
and not till then, is given the permission of the
Church for public cult of the Servant of God, who
is henceforth entitled " Blessed."

For Canonization two further first class miracles.

'.'*-' ' '

worked after Beatification, are required and must
be proved by a Process similar to those already
described.

Fromr all that has been said it will be clear that
ma-ny years must elapse from the time of inception
of a Cause to the final acts of Beatification and
Canonization. The ^Church moves with great cau-

tion in such matters and the investigation of many
( claims, some centuries old, taxes the time of the
Congregation of 'Rites to the fullest; It is clear also
that, whilst the starting -of the Ordinary Process by
the Archbishop of Dublin implies a signal recogni-
tion of the fame of Matt Talbot, it does not sanc-
tion any public veneration of him or convey : any
guarantee that his Cause will overcome the; many
difficult obstacles which the prudence of ;the Church
_ puts in the way of Beatification. The promoters of
Matt Talbot's Cause approach the Process with
full recognition of all this, but also with, a lively
hope that, moved by the prayers which will assur-
edly be offered by .'Matt's- countless devotees/ scat-
. tered throughout the whole world, God will be
pleased to honour the humble ^Dublin labourer by
having him! enrolled amongst the Blessed Saints, of
His Holy Church.

*

Communications regarding the Process may- be
sent to: < :

\ The Secretary,

Archbishop's House, -

Dublin.

xyi.

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

CHAPTER I.

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE.

NE thing which seems certain about the an-
cestors of Matt Talbot is that they came of a
mixed Gaelic and Anglo-Irish stock. The
family, names of the parents are not Gaelic, but on
both sides there are amongst their ancestors purely
Gaelic names which show that in this, as in so
many families in Ireland, there is a large admix-
ture of races. The name Talbot is Anglo-Irish; the
maternal name, Bagnal, is .English, and as Matt
Talbot's maternal ancestors came from County
Cavan they were, very probably, originally English
settlers who inter-married with the native Irish and
adopted the Catholic religion. The family Christian
names have the same tale to tell such names as
Robert and Charles being infrequent amongst the
Gaels.

The Talbots must have been long settled in
Dublin, as the father, grandfather and great-grand-
father of Matt Talbot was, each in turn, foreman
or charge-hand in the employment of the Dublin
Port and Docks Board, a very remarkable fact in
itself, and one which proves that they were men of
probity and worth. This position carried with it

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

1 he charge of largo quantities of bonded spirits,
.which remained in the stores of the Board until
they had reached maturity, when they were
released, as required, on payment of the spirit duty.
This post of foreman was held by Matthew
Talbot, the great-grandfather of the subject of this
biography, by his grandfather, Robert Talbot, and
by his father, Charles Talbot.

Charles Talbot was a man of exceptional char-
acter. He lived in early life at 13 Aldborough
Court, or Place, on the North Circular Road,
Dublin, in a small cottage, where he married
Elizabeth Bagnal, a Dublin-born girl. They had
twelve children, eight sons and four daughters.
The eldest son, John, lived to be about 60 years of
age and died unmarried, but all the other sons,
except Matt, died young ,or in early manhood.
Three sisters survived Matt. Charles Talbot, their
father, was a man of good religious life. He be-
longed to the- Confraternity of the Immaculate Con-
ception attached to the Jesuit Church, St. Francis
Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, being a
regular attendant at the monthly meetings and a
monthly communicant, besides receiving Holy
Communion on the principal Feast Days of the
Church. The beautiful devotion of the Rosary of
the Blessed Virgin, which, during the centuries of
persecution, was the mainstay of the Catholic Faith
in Ireland, was recited every night in his home. He
lived until the year 1899, and died at the age of
seventy-three, having been for eleven years before

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE

his death in receipt of a pension from the Port and
Docks Board, at the rate of fifteen shillings a week,
which was one-half of his wages before his retire-
ment.

Elizabeth Talbot, the wife of Charles,' was a
woman of great piety, and in her old age had
attained to a high degree of holiness. Like her
husband, she was a member of" the Confraternity of
the Immaculate Conception attached to St. Francis
Xavier's Church, and for many years had been a
daily communicant, a practice which she gave up
only when she became an invalid and unable to
leave her room. During the last few years of her
life she received Holy Communion once a month
from the priest in charge of the district in which
she lived, and on whom she made so deep an
impression that after her death he referred, in an
address kf the Women's Confraternity, to her holy
life. A friend who often visited the house in which
she and her son, Matt, lived, states that he never
saw her without the Rosary beads in her hands,
and that she seemed always to be' praying. Both
she and her husband were total abstainers; she,
probably from childhood, and he from manhood.
The unfortunate habit of indulging in strong drink
to which their sons were addicted was not, there-
fore, attributable to any laxity in this matter in the
parental home. Mrs. Talbot died in 1915, at the age
of seventy-six, having lived alone with her son,
Matt, from the death of her husband in 1899.

Matt* Talbot was born at 13 Aldboro' Court, or

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

Place, on the 2nd of May, 1856, and was baptised
at the Pro-Cathedral, Marlboro' Street, on the 5th
day of May. The date. originally given by, his sister
to the writer, 1857, was accepted without verification
as he was informed that a search had been made,
without success, for the baptismal entry. A further
search led to the .discovery of the entry, which states
that Matthew Talbot, son of Charles and Elizabeth
T.albot (nee Mullock), was born on the 2nd May,
1856, and was baptised according to the rite of the
Catholic Church, on the 5th day of May, 1856.
Sponsor, Mary Anne Talbot. This entry contains
an error, namely, the surname of the mother, which
is given as Mullock instead of Bagnal. This is
easily explained, as the parochial clergy state that a
-very common error is for the woman who carries
the infant to the church to give her own name
when questioned, instead of the name of the
mother. In the present instance this must have
occurred, as Mullock is the name of .cousins of the
Talbots, and nothing is more probable than that a
cousin carried the child' to the church. There
appears to have been only one sponsor, a sister of
the father, Charles Talbot.

When he arrived at school age, Matt Talbot was
sent to the Christian Schools, North Richmond
Street, where he remained until he was twelve
years old. His sisters state that he and his brothers
were as mischievous as most healthy young boys
of their age, and were in constant trouble with their
parents. Their mother told that as she brought

BIRTH AND EARLY L I F ti

Matt and a younger brother to school, they would
distract her attention at a street corner and then
pulling their hands out of hers would escape down
a neighbouring street, leaving her helpless. The
beating which awaited their return after a day's
freedom was considered, as a mater of course,
well worth the stolen joys of a day from school.
The school records do not contain Matt's name, but
one venerable brother remembers the little lad
whom he had taught over sixty years ago. Matfs
school-days ended when he was twelve years of age.
There was no compulsory school-leaving age in
existence then, and boys were sent to work about
the age of twelve. His first employment was as a
messenger boy with the firm of Messrs. Edward
and Joliii Burke, wine merchants, North Lotts,
Dublin, which did, and still does, a very extensive
bottling business for Messrs. Arthur Guinness, Son
& Co., brewers. Here the young boy learned to
take drink. It was around him on all sides, and, un-
fortunately, many of the men engaged at the work
of bottling were in the habit of drinking to excess.
The habit began to take hold of Matt, and before
he was a year in the store he came home under the
influence of drink. His father gave him a severe
beating, removed him from; Messrs. Burkes', and
got him a post as a messenger boy in the Port and
Docks Board, where he was himself in charge of the
bonded stores. It was a case of " out of the frying-
pan into the fire." In Burkes' the drink was stout,
in the stores of the Port and Docks it was whiskey.

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

The men who worked in the bonded stores gave the
young boy whiskey to drink, and this completed the
ruin which had begun in the first post. His father
tried to save him by persuasion and the more drastic
remedy of the rod, but without avail, and as the boy
grew to manhood and could no longer be thrashed
into obedience, his father saw him gradually
become a drunkard on spirits actually taken from
the stores under his own charge. Matt realised
the disgrace he was bringing on his father, and
when at the age of seventeen years he was old
enough to take up a man's job, he left the Port and
Docks Board and became a bricklayer's labourer
with Messrs. Pemberton, the. building contractors,
Dublin. He was an excellent workman, and during
the day did not neglect his work, but when the
'day's work was finished he went with some com-
panions to the neighbouring public-house, where
they continued to drink until closing time, .or until
their money was exhausted. He never gave any of
his wages to his mother, though he would occasion-
ally offer her a shilling, and as he was supported
by his father, he thus had the more money to
spend on drink. Sometimes, on a Saturday, he
deposited his week's wages, about 18s., with the
owner of the public-house and had it all expended
on drink before the following Tuesday. When the
money was gone he sometimes sold his boots, and
it- was even said that, on one occasion, he came
home in his stockings, though, more usually, he had
an old pair of boots to replace those sold or pawned.

B I R 'T,H AND EARLY LIFE

A friend, to whom Matt related the following
incident, states that on one occasion, when Matt was
drinking with some companions, a fiddler joined
them. As money was running short, Matt and
another took the fiddle and going out to a neigh-
bouring pawn-office pawned it, and brought back
the money they had received. Further supplies
of drink were ordered and the fiddler, all uncon-
scious that his fiddle had provided the wherewithal
to purchase the drink, entered into the carouse with
great zest, only to find when the party broke up that
he was without the means of earning his livelihood
and that his companions were without money. In
after years, Matt Talbot searched the common
lodging houses of the City, and both Poor Law
Unions, in an endeavour to find the fiddler, so that
he might make restitution for the price of the
fiddle; but he never found him, and as restitution
for his action he had Masses offered up for the
spiritual and temporal welfare of the victim of
their cruel, if thoughtless, act.

He was not quarrelsome when drunk, but went
quietly home to bed when the public-houses had
closed for the night. No matter how much drink
he had taken the night before, he was up in time
for his work, which started at 6 a.m., and left the
house clean and tidy in his person. He acquired
the habit of taking the Holy Name in vain and of
using strong language when talking with his fellow-
workers, and he began to neglect the Sacraments,
though he went to Mass on Sundays. His prayers

LIFE OP MATT TALBOT

consisted of blessing himself when he got out of bed
in the morning, as he was, usually, too drunk to say
any prayers going to bed. For two, if not three,
years before his conversion he had not been to the
Sacraments of Penance or the Holy Eucharist.

The picture which Matt Talbot presents to us at
this period is that of a young fellow going fast on
the road to ruin; .the craving for drink gradually
mastering him; the duties of his religion almost
completely neglected; and the duties to his
parents entirely ignored. The picture is dark,
but it is not all black. All his troubles came
from the one sin indulgence in drink. He
had no other vice and his moral character
was irreproachable. The writer has been at
some pains to substantiate this statement. Matt's
sisters state that "he was the purest of creatures."
He had only men friends; he was never known to
be friendly with any persons of the other sex, and
in his home he was modest in his demeanour.
When one considers the crowding of a; large family
in a small house, the full meaning of this statement
will be realised.

It is not unusual for young men of his age to
marry as soon as they are in a position to maintain
a home, that is when they are in receipt of a man's
wages. Matt's mother was anxious that he should
marry, and, by taking on the responsibilities of
family life, try to stay his downward course, but he
always put her off with a laugh and the reply,
"Mother, you are the only wife I want."

8

CHAPTER II.

HIS CONVERSION.

T the time of his conversion, Matt Talbot was
in his twenty-seventh or twenty-eighth year.
He was then working at Messrs. Pember tons',
though he had worked for other builders in the
City when work at Pembertons' was slack.

For. a week before the day in question he had not
gone to work. He had spent the time drinking, and
had thus earned no wages, so that when Saturday,
pay-day, arrived, it found him sober from necessity,
thirsty, and without, a penny in his pocket. Still
he was hopeful that his friends in the yard would
come to his assistance and enable him to quench the
terrible, thirst for spirits which consumed him.
There was no use going to the yard in the morning
at the usual hour, as he would not be employed for
a half-day, which was all the men worked on Satur-
day, so he decided to wait until the men were paid
and were leaving the yard. He dressed with his
usual care and left the house about midday accom-
panied by his younger brother, Philip. They stood
at the corner of Newcombe Avenue,- where the
family then lived, and the North Strand, so that the
labourers coming from Messrs. Pembertons' had to
pa^ss them: by. As the men passed in two and threes
they nodded to the brothers with a " Good-day,
Matt," but none of them stopped to ask if he would
like a drink. The reason for this was very obvious

9

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

to the brothers; their company without wages to
spend was too expensive for their old companions.
Matt became silent, and, as he often told afterwards,
he was cut to the heart by the conduct of his friends.
At last he could stand it no longer, and turning to
Philip, he said, " I'll go home."! Philip replied that
it was too early, as the dinner would not be ready,
but Matt remained firm and returned alone. His
mother was busy preparing the midday meal when
he arrived, and, looking up with surprise, said,
"Oh, you're home early, Matt, and you're sober!"
He only answered, "Yes, mother, I am." Gradually
the other members of the family arrived and dinner
was partaken of, after which they again left the
house for their Saturday half-holiday, leaving Matt
alone with his mother and one or two of the younger
children. Matt was silent for a time, and finally
turning to his mother said, " I am going to take the
pledge." She smiled rather incredulously, and said,
"Go, in God's* name; but don't take it unless you
are going to keep it.' r He answered, " I'll go in the
name of God." He went to the room in which the
boys slept, washed himself carefully, and, taking
his cap, turned to leave the house. As he stood at
the door his mother turned to him and said gently,
" God give you strength to keep it." He made no
reply, but went out. His objective was Holy Gross
College, the Seminary for the Archdiocese of
Dublin, which was only a short walk away from
his home. This famous seminary takes its name
from a large relic of the True Gross which is kept in

10

HIS CONVERSION

the College Chapel. It was founded in 1859, and
was then under the Presidency of Father Fitz-
patrick, afterwards the Right Rev. Monsignor
Fitzpatrick, Dean of Dublin, and one of the Vicars-
General. Matt always stated that he took the total
abstinence 'pledge from the Rev. Dr. Keane at Glon-
liffe College. It is not easy to reconcile this
statement with the dates. The Rev. Dr. Keane was
a Professor in Glonliffe College until 1879, when, at
his own request, he was transferred to a curacy in St.
Michan's Parish. He remained in St. Michan's until
sometime in 1883, when he joined the Dominican
Order. Matt took the pledge in 1884, though the
time of the year is not known. His sister, Mrs.
Andrews, fixed that year by her own marriage,
which was in August, 1882, and she states that she
was about two years married when Matt's conver-
sion took place. Dr. Keane was a constant visitor
at Glonliffe College during the years he was a curate
in St. Michan's, and it is possible that he met Matt
Talbot there on the Saturday afternoon in question
and administered the pledge. It is, of course, quite
possible that Matt made a mistake in the identity of
the priest who heard his confession and adminis-
tered the pledge, though this is difficult to imagine
because Dr. Keane was a very well-known man in
the public life of the country during these years and
his name must have been familiar to all Dublin
working men. Eleven years later Matt went to Con-
fession to Dr. Keane, then a Dominican attached to
St. Saviour's Church, Lr. Dominick Street, and in

11

LIFE OFMATT TALBOT

the course of his confession told Dr. Keane that he
had taken the pledge from him eleven years before.
Dr. Keane was very pleased to find a labouring man
so ardent a total abstainer. On the present occasion,
Matt had made up his mind to take the pledge for
three months as he doubted his ability to keep it for
any longer period. He had been about three years
from confession, so he went to confession in the
College and took the pledge when his confession was
ended. He then returned home, and on Sunday
morning attended the 5 a.m. Mass at St. Francis
Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street, where he
received Holy Communion. ,

He had now to consider what steps he should
take to enable him to keep his pledge. If he con-
tinued his ordinary course of life it would mean
meeting his companions at the most dangerous
hours, namely, after the day's work had finished.
To avoid them without giving 1 offence he could not
remain in the neighbourhood of his home after
working hours, and he should, therefore, go where
they would not think of looking for him. His
decision was_ to go to daily Mass at 5 a.m. in St.
Francis Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street,
and after the day's work was done to visit a distant
Church where he could pray for strength to keep
his promise. On Monday morning he began the
fight for his soui ? s freedom by attendance at Mass.
He then went to his work at 6 a.m., and worked
during the day as usual. When evening came, arid
he had finished his evening meal at home, he walked

12

HIS CONVERSION

to a distant church on the North Side of the City,
either the Vincentian Church at Phibsboro', or the
Parish Church at Berkeley Road, where he remained
in prayer until it was time to return home to bed.
The first Saturday provided a temptation. As the
men left work it was usual to turn into the nearest
public-house and take a drink. Matt was in their
company and did not like to refuse to enter, but
whereas the others drank either whiskey or porter,
he drank a bottle of mineral water. It was his last
visit, as afterwards he declined to enter and passed
on home. He suffered intensely, for the craving for
drink was strong in him and the effort to pray,
after so many years' neglect of prayer, was very
wearying. All the week evenings, every Saturday
afternoon and all day on Sunday, except during
meal-time, he spent in a church or near one.
Coming home at night weary and dispirited, he
would say to his mother, " It's no use, mother, I'll
drink again when the three months are up." She
encouraged him by gentle consolations, and to use
the very graphic words of his sister, "During the
three months, as the religion gripped him, he got
fonder and fonder of the Church, and used to live
in it after his work was done." He gave up all
company, and, save for his mother, he had no one
in whom to confide. His wages he handed to her
every Saturday and then went out to the Church to
fight but his battle before Our Lord in the Blessed
Sacrament. Needless to say, such heroic action
won, and when the three months expired, he re-

13

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

turned to Clonliffe College and renewed the total
abstinence pledge for a year; and at the end of that
further probationary period, for life.

During the period of his first pledge his father in-
troduced him to the Confraternity of the Immaculate
Conception at St. Francis Xavier's Church, and
enrolled him as a member in his own Section, a
membership which lasted without a break for over
forty years. '

One little episode of this time is not without its
humorous side. The elder sister, Mary (Mrs.
Andrews), had been married a few years, and
hearing from her mother of Matt' s pledge, bought
and gave to her mother for Matt the book known as
" Hell Open to Christians," which contained very
realistic, but very crude, pictures of the damned in
torment. One would have imagined that poor
Matt's torments at the time were sufficient without
this added horror, but he read the little book, which
he told his mother " frightened the life out of
him." He kept it all through his life, and it was
found after his death at the bottom of his box of
books neatly rebound by himself in imitation
leather.

His conversion was not without many grave
struggles. Two incidents related by himself refer
to the early years of his change of life. In one case
he stated that when about to enter St. Francis
Xavier's Church, shortly after he had taken the
total abstinence pledge, he was violently pushed
away from the door two or three times by an unseen

14

HIS CONVERSION

hand. He persisted, and believing that the action
was diabolical, he used some vigorous language
towards his unseen opponent and passed into the
church.

The second incident was a very remarkable
example of his pertinacity in following out the
course of life he had now, adopted. The date is un-
certain, but it was within two or three years of his
conversion. On one Sunday morning he attended
the 6.30 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier's Church,
and at the end of the Mass rose in his place to
approach the altar rails in order to receive Holy
Communion. The moment he stood up he was
assailed by a violent temptation to despair. He
heard an inward voice telling him that it was useless
for him : to try to keep from drink, that all his pious
actions were worthless, and that he would not
persevere. He was physically incapable of ap-
proaching the altar, and after a time was compelled
to leave the Church. He wandered about the streets
unconscious of his direction, but now quite free
from the temptation, and after a little time he
noticed that he was outside the Pro-Cathedral, in
Marlboro' Street. It was just 8 a.m. and he entered
to attend 8 o'clock Mass and receive Holy Com-
munion. Nothing occurred during Mass, but, at the
end, when he rose to approach the altar rails, the
temptation assailed him with all its previous
violence. He was actually driven from the church,
and again found himself in the streets. He began
walking along, again quite unconscious of the direc-

15

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

tion, until he found himself at the parish church
on Berkeley Road, just at 9 a.m. He entered,
attended the 9 o'clock Mass and endeavoured to go
to the rails to receive Holy Communion. It was
useless, the temptation returned, and he could hot
move. In great distress he left the Church and
continued his course through the streets until, about
9.45 a.m., he was back at St. Francis Xavier's.
Instead of entering the church he threw himself on
his face on the steps, with his arms outstretched in
the form of a cross and said, " Surely, Lord ! I
am not going to fall again into the habits I have
left." He prayed very fervently to the Blessed
Virgin to intercede for him, and after about ten
minutes he felt the weight of depression suddenly
lifted from him. He entered the church, attended
10 o'clock Mass and received Holy Communion at
the end without any return of the temptation. The
struggle had lasted from about 7 o'clock, the end of
the early Mass, until 10 o'clock, and it was never
repeated. The man, J. R., to whom Matt had
related this incident, was a very close friend, with
whom he had worked for years.

As already mentioned, one other bad habit which
Matt had accmired was taking the Holy Name in
vain. He found it by no means easy to correct this
fault and invented a simple but ingenious method
of reminding himself of his ailing. He fixed two
pins in the sleeve of his coat in the form of a cross
so that he could not look at his hands without seeing

16

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

tion, until he found himself at the parish church
on Berkeley Road, just at 9 a.m. He entered,
attended the 9 o'clock Mass and endeavoured to go
to the rails to receive Holy Communion. It was
useless, the temptation returned, and he could not
move. In great distress he left the Church and
continued his course through the streets until, about
9.45 a.m., he was back at St. Francis Xavier's.
Instead of entering the church he threw himself on
his face on the steps, with his arms outstretched in
the form of a cross and said, " Surely, Lord ! I
am not going to fall again into the habits I have
left." He prayed very fervently to the Blessed
Virgin to intercede for him, and after about ten
minutes he felt the weight of depression suddenly
lifted from him. He entered the church, attended
10 o'clock Mass and received Holy Communion at
the end without any return of the temptation. The
struggle had lasted from about 7 o'clock, the end of
the early Mass, until 10 o'clock, and it was never
repeated. The man, .1. R., to whom Matt had
related this incident, was a very close friend, with
whom he had worked for years.

As already mentioned, one other bad habit which
Matt had accp tired was taking the Holy Name in
vain. He found it by no means easy to correct this
.fault and invented a simple but ingenious method
of reminding himself of his ailing. He fixed two
pins in the sleeve of his coat in the form of a cross
so that he could not look at his hands without seeing

16

[Fuel n j 1'iuji' 1(J

THE TIMBER YARD.

Castle Forbes.

" Matt's Office."

H r'-S ' " CONVE'RSION

/

the cross and being* reminded of the Crucifixion.
The sights of -the pins conveyed no information to
others, as it was taken for granted that they were
kept there for use.

THE TIMBER YARD.

Castle Forbes.

' Mutt's Office.'

11 I 'S CONVERSION

the cross and being reminded of the Crucifixion.
The sight of the pins conveyed no information to
others, as it was taken for granted that they were
kept there for use.

17

CHAPTER HI.

.' .'

GROWING IN HOLINESS.

'HE year 1884 would appear to be the year of
Matt Talbot's conversion. At that time his
brothers were addicted to drink and Matt en-
deavoured, but without success, to get them to take
the total abstinence pledge. He saw that his parents
were suffering from the strain of the presence in
their little home of young men who were constantly
coming there under the influence of drink, and
expecting their father to feed them while they spent
their wages in the public-house. - When Matt's
efforts at reform failed he announced that he would

s

leave the house unless his brothers left, and as they
refused to go, he took a room in Gloucester Street,
which was not far from his old home. When living
in Gloucester Street,' his sister, Mrs. Andrews, who
lived near, looked after his room and cooked his
meals. It was during his stay in Gloucester Street
that he first used a plank bed., His sister saw two
planks in his room and asked what they were in-
tended for. He replied " for a purpose," and gave
her no further information. The planks were of
rough, unplaned timber, and were nailed together.
A little time later, coming into the room late in the
evening when he was absent, she went to -the bed
to turn down the coverlet, and saw the planks under

\.

18

G R W I N G IN HOLINESS

the coverlet, so that it' was obvious that he used .to
lie on the boards without any covering over: them.
The bedstead and planks were the same as he had
in his room at the time of his death. The bedstead,
which is made of iron with strong iron laths, is six
feet lorig and about two feet six inches wide. It
looks small, bub Matt was a small man and it fitted
him.

When in Gloucester Street he fasted, -but not to
the same extent as when he went to live in Rutland
Street. During this earlier period he abstained
from meat on -Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays,
but at no time, nor on any day, did he eat a full
meal. .

He continued to attend the 5 o'clock Mass, and
spent most of his spare time in prayed. After some
time, his brothers having left their parents' home,
Matt returned there, bringing with him his iron
bedstead and planks, and continued to live with
his parents, who then resided -in Middle Gardiner
Street, .until the death of his father in 1899. Very
little is known of his life during the period from
1884 to> the time he went to work at Messrs. T. & C.
Martin's, about the year 1892. One old lady, who
was a lifelong friend, remembers him, because she
was one of the few who went to Holy Communion
at the 5 o'clock Mass in St. Francis Xavier's. This
Mass was discontinued in 1892, and the hour of, the
first Mass on week-days fixed at 6.15 a.m.

It was during this .period that the incident
occurred which decided him not to marry. His

19

L I F E : F M A T T a T A L B :0 T

mother 'related the story to her daughters. .While
.working on, a building job ': at the residence of a
Protestant clergyman, Matt attracted the attention
of the cook by his holiness. The cook, who was a
pious Catholic girl, seeing that Matt did not speak
to the maida as the other men did r decided to speak
to, him and finally suggested marriage. She in-
formed him that she had considerable savings and
was in a position to furnish a home for themselves]
Matt said he would let her know his answer after
he had performed a novena asking for enlighten-
ment. This he did, and -at the conclusion of the
novena he told the girl that he had got an answer
in prayer that he was to remain single. He was
very firm in his resolution, as when some of his
fellow- workmen, in later years, spoke of marriage
to him he always said he would never marry, as it
would interfere with the manner of life he "had
decided to life. To a confidant he said that "the
Blessed Virgin told him not to marry."

During these early days he worked for several
building contractors in Dublin besides Messrs.
Pemberton, and in later life he often spoke of the
men for whom he had worked when they were in
-a modest way of business, and who, subsequently,
became well-known builders in Dublin. One who
knew him well in these later years says he often
spoke of the building trade with real interest, and
discussed matters connected, with the trade with
great intelligence.

G R W I N G I N HOLINESS

The change of the hour of the first Mass in St.
Francis Xavier's brought about a complete change
in. Matt Talbot's life. The. hours of a bricklayer's
labourer,, which was his trade, were from 6 a.m.,
so that if he continued at lhat trade he should give
up daily Mass and daily Communion. He, there-
fore, looked for employment- where the hours were
later, and found what he required in the firm of
Messrs. T. & C. Martin,. Ltd., North Wall, Dublin,
where he was first a casual and afterwards a per-
manent labourer. This took place about the year
1892, and his employment with the firm lasted to
the date of his death. . .

As this well-known Irish firm bulks so largely in
the life of Matt Talbot a short account of it will
not be out of place. The founder was John Martin,
who, in 'the closing year of the eighteenth century,
opened a timber yard on the river Liffey, at the
North Wall.- In those days the timber business was
carried on , by, means of auctions, and the timber
came, principally, from the Baltic. Tlie firm had
many vicissitudes during the Napoleonic Wars,
owing to the interruption of trade, but on the
declaration of peace, trade was resumed with all its
former "activity. The firm still possesses one of the
old auction advertisements, dated 27th May, 1817,
which" sets out the quantities of timber to -be sold.
Shortly after this date the firm became John Martin
"& Son,'h>y the addition of James Martin, the son of
the founder, and the business was changed to a
different site, which is now part of the present

21 '

LIFE OF MA TTTALBOT

extensive premises. In 1861 three of James^ Martin's
sons started the saw mills a't the North Wall,
adjoining the storage yards of John Martin & Son.
The two firms were independent of each other
until 1883, when they were amalgamated under the
name of Messrs. T. & C. Martin,, which, in 1886,
was formed into a private limited liability company.
The business of the firm was largely extended
during the period 1861 to the present, and, besides
being a very large importer of timber, it deals in all
classes . of building material; manufactures furni-
ture, and has creosote works. '

The day in Martin's began^at 8 a.m., the, men
coming to work after breakfast, and ended at 6 p.m.,
there being, thus, only one break in the day, namely,
the dinner hour from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The timber'
yards and offices during Matt Talbot's time were
in two divisions. One section extended to the
river front and was intersected by roads. This
section contained a large drying shed, in which the
timber for the joinery and furniture works was
stored, and in which Matt Talbot was storekeeper
for many years. Another section was known as
Castle Forbes, from a mansion formerly erected -on

the site by the Forbes' family, the ancestors of the

%

Earls of Granard. This section consisted' of one
large yard with a gate and gate-lodge, and with
sheds around the walls, in, which timber was stored.
Matt Talbot was transferred to this yard as store-'
keeper about eight years before his death. In the
corner of this yard, under a shed, was a v small office

22

G R W I N G I N HOLINESS

made of timber, with a telephone which was put up
during the Great ;War; when the .timber and all
other similar trades were controlled by the military
authorities. The office, after the war, was taken
possession of by Matt Talbot, and was known, as
" Matt's Office." In the drying shed in the first-
mentioned section of the Quays there was no office,
but there was -a space some six or seven feet high
between the ground and the timber, which was
stored in one portion of the shed, and under which
Matt Talbot used, when alone, to retire to pray.
In the centre of the shed, quantities of the butter
quality timber stood on end drying, and were used
for the furniture making. Practically adjoining
Messrs. Martin's yards is the parish church 'of St.
Laurence O'Toole, which Matt Talbot visited going
to and coming from his work.

In the early days of his work in Martin's, Matt
Talbot worked as labourer and had to unload ships,
load :'carts, and do the ordinary work usual to his
class. He disliked the work of unloading the ships
because of the profane language which, in those
days, was not uncommon amongst quay labourers.
He. never heard the Sacred Name of Jesus pro^
nounced without raising his hat, and this was
observed by some of the more irresponsible work-
men, who, in a spirit of mischief and not from any
real malice, used irreverent language in order to
annoy Matt Talbot still more. He never openly
rebuked the. men except when something very ex-
ceptional, occurred. He would then say, "Jesus

23

LIFE OP M^A T T T A L B T

Ghrist is listening to you," When the Angelus bell
rang at noon, he ceased work, removed his hat and
said tlie Angelus, .simply and unostentatiously.
When he was better known in the-yards his example
was so good that no bad language was heard in- his
vicinity. If he saw a young man, whom he knew to
be leading a decent life, laugh at some, coarse story
or joke, Matt would call-him aside when no qne else
was present, and would quietly -rebuke him for
having laughed at what was said. "You cannot
avoid listening," he said, "but you need riot laugh
at a dirty story." He would often, in such cases,
follow up his chat with the loan of a book which he 1
made his young protege read. During all this time
he was not morose nor a " spoiLsport." He enjoyed
a good story, provided it was clean, and laughed
heartily at a joke. A carter (D.R.) , who worked in
the early, years, with ..Matt Talbot, states that Matt' s
work at .this, time consisted in filling the lorry .with ;
timber which .was being removed from one yard to
another. While the lorry was^ going back and
forward (about .15. minutes) Matt was usually idle,
and this spare time he spent in prayer behind the
piles of timber. D. R. relates some interesting
incidents of this period, one of which he was told
by Talbot and one of which he witnessed. Matt
Talbot told him that he used to smoke for some time
after he had given up drink. One day, after he had
bought a new pipe and an ounce of tobacco, he was
going along the road with his purchases in his
pocket, when he* met a fellow- worker, who, being

' 24 ' ' ' ' ''-'...

GROWING IN; HO LINES S

without tobacco ? asked -Matt for "a fill." Matt took
ottithenew.'pipe, and the ounce .of tobacco, gave both
to his 7riend, and never smoked again ._ The second
incident had to do .with the -use of bad language by
a fellow- worker. The wife of the latter came
during the dinner hour with her husband's dinner.
An altercation took place between them, and the
husband used very vile language towards his wife.
When he had finished his meal, Matt Talbot. went
up to where the man and his wife sat, and produc-
ing from his pocket a large crucifix which was
attached to his Rosary beads, he held it before the
face of his fellow- worker and said, "Do you see
Who you are crucifying?' ' No more was said ; Tal-
bot moved away and the man addressed hung his
head and made no reply.

D.R. also relates that Matt always got away from
the yard a few minutes before 6 p.m. and ran to the
Church so that he might be there when the Angelus
bell rang. -This was before he became storekeeper,
as in later years* he had to close the yards when the
men left.

As already stated, he did not like to work on the
quays, and after he had become a regular worker
in the firm he asked his foreman not to send him
to work there. "You .know my little failing," was
the reason Jie gave, meaning by " failing " his
impatience at hearing bad language. He also asked
the foreman. not to send him. to work at the guano
or creosote yard, because he did .not wish to have
his clothes smell of tar. .He explained that he went

25

LIP E O F M A T T T A L B O T

to Mass and Holy Communion every mdrfting, and
that " he did not like to go to Holy Communion
with his clothes smelling of guano."

At the creosote yard, where railway sleepers were
made and soaked in tar, the sleepers when prepared
were put into a press for a time. If this occurred
just before the 10 a.m. Mass in St. '.Laurence
O'Toole's Church, Matt ran to the church, heard
Mass, and was back before the sleepers were ready
for removal. Some of the men who resented
Matt's disapproval of their conversation, reported
to the manager that Talbot left the yard during
working hours. The manager sent for Matt and
asked him about the matter, but when he heard the
explanation and realized that n6 time was really
lost, he 'at once gave permission to Matt to go to
Mass in similar circumstances.

'After he had been some - years working as a
labourer he was appointed storeman, when his duty
was to select timber required for special orders or
for the joinery business. These he loaded on to a
hardcart and if there was no one else available he
wheeled the handcart to the workshop. The post
was a responsible one, as it required strict honesty
owing to the many opportunities for petty thefts of
timber! It was never known during the years Matt
Talbot had charge of the stores that he allowed even
waste to.be removed by any unauthorised .person.
On one occasion, when he required a small portion
of wood for his own use, he purchased some and

\ 26 '

G R WIN G I N HO L I N E S S

got a formal receipt, lest anyone should think he
had taken- it without permission. .'-'-'- : . :
Although his principal work at this later period
was in the timber, shed, the foreman, when there
was a rush of work on the quayside, sent Talbot to
help. It was on some, of these special occasions
that the men were paid two shillings extra for their
work. This incident was not correctly stated in the
original little life, as it was there stated to be for
overtimed The actual fact was more in keeping
with Matt Talbot' s character than refusing payment
for overtime would have been. The correct story
is: When a cargo , of timber had to be unloaded
within a limited time, and during the ordinary
working hours of the day, so that the ship might
catch the outgoing tide, the men were promised a
bonus of two shillings each, provided they had the
ship unloaded in time. ' If they failed they got
nothing for the extra labour. It meant working
at very high pressure for some hours, and was
exhausting work. " On the first occasion on which
Matt Talbot was sent to this work he did not call
at the office for the two shillings bonus, and on
being questioned by the foreman the next day as
to his non-appearance, he replied that he scrupled
taking the money for the extra labour as there were
many hours of the week when, he was idle waiting
for lorries to arrive, and that he thought the idle
hours should be set against the extra work. The
foreman replied that he could not upset his accounts
for Talbot's scruples and paid him the two shil-

L; I F E O F M AT T T A L B T

lings. Afterwards the. foreman had to. bring the
money to Matt, who accepted it as a gift,: but de^
clined to claim it as a right. . :

All the foremen under whom Matt Talbot worked
agree that they never knew him to be late in arriv-
ing at the yards. On one or two occasions he was
missed from the gang which had to. unload a lorry,
and when called was seen coming from under the
timber in the shed where he was known to retire to
pray. He was asked why he was late and said he
had not heard the lorry entering the yard. To this
place under the timber he would retire after he had
heard grossly irreverent language from any of the
men, 'and, there. he would recite the Divine Praises.
Sometimes he spoke to the men about the lives of
the saints, and told them interesting stories he had
read the evening before. He did not deliberately
start a discussion on religious matters with the men,
but should the conversation turn on such subjects
he spoke openly and frankly about them. He was
very friendly towards any men he saw leading pious
lives; he encouraged them and lent them books.
If they were married and required help owing to
illness of themselves or of members of their families,
he would give or lend them money. If 'the cause
of the trouble was drink he would endeavour to
reclaim the erring one, but he was never known to
lend money to anyone who required.it simply to.
purchase drink. : : . '

His denieanouT towards his foreman and towards
the heads of the firm was respectful but frank. He

-. - 28- ' "' : '.-.'

L I F E OF MATT T A L B O T

never tfieej to curry favour with anyone, and if he
were in the right he spoke perfectly bluntly to all,
high or;low. He never lost his self-control, though
he -could speak vehemently on the point at issue.
On one occasion the foreman thought that the men
were not working hard enough and spoke severely
to them, Matt Talbot being amongst the men and
listening quietly. At the end of the talk one of the
men Kfted a scaffolding pole to carry it away, and,
turning rather suddenly, struck Matt a severe blow
on the head. The latter was hurt but did not make
any comment, and proceeded to his worK as usual.
On another occasion he had a rather heated dis-

cussion with the same foreman in connection with
subscriptions to charities and stated that the fore-
man, who had a good salary, could subscribe much
more easily than he, Talbot, could. The foreman
thought that Matt had exce'ede'd the bounds .of
respect and told him so. Matt left without saying
more, but. returned a day or so later and apologised,
saying that " Our Lord had tbld him that h& should
beg pardon for what he had said," and that he had
come to do so.

On one occasion all the men in the yard got an
increase in their wages except Talbot and another.
They thought they should have got the increase as
well as the others, .and,. on pay-day, Matt presented
himself to the managing director and asked for the
increase. He was refused and left the office without
any comment; nor did he allude to the incident
afterwards. When in charge of the drying shed, a

* '

29

\ ' . .''

L I F E OP MA T T T A L BO T

workman, on one Saturday morning, came in just
when the yards were about -to close and hid him-
self in the timber to avoid meeting the" managing
director, who was Booking for him because -he had
gone away the previous Saturday without leave.
Seeing Talbot, the managing director asked him
had he seen X. Talbot, instead of replying, said,
"I wish you would not ask me these questions.
You know^I do not want to answer them. "^ As the
managing director knew he would neither tell a lie
nor give the workman away, he contented himself
with saying, " Well, if you see X, tell him I want
him." He then le,ft the shed and Matt, calling to
the delinquent, asked, " Did you hear that?" "I
did," was the reply. "Well," said Matt, " attend
to it, as I will not tell lies to save you:" This in-
cident was typical of the man. He hated untruths,
and his bluntness came from the love of truth and
his horror of prevarication. He told a friend that a
curate in Berkeley Road parish church-, Rev. J. O'C.,
had taught him to love truth and hate lites.

30

CHAPTER IV. ''.

LABOUR TROUBLES. : :

IT is not the intention of the writer to enter into
a long discussion of the various Labour troubles
which disturbed Ireland from 1911 to 1914,
particularly during- the great strike of 1913. It is
necessary, however, to say something about these
matters in order to understand the position taken
up by Matt Talbot in reference to them.

Prior to f908, Irish workers were, for the most
part, members of trades' unions which had their
headquarters in Great Britain. They formed only a
small percentage of the union membership, and their
interests were altogether subordinated to the larger
interests .in England. Unskilled labour in Ireland
was unorganised and the conditions of employment
were, on the whole, bad. The housing conditions
in Dublin were a disgrace to a Christian city, and
the tenement houses with thousands of families each
living in one room were, and to a great extent are
still, the common form of home for the unskilled
worker. Wages were low, and, for married men
with families, insufficient to provide the 1 ordinary
necessaries of life. Low as- were the wages of the
labourers, 4,hey were still further depleted by the
system then prevalent oh the quays, of 'paying
dockers in public-houses. About the year 1908, all
unskilled and casual labourers .in Dublin, and
indeed in Ireland generally, were being organised

31

LIFE F^ MATT T A L B T

into one union, known as the Irish Transport and
General Workers' Union. An immediate effort was
made to improve the condition of the workers, and
strikes became common. ' A new and disturbing
feature of these strikes was the introduction of what
is known as " the sympathetic strike," where men
who had no quarrel in regard to their 6wn_ con-
ditions of employment, were, with a view to forcing
a settlement, called out in sympathy with their
fellows who were on strike. By 1911 the crisis was
approaching, as the success of the smaller strikes
had encouraged workers to join the new union,
and thus from attacks on small firms, the struggle
spread to the larger industrial concerns. The in-
dustrial war was not confined to Ireland, as Great
Britain was involved, in the prevailing unrest, and.
,on t a scale which dwarfed the Irish troubles in
comparison.

The importance of the struggle was recognised by
the Catholic Church in Ireland, so much so, that
at the meeting of the Maynooth Union, in July, .1912,
a very far-seeing paper was read by the Rev. M. J.
L 0'Donnell, D.D., on "Strikes." It was a clear,
impartial statement of the law of God and of His
Church, and was filled' with a deep sympathy for
the worker in his efforts to improve his position.
The paper -met -with the unanimous approval of the
clergy 'assembled at Maynooth, arid it called forth
the warm thanks of some of the leaders of the
Labour movement in the City of Dublin.

The issue, however, was knit. One employer

32 .-.'" v V" :.

LABOUR TROUBLES

of labour, the chairman of the Dublin Tramway v
Company, the late William M. Murphy, declared
war on the Irish Transport and General Workers'
Union, and, in August, 1913, the company, which
was about to start new works., gave notice that no
one would be employed who was a member of the
Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. The
employers now formed a union in defence of them-
selves, and both sides fought with all the energy
of Irishmen. The employers refused to employ
members of the Irish Transport and General
Workers' Union. This declaration was followed by
a " lock out " by many employers, with the result,
that the unemployed in the City mounted rapidly,
first to 15,000, and eventually to 30,000, persons.
The Press was hostile to the men, and eventually
public bodies passed resolutions asking .for a con 1
ference ; This was called but broke down almost
at -once. The employers now dropped the words
" lock out "and a form of undertaking was pre-
pared and submitted to the employees whereby they
were to undertake to carry out all orders- given by or
on 'behalf of the employers; , to handle, and deliver
all goods from, any source whatever; and to work
amicably with all other hands. This brought the
trouble into the building trade of which Matt Talbot
was a member, as some 300 men employed by the
timber , merchants refused .to sign the proposed
undertaking and were accordingly locked out.

Riots were common in the City, and prosecution
of the Labour leaders followed. .As is inevitable

~~ t

33

LIFE F MATT T A L B O T

t '

An times of such struggles, excesses were committed

and weapons used which alienated sympathy from
the workers in many cases. This was notably the
case when it was proposed to send the children of
the unemployed to England to be supported by the
workers there. This proposal was as short-sighted
as it was fatuous and raised a storm of protest
amongst the workers themselves, with- the result
that it was not carried out.

Efforts at conciliation were made, and an official
enquiry was opened, but broke down 'on the im-
portant question of re-instatement of all workers.
.The winter of 1913-1914 saw the struggle intensified
and the miseries of the workers increased. The
end came when the English Union withdrew their
financial support from the Irish workers, so that
with no alternative to starvation except submission,
the men returned to work on the employers- terms.
Any men who had been publicly identified with the
quarrel were refused reinstatement, amongst those
being a brother of Matt Talbot, who had been
particularly active in the fight.

The outbreak of the Great War changed the face
of the world, and it also changed the conditions of
labour in Dublin, but the old bitterness took many
a year to die down, and the^strike of 1913 is still,
when it is referred to, a sore subject with employers
and workmen. If one may venture an opinion
after the years that have passed, it is contained in
two' pronouncements' of the protagonists of, the
employers, when the fight was. over' and the men

34

L A B O U R TROUBLES

* .

were beaten the. Irish Times, in February, 1914,
declared in an editorial that " Larkinishr was . a
revolt against intolerable conditions," and Mr.
William M. Murphy, at a Conference of Dublin
employers, said that "their sweating wages and
bad conditions had produced Larkinism." These
two statements seem to the writer to describe the
industrial conditions in Dublin prior to 1908.

In the meantime we have apparently parted
company with Matt Talbot. How did ,all these
strikes affect him? In fact he went through it all
quite serenely. He took the view that he was not
competent to judge the matter in dispute, and,
therefore, left the decision to the men as a whole.
He did not attend any meetings, but when the men
left work or were locked out, he left with the others.
He refused to march in 'procession or to picket the
works, and on that account did not ask for strike
pay.- Some of his fellow-workers state that when
the question of the weekly allowance which was to
be made to the men who were oui was under con-
sideration, Matt's name was mentioned and it was
unanimously agreed tha't he should share with the
others although he had refused to picket. They
recognised that Matt was on a different plane, and
that argument or force was useless where he was
concerned. Accordingly, every week he was paifi
the same as the others. One of his work mates
spoke to Matt during the strike and asked him what
he thought were " the rights of it"? Matt replied
that the strike had troubled him also, and that he

35

L IF E F MATT; T A L B T

had spoken to one of the Jesuit Fathers in St.
Francis" Xavief's Church on the question; that
Father had lent him a book on the subject, and
having read there that no one had a right to starve
the poor into submission, it was ' enough for him
and had settled his conscience. This answer shows
that he considered 'the cause of the unemployment
as a " lock out," and not a strike in the ordinary
sense of the word.

There is no question about his sympathy with
his fellow- workers, as he often stated that in his
opinion the labourers, especially married men, were
not sufficiently paid, and he expressed his sympathy
with men who had children in their efforts to rear a
family in decency on the scanty wages paid in those
pre-war days. Frank and outspoken as he always
was, he spoke with warmth on these matters, and
was ever ready to assist from his own poor wages
those who were poorer than himself. . :

Although it has nothing to say to the Labour
question, a slight reference to Matt Talbot's attitude
towards politics will he,lp to complete the picture
of this period. Parallel with the Labour war,
1908-1914, ran the political fight which centred
round the Home Rule struggle and the preparations
for armed resistance in the North of Ireland. In
one respect they were intermixed, as the advanced
wing of the Labour Party in Ireland formed what
was called the "Citizen Army," which took an
active part in the rising in April,, 1916. In view of
questions asked on this matter, the writer made

36

L ''-A B O U R T R U B L E S

inquiries from Matt Talbot's most intimate friends,
including two sisters, a brother-in-law, and -fellow-
workers, all of whom agreed that Matt Talbot took
no interest whatever -in. polities; that he was never

, . . .\. .. . -. .,_.'- . -'..-.. --...,- - A . _...-./. . . ... i .-"-,- - .

known to vote at an election; and never discussed
political events. During the Rising in April, 1916,
popularly known as " Easter Week," he never
missed attendance at morning Mass, and when
others feared to pass the military cordons he went
through them undaunted, day after day, until
normal conditions were restored. Meeting a friend
soon after, the latter questioned him on the subject
of the Rising. Matt's reply was both shrewd and
far-seeing. Referring to the executions of the
leaders and the arrests and deportations which
followed the failure of the insurrection, he said,
" Our boys will all go into secret societies now."
During the Anglo-Irish War of 1919-1921 he never
was drawn into discussions on the subject. If
anyone asked him had he .heard of such and such a
matter, he replied that he had not, as he did not
read newspapers nor look at the placards. On one
morning the North Wall Hotel, then a British mili-
tary centre, and which adjoins Messrs. Martin's
yards, was blown up. The military immediately
searched every place in the vicinity. It was just
before the opening hour at Martin's 8 a.m. and
Matt T^albot, who was then working at the Castle
Forbes' yard, had arrived to open the yard. He
was arrested in his little office, brought, with his
hands up, .across the yard to the entrance gate,

37

L IP EOF MAT T T ALB T

placed against the wall and searched. He was
then released. Later on, when he met Mrs-:- M.,
who lived in the gate-lodge, he did not make any
reference to his morning adventure, and when she
tried to discuss the matter with him he turned the
conversation. v

During the later troubles, when, alas, our own
people fought one another, he was equally reticent,
and carefully avoided expressing any opinion on
the merits of the dispute which occasioned the
fighting. His friends were most emphatic in their
denial of his having ever done more than express
his sorrow at seeing Irishmen fighting amongst
themselves.

To sum up his .views on these two questions of
Labour and Politics. In Labour matters he stood
by his fellows when their action was in accordance
with the laws and teaching of the Catholic Church,
which for him was the voice of God. In politics
of any description he took no : part or interest.

38

CHAPTER V.

: THE DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER.

IN. the last Chapter it was necessary to anticipate
a little in order to give a connected account of
Matt' Talbot's relations to his employers and his
fellow- workers. It will now be necessary to retrace
our steps in order to consider the day from the
spiritual aspect.

Reference has already been made to his 'plank
bed, his fasting, his attendance at Mass. Even at
the risk of repetition, it will be necessary to re-
construct his daily life, so that a clear picture of the
extraordinary nature of his devotions may be given.

Prom the death of his father in the year 1899
onw,ards, Matt Talbot lived with his mother in 18
Upper Rutland Street.

Matt retired to his plank bed about 10.30 o'clock
and always slept with a statue of the Virgin and
Child in .his right hand, which he crossed over his
breast, so that the statue rested against his heart.
He found that the ordinary form of statue, in which
the image of the Divine Infant was held on 'the
right arm of the Blessed Virgin, prevented him
from sleeping, because the image of the Divine Child
hurt his side. Accordingly he got his sister , x Mrs.
Fylan, to search the shops until she found one with "
the image of the Divine Infant on the left arm of

39

LIFE OF MATT T ALB OT

Our L^dy, and this form he always used, his head
resting on the wooden pillow, and the statue firmly
clasped in his liand, resting- by his left side. ': He
did not remove the chains which he wore, an
account of which will be found later on, and he
slept on the bare boards, covered with half : a
blanket, which was his only covering except on
very cold nights, when he allowed his sister io add
an old sack. A small alarm clock awoke him at
2 a.m., when he rose to pray. A perpetual lamp
showed a dim light through the room, so that his
mother, at the other end of the room, could see
what passed during the hours of prayer.

On the first occasion that his mother slept in their
new; home she was awakened sometime after 2 a.m.
and saw Matt in his room kneeling up oh his bed.
She thought his face looked very strange, and asked,
"Is anything the matter, Matt? " He did not
reply, and after a little time she fell asleep again.
During the ensuing years she often watched him
without his knowledge, and had no doubt in her
mind that he was in a state of ecstacy. He knelt
erect, either on the bed or on the floor, in his night-
shirt, and prayed with his hands outstretched.
Sometimes he fell or threw himself forward on his
face on the floor, and remained in that position
with arms still outstretched, praying in an audible
voice. Sh.e heard him address the Blessed Virgin
and speak to her for a considerable time; not as in
ordinary prayer, but holding a regular conversation
as if he was actually speaking to Our Lady face to

40

THE DAILY $OUND OF PRAYER

face. His mother was fully convinced of this and
said to her daughter afterwards, " There is nothing
surer than that Matt used to see the Blessed Virgin."
Matt never told her so, But she formed this opinion
from the conversations with Our Lady which she
overheard at night. He always seemed, on such
occasions, to be looking at the Blessed Virgin.
Though he never discussed these night vigils with
his mother, he often said to her, " No one knows
the good Queen that is to me"; when saying this
he held the little statue in his hand and referred to
it. If his prayers were finished before 4 a.m., he
lay down on the planks to rest until the hour struck,
when he rose, dressed himself, and resumed his
prayers until it was time to leave -for Mass, some-
time before 5 a.m.

In later years, he usually went to Mass to St.
Francis Xavier's Church, at 6.15 a.m., but in his
younger days he often went to St. Teresa's Church
(O.D.G.), Clarendon Street. On one occasion when
he arrived at the little laneway leading from Graf ton
Street to St. Teresa's, some time before the house
door was open, he heard the^step of one of the night
policemen coming along the laneway. He stood
back into a doorway to avoid being seen> but this
only, attracted the attention of the policeman, who
stopped and questioned him closely as to his reasons
for being there at such an unreasonable hour. As
there were side entrances to business premises in
the little passage, the policeman suspected Matt of
loitering ,with intent to commit a burglary. The

. :'. '' V '" ' 41

L I F E F MA T. T T, A L B T

- *

latter explained that he had come to Mass, but the
policeman was sceptical and said the church would
not be open until 6 a.m. and that it was now only
5 o'clock. Matt said that the sacristan would soon
open the presbytery door and that he would be
admitted. While this conversation was going on,
another policeman, hearing the voices, came in from
Graf ton Street and .seeing Matt, whom he already
knew from having seen him waiting at the church
door, called away his colleague and told him not to
trouble more about his suspect. The door was
opened almost immediately and Matt took refuge in
the church. He found the walk from his home to
Clarendon Street, which was quite a , considerable
distance, took up too much time to enable him to
return home, have breakfast, and be at his work by
8 a.m., so he went to St. Francis Xavier's instead.
Thi's church opened at 5.30 a.m. and Matt usually
arrived at the entrance about 5 a.m., if not earlier.
He knelt in prayer on the steps of the convent ad-
joining, or at the iron railings of the church, waiting,
for it to be opened. Even if the morning were wet
he did not take shelter in the doorway, although
sometimes asked to do so. On some occasions,
either before the opening of the church, or after
Mlass, he would chat with a friend for a few
minutes. To one such friend who knew h.im very
well, and who acted as his almoner on more than
one occasion, he confided that he had asked for the
gift of prayer and that he had got it in abundance.
Whenever he knelt ^down tie knelt on his bare

42

THE DAILY ROUND OP PRAYER

knees.. . To do this without attracting attention he
resorted to an ingenious device: he cut the knees of
his trousers .lengthways, so that when standing up
or walking ,the- opening did not show, but when he
knelt. down he was able to pull the trousers aside
and leave the knees bare. ' To hide .this from the
public he pulled his overcoat, which he invariably
wore in the church, around his legs. The sharp eyes
of the lay-brother who had charge of the church,
however, discovered the secret which was so care-
fully concealed from all others.

On the church door being opened he knelt at the
door and kissed the ground. He then went to the
altar rail, and, having prayed for some little time,
he performed the Stations of the Cross. In con-
nection with this devotion a iriend once said to him
that .he had seen a priest in the Passionist Church
at Mount Argus going round the stations entirely on
his knees without standing up to walk from station
to station. Matt replied that he* would like to
perform the stations in a similar manner were it not
that his doing so would attract attention. Having,
finished the stations, he knelt at the extreme right
hand end of the rail in front of the high altar,
where he received Holy Communion during Mass.
He then returned to the rail which runs across the
church, dividing the nave from the upper portion of
the church and the transepts, and remained there
until the end of Mass. After his illness he. changed
his place to the centre of the third bench opposite
St. Joseph's altar. During Mass he never used a

43

b 1 F E F M ATT T A L EOT

prayer book, but prayed with his eyes shut. .He
knelt erect in the bench, with his hands clasped in
front of him, nor did he allow them to rest on the
rail in. front of him. He was, therefore, without any
support whatever and remained in this position for
the entire period he was in the church. This! lasted
on Sundays until about 1.30 p.m. He did not stand
up for the Gospels. This has been commented on
as not in. accordance with the usual procedure. He
explained it by saying that he had read in the life
of a saint that this saint had never stood up, so that
he might avoid distractions. Matt had, therefore, a
sound authority to .guide him in the matter. He
was most careful not to attract attention to himself,
and the brother who knew him best at St; Francis
Xavier's, states that except for his extraordinary
spirit of recollection there was nothing to attract
attention to him in church. .One of the Jesuit
Fathers who had given Matt Holy Communion re-
marked to some' of the other Jesuits that there was
a saint attending their church, so struck was he by
.the wonderful fervour with which he had received
the Sacred Host. He did not know who the man
was, but after the publication of the first life he
learned .that 'it was Matt Talbot, and identified him
by the place he occupied at the altar rails. After
Mass Matt made no delay but left, the church,
walking :. quickty ou ^ an( * n0 ^ looking to the right
or the left. The only pause he made was to fondle
a beautiful collie dog which lay in the outer porch
waiting for its mistress, who was in the church.

.. ' -'4S- .-..'. ; '

THE DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER

This lady who, through the dog, made Matt's ac-
quaintance, has later on some interesting facts to
relate of the friendship thus begun.

On his return to his room he had breakfast, which
consisted of cocoa prepared the evening before by
his sister, and reheated by himself, and some dry
bread. Sometimes if he were pressed for time he
drank the cocoa cold, and then walked rapidly to
Messrs. T. &.C. Martin's, halting on the way to pay
a short visit to the Church of St. Laurence O'Toole,
Seville Place, " to see Our Lord on the way down,"
as he told one of his foremen.

From about the year 1918 he was storeman in
the Castle Forbes' yard. He arrived at the yard
about 7.45 a.m., in order to open the main gate for
the men anc^ lorries at 8 a.m.. On arrival he removed
his coat and hat, which he hung up in the little
office in the timber shed, which has been referred
to already, and put on ah old coat and hat. From
that hour until 12.30 p.m. he did his ordinary work-
in the yard, receiving orders, selecting timber and
sending out lorries. His dinner hour was 12.30
p.m., as he had to remain in the yard while the men
were at dinner, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Mrs. M.,
who lived in the gate-lodge at Castle Forbes, states
that she only knew Matt Talbot to see him in the
yard until she began to prepare his midday meal.
One day, "in the year 1920, at 12-.30 p.m., he knocked
at the back door of the gate-lodge, anel when Mrs.
M. came to the door he handed her a % workman's
can, arid asked her to boil the kettle and put some

45

LIFE OP. M A T T T A L B T

boiling water in the can to make his "cocoa." She
said "Yes," and he, thereupon, put a pinch of cocoa
and a pinch of tea into the can and 'went away.
When the kettle was boiled, Mrs. M. filled the can
with water and closed it with the cap, which was
cover and cup combined. She noticed that the can
was of tin and the cap of enamel, as if he had found
old ones somewhere. She then left the can outside
the back door. He did not remove it, however,
until it was quite cold, and then went to the end of
the yard carrying it in. his hand. She never saw
him take his. meal, but she heard that he took a
slice of bread with it. During the time from 1 p.m.
to. 2 p.m. his duty was to open the gate to admit the
lorries, and if necessary to load them with the man
in charge, of same. When not so employed, he
retired to the little office or to the end of the yard,
where Mrs. M.'s children saw him praying. He did
not mind the children, but if a grown person came
in view he rose from his knees and came out of the
office, or from .behind the timber. Mrs. M. noticed
that the inside of the can and of the cap were coated
with cocoa sediment and she asked Matt if he
would allow her to wash -them, but he refused to
allow this to be done, and, as he was exceedingly
clean in his person, she assumed he did this from a
desire for mortification.

When he called with the can she sometimes tried
to enter into a conversation with him. He would
not discuss news, but always brought the conversa-
tion round to the lives of the saints. He was most

46

THE DAILY R U N D F P R A Y E R

unassuming and gentle in his manner and when she
spoke of some incident in the fighting which was
going on in Dublin during this period (1920-1922)
he always said he never heard of it because he had
made a resolution not to look at. the placards. The
incident of the blowing up of the London North
Western Hotel has already been spoken of and his
action in connection with' it.

He often said to Mrs. M. that it was a pity men
did not love God more; that he went to Mass every
morning; and that others could do the same if they
liked. When he spoke like this, it seemed quite
natural to him, and he never gave her any
other impression than that of a holy old man who
could only speak of God. Sometimes he found eggs
which had been laid by Mrs. M.'s hens amongst the
timber. These he always brought to her, and when
she asked him why he did not keep some, he replied
that they were not. his to keep. When she offered
him some, he declined to accept them.

He was very fond of Mrs. M.'s children, especially
Teresa, because of his devotion to the great St.
Teresa. He allowed the children to play near him
when he was at prayer, and sometimes he would
lead Teresa by the hand down the yard speaking to
her of God and the angels. Teresa was then about
eight years .old, and Matt, when he wished to in-
struct her, would join her hands together and hold
them in his own hands. He told her always to pray
to St. Teresa for anything she wanted and that she
would get it When he spoke of her guardian angel

47i '

LI F E F M A T T T A L B T

he told her that when she was tempted to commit a"
sin "to remember that her guardian angel and the
devil were fighting together for her."
The children were never forgotten at Christmas.
When work ceased on Christmas Eve, Matt arrived
at the gate-lodge and asked for them. A
regular ceremony was then gone through while
the children waited anxiously for their presents.
First he proceeded to search his pockets most care-
fully, pretending that he found it difficult to find
the money. He next produced three sixpences, each
carefully rolled up in a number, of bits of paper,
which he solemnly unrolled until the sixpence was
uncovered, and finally each child was presented
with a' sixpence. However, the number of children
increased until there were seven, so Matt, .finding it
difficult to produce seven sixpences, reduced the
amount, to threepence, and went 'through, the same
procedure with the seven threepenny pieces.

At 2 p.m. on the ordinary work-day he resumed
his work until closing hours. Then he took off the
old coat and hat, proceeded to the water-tap where
he thoroughly washed his face and hands, drying
them in a big red handkerchief, put on his outof :
doors coat and hat and went ^io St. Laurence
O'Toole's Church to pay a short visit before return-
ing home. He told Mrs. 'M. that he kept his. work-
ing clothes in the yard as he did not wish to enter
the House of God in them. ,

The foreman in this yard (E. C.) states that as
Messrs. Martins were Catholics they did not open

' " 48 . . -

CHURCH OF ST. LAURENCE O'TOOLE.

Matt Talbot visited this Church daily " to see Our Lord on
the way down " to work.

[Facing page 48

L I F E F M A T T T A L B T

he told her that when she was tempted to commit a"
sin "to remember that her guardian angel and the
devil were fighting together for her."

The children were never forgotten at Christmas.
When work ceased on Christmas Eve, Matt arrived
at the gate-lodge and asked for them. A
regular ceremony was then gone through while
the children waited anxiously for their presents.
First he proceeded to search his pockets most care-
fully, pretending that he found it difficult to find
the money. He next produced three sixpences, each
carefully rolled up in a number of bits of paper,
which he solemnly unrolled until the sixpence was
uncovered, and finally each child was presented
with a sixpence. However, the number of children
increased until there were seven, so Matt, finding it
difficult to produce seven sixpences, reduced the
amount to threepence, and went through the same
procedure with the seven threepenny pieces.

At 2 p.m. on the ordinary work-day he resumed
his work until closing hours. Then he took off the
old coat and hat, proceeded to the water-tap where
he thoroughly washed his face and hands, drying
them in a big red handkerchief, put on his out-of-
doors coat and hat and went to St. Laurence
O'Toole's Church to pay a short visit before return-
ing home. He told Mrs. M. that he kept his work-
ing clothes in the yard as he did not wish to enter
the House of God in them.

The foreman in this yard (E. C.) states that as
Messrs. Mart-ins were Catholics they did not open

48

CHURCH OF ST. LAURENCE O'TOOLE.

llutt Talbot visited tliis Church daily " to see Our Lord on
the wav down " to work.

[Facing page 48

THE NOTE-TAKING HABIT.

*

Matt Talbot committed to writing every striking passage
in the books he read.

THE DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER

the yards on Catholic Holy Days,, until 8.45 a.m.,
to enable the men to go to Mass before .coming' to
work. As one of the foremen was a Protestant and
could not.be expected to know the dates of these
Holy Days, Matt invariably went to him on the eve
of the Holy Day and told him " not. to forget that
to-morrow is a Mass morning." This was done to
prevent a misunderstanding in the morning when
the men arrived late, and also to let the," foreman
know that he need not attend himself before the
later hour.

It is of interest to know that " Matt's Office " was
presented to Mrs. M., when Castle Forbes was sold
by Messrs. Martin's, and is now erected in her new
home. She also possesses Matt's old cap and the
" billy can " in which she so often made his cocoa,'
or rather the nauseous mixture of cocoa and tea
which he partook of as his midday meal.

Having finished his visit to the Blessed Sacrament
in St. Laurence O'Toole's Church x he returned
home, where his sister, Mrs. Fylan, who lived near
him, had his dinner ready. Of this meal we shall
speak later. His procedure on entering his room
was to remove his coat and hat, go to the dressing-
table where the Crucifix stood, fervently kiss the foot
of same and then, still, on his knees, go to the table
where his meal was ready and partake of same
kneeling, Mrs. Fylan was present' all the time, and
when he had finished 'she tidied up the room, and
having left the cocoa ready for the morning, went
to her own home. Prior to 1915, while his mother

49

THE NOTE-TAKING HAT5TT.

Matt Talhot coimnitted to writing every striking passage
in the books he read.

THE DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER

the yards on Catholic Holy Days until 8.45 a.m.,
to enable the men to go to Mass before coming to
work. As one of the foremen was a Protestant and
could not be expected to know the dates of these
Holy Days, Matt invariably went to him on the eve
of the Holy Day and told him " not to forget that
to-morrow is a Mass morning." This was done to
prevent a misunderstanding in the morning when
the men arrived late, and also to let the foreman
know that he need not attend himself before the
later hour.

It is of interest to know that " Matt's Office " was
presented to Mrs. M., when Castle Forbes was sold
by Messrs. Martin's, and is now erected in her new
home. She also possesses Matt's old cap and the
" billy can " in which she so often made his cocoa,'
or rather the nauseous mixture of cocoa and tea
which he partook of as his midday meal.

Having finished his visit to the Blessed Sacrament
in St. Laurence O'Toole's Church l he returned
home, where his sister, Mrs. Fylan, who lived near
him, had his dinner ready. Of this meal we shall
speak later. His procedure on entering his room
was to remove his coat and hat, go to the dressing-
table where the Crucifix stood, fervently kiss the foot
of same and then, still, on his knees, go to the table
where his meal was ready and partake of same
kneeling. Mrs. Fylan was present all the time, and
when he had finished she tidied up the room, and
having left the cocoa ready for the morning, went
to her own home. Prior to 1915, while his mother

49

LIFE OF MATT T A L B T

was alive, either Mrs. Andrews or Mrs. Fylan
looked after their mother as she was unable to leave
the room-, but after her mpther's death Mrs. Fylan,
who was then in charge, did not, as a rule, return
again to Matt's room until he had gone to work next
morning. When he was alone his prayers and
spiritual reading began, and continued without
interruption until 10.30 or 11 p.m., except on the
nights when he had to attend at one or other of the
churches where tlie devotions of some of the con-
fraternities to which he belonged were in progress.
Before 11 p.m. he retired to his plank bed and
'wooden pillow for the few hours sleep which he
allowed himself.

x

On Sunday he had a very full day. If it were the
first Sunday of the month he went to St. Francis
Xavier's, because that was the Men's Sodality Holy
Communion day. On the second Sunday of the
month he went to the Franciscan Church (O.F.M.),
Merchants' Quay, for the, monthly Communion of
the Third Order of St. Francis. He also belonged
to the Confraternities of the Blessed Sacrament
(Franciscan); Living Rosary (Dominican); Bona
Mors (Jesuit) ; and to the Apostleship of Prayer. On
other Sundays he went either to St. Francis Xavier's
or to the Pro-Cathedral , Marlborough Street. He
liked the latter church because of tlie number of
Masses said there on Sunday by priests passing
through Dublin. One of his books of devotion
contains the following entry: -"On Feast of the
Seven -Joys B.V.M., 22nd August, 1915> I, Matt

50

TR.E DAILY ROUND OF PRAYER

Talbot, was present at twenty-one Masses." On
the .following- page is the entry; that on. the 15th
August, being the Sunday previous, he had attended
twenty-one Masses. When the first life appeared
it was questioned if any church in Dublin had so
many as twenty-one Masses on Sunday. The writer
found the proof in the statement of J. G., who
informed him that on one occasion Matt- Talbot told
him he had heard twenty-one Masses on the Sunday
previous at the Pro-Cathedral. J. G. questioned
the possibility of being able to attend twenty-one
Masses, but Matt corrected J. O.'s idea that they
need not be one after the other, and told. him that so
long as one had the intention of hearing the Masses
which were being said, it was only necessary
actually to follow one Mass. There. was no difficulty
whatever in twenty-one Masses' being said in the
Pro-Cathetlral on a Sunday.

Before his illness he remained in the church from
the opening on Sunday morning until the very end'
of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, which is
given in the principal churches after the 12 o'clock
Mass. In one case he left the church in order to go to
hear an extra Mass. This was on the second Sunday,
when he attended the Franciscan Church, Mer-
chants' Quay. The Third Qrder Mass was at 8
o'clock, and as there was no 9 o'clock Mass, Matt
used to leave the church at 8.30 and go to the
Augustinian Church, John's Lane, which was quite
close, atlend 9 o'clock Mass there, and return to the
Franciscan Church for the 10 o'clock Mass.

51

LIFE OF MATT T A L B T

He returned to his room about 2 p.m., when he
broke his fast for the first time, having been without
food from ,6.30 p..m. on the previous day. 'In the
last few years of his life he returned home after
early Mass and had breakfast . He then returned to
the church for the remaining Sunday. Masses. It
will be seen that he was actually on his way to St.
Saviour's, Dominick Street, at 9.30 a.m., when he
dropped dead. The remainder of the Sunday was
spent as usual, in prayer or reading, or at. the Con-
fraternity meeting.

CHAPTER VI.

THE EVENING PRAYER.

E must now return to the hour, when having
partaken of his evening meal at 6.30 p.m.,
*he prepared for prayer. While his mother
lived they were together after his sister had with-
drawn. On a chair beside the table were placed all
the books of devotion required for the evening the
various prayer books containing the litanies recited
each day, the manual containing novenas, and
whatever spiritual books he was then reading.
Kneeling at the table he began to pray, and con-
tinued until the various devotions were finished.
He 'then either spoke to his mother on religious
matters or read to her. If she were otherwise
engaged he read in silence. It was a cheerful and
happy room, as his devotion to his mother was very
deep and tender. He joked and laughed when
occasion demanded it, but their principal joy was
to talk of their familiar Mends Jesus, Mary and
Joseph and the Saints. Amongst the many saints
whose lives he knew so well, he had a very great
devotion, to the saints who had been sinners. He
spoke of St. Mary Magdalene, St. Mary of Egypt,
and of their lives of penance, with wonder and
admiration, and loved to call attention to their great
works of mortification, which for women seemed
well-nigh incredible. In his simple way he spoke

53 '

LIFE OP MATT TALBOT

of them as "great girls," and sometimes, when his
sister was present, he would call her over to the
table to admire the picture of one of the holy women
whose life he might have been reading.

After his mother's death he lived alone, and
generally prayed in the dark. As the window was
without a blind the people who lived on the opposite
side of the street knew when he was praying or
reading by seeing the lamp being extinguished be-
fore" he began to pray or being placed fully lighted
on the table while he read. He was, of course* quite
unaware of the interest his movements excited in
his neighbours. :

Amongst his regular prayers were fifteen mysteries
of the Rosary . of Our Lady; the Little Office- of the
Blessed Virgin; the Dolour beads; the beads of the
Immaculate Conception; the beads of the Holy
Ghost; the -beads of -St. Michael; the- beads of the
Sacr-ed -Heart; the chaplet for the -Souls in Purga-
tory; the "principal -Litanies; the prescribed novenas
for each Church feast (these are marked in his
-notes in some of his books of devotion) . Besides
these, he recited in the Franciscan Church, after the
meetings of the Third Order, of St. Francis, which
he joined on the 18th October-, 1891, taking the
names of Joseph Francis, the round of the -beads
for each deceased member for whom prayers were
asked at the meeting.

When reading aloud, he had a very pleasant,
-clear voice, and, at times, he would vary the reading
by singing hymns. In connection with his reading

54

THE EVENING PRAYER

it is important to remember that his education was
very elementary, as he left school at the age of
twelve years. One friend said to him that it was a
pity he was not better educated, but Matt Talbot
did not agree with this view and said that " God
knew what- was best." This same friend writes:
" As regards his spiritual life I think no person knew
"anything about it except the late Father James
" Walsh, S.J., and it is doubtful if he/knew very
" much. He (Talbot) said to me on one occasion
" that he had prayed very hard for the gift of prayer,
*' and that it had been given to him in great
" abundance. Although he, of course, said the
" ordinary prayers usual .with Catholics, his prayer
" was usually mental prayer, which he seemed a
"great master of." This view is borne out by the
experience of a lady (Miss B.), who formed his
acquaintance in his later years, and who owned the
collie dog which has been referred to. She states :
" On a Saturday evening in the early Spring of 1924
" I called at his room in 18 Upper Rutland Street,
" about 3 p.m., with a few eggs. He received me
" with great courtesy and set a chair for me near his
" fire. When I sat down he sat down and we spoke
" of his health. After a very little time he changed
" the conversation to religious topics. He spoke of
" the Gospels, the Scriptures, of Our Lady in par-
" ticular, as he had a great devotion to her; of
"various saints,- but especially St. Augustine, St.
" Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Francis
"Borgia and St. Alphonsus Rodriguez. He seemed

55

LIFE OF MAT T T A L B T

" to have a great knowledge, .of. and admiration for
" the Jesuit Saints. I was quite entranced with. his
" conversation, which was very beautiful; and did
" not realise how long I. was with him until I saw
" his clock. I asked if th.e clock was .right, and
".he said it was. It was then 6 o'clock and I had
" been listening to him for three hours, though I did
"not believe I was more than half an hour with
" him. As I apologised for my long stay, his face
" lit. up with pleasure, and he thanked me warmly
" for my visit. One thing he mentioned was that
" he had read in the life of a saint whose name I
" cannot recall, that he never got up from his. knees
" in the church lest he should be distracted. Matt
" Talbot said that was why he did not stand up
"either. His little room was poor but clean and
" tidy. I noticed that the bed was very flat and was
" covered with a dark quilt which covered pillow
" and all. I often called at his room with a little
" present of eggs, which I asked him to beat up and
" eat. He always smiled and said he would. I
" was usually accompanied by an Irish terrier dog,
" which he insisted on allowing into the room,
" saying he was very fond of dogs. On such occa-
" sions we did. not speak of religious subjects, and I
" did not delay. o He was very reticent until I got
" to know him, when he spoke quite freely."

We cannot pierce the veil which shadows the
hours spent in the silence of his room alone with
God, but from his books we may be able to, recon-
struct the scene and follow his thoughts. Scattered

56

JT H E E YEN ING PRAYER

through his books, were scraps of, paper which he
had carried home from. the. timber yard. As has
.keen! stated, his duty in his later years w.as.to select
certain classes of timber required for, the furniture
department, or for customers. The orders came on
half sheets of notepaper, and these Talbot appears
to have put into his pocket for his own use after-
wards. Others of the notes are on bits of paper torn
from a passbook, in fact the nearest scrap of paper
was used to write down, the extracts from his

s

spiritual books or from sermons heard in church.
Some are written in ink, some with an ordinary
black-lead pencil, some with indelible or coloured
pencil. All do not refer to religious subjects but to
some fact which he had heard or read, and which
struck him at the time as worthy of note. Thus we
firid the distances from the Earth to the Sun and to
the fixed stars evidently taken from a book on the
various heavens given in the old astronomies, the
one now quoted being from Christopher Glavitis.
In connection with his reading he, once told D. M.,
a clerk in Messrs. Martin's, that he was reading
Cardinal Newman's " Apologia." D. M. remarked
that a book like that was too high-class for a man
like him; that he (D. M.) had tried to read.it and
had to give it up as it was altogether above him.
Matt Talbot replied that whenever he read a book
he always prayed to-God to give him light to under-
stand it, or, at least,sto understand the main points
of the book; that he thought he got enough of light
to understand most of what he read. Readers of the

57 ' '

LIFE 'OF MATT T A L B T

lives of the saints will remember that it is hot an
uncommon experience to find very holy souls . who
were without education able to read and understand
books of the most profound mystical theology, and
possessing- an accuracy of thought and a, precision of
expression which could only be the result of
knowledge directly infused by the Holy Ghost.
We need not, therefore, be surprised to find a man
so gifted with the spirit of prayer as Matt Talbot
was, .reading with full understanding the books
found in his little library.

These little scraps of paper reveal the very soul
of the man and show his own beautiful character
much better than the words of a biographer can do.
They shall be allowed to tell their own tale :
From the note-book : *

" Speak not evil of the rich man in the private
chamber because even the birds of the air will
carry thy voice and he that hath wings will tell
what thou has said. Book Gle. & G. 19 V."

" Cursed be the deceitful man, says God, who
has a male in his flock yet sacrifices an infirm
creature to me, because I am a great King says
the Lord of Hosts and my name is terrible
amongst the Nations. The Prophet Malachy the
I.G. &14V."

" 1. Draw me after Thee oh Heart of J.esus and
I shall run in the odour of the ointments. 2.
Grant me oh Jesus Thy Grace x and Love ^md I
shall be rich enough. 3. The Sparrow has found
herself a house and the turtle dove a nest to de-

58

T H E E V EN I N G PRAYER

posit her young. Thy heart oh Jesus shall be my
rest and repose. -4. May -iny eyes and my heart
be always on the wound of Thy .Blessed Heart oh
Jesus. 5. Who shall separate us from the Heart
of Jesus. 6. Heart of Jesus be Thou the object
of all the affections -of my heart. 7. Lord give
me of that water flowing from Thy Heart and I
shall never thirst. 8. Heart of Jesus support the
weak, clothe me with Thy strength. , 9." (An
abrupt stop.)
Next follows -the prayer for- the beatification of

the Little Flower, copied out in Matt Talbot's

writing. As it is well known it is not given.

"St. Veronica
" The Blessed (sic) told her banish all anxiety

for her to 3 letters:

"The 1st Purity of the affections by placing
her whole heart in God alone, loving no creature
but in Him; and for her 2nd Never to miif mur
or be impatient at the sins or any behaviour of
others but to bear them with interior peace and
patience and humbly to pray for them and 3rd to
set apart some time every day to meditate on the
Passion of Christ."
-" Liberty of Spirit means that freedom from

- self-love that makes the soul prompt in doing
God's -will in the least thing."

"0 Most Sweet Jesus mortify within me all
that is bad make it die. Put to death in me all
that is vicious and unruly. Kill whatever dis-.
pleases Thee, mortify within me all that is my

59

LIFE OF M-A.T-T- TALBOT

. own,. .Give .me true . Jmmility, true patience and

. ...true .charity.. Grant me -the perfect . cpntrpl of

... my. tongue, nly'.' (ends here).

... ""What is Mystical Theology. (It) is the

.science that .deals with God and divine things;

the truths revealed by God and all that results

from revelations. The word mystical means

secret,, hidden, obscure. Mystical Theology,

therefore, is. that part of the General Science of

Theology which treats about the secret and

hidden things. Union of the Soul with God, it

is also used as in the present treatise. C. the 12

to denote ....."'

" When Our Lord showed Sister Francesca of
the Bleeding Sacrament, a Spanish Garmelitess,
the loss of a soul and several times in a vision
compelled her positively to study separate tor-
tures . of that place, upbraided her for weeping.
France'sca why weepest thou? She fell prostrate
at the Sacred Feet and said Lord for the damna-
tion of that soul and the manner in which it has
been damned. He vouchsafed to reply, Daughter
it hath chosen to damji itself I have given it many
helps of grace that it might be saved."
These end the notebook, except for a note which
was only started and conveys nothing to the reader.
The scraps of paper found by the writer amounted
to thirty-six, and for convenience are numbered
1 to 36: / -

1. As to nobility of blood, true nobility is to be
derived only from the blood of the Son of God.

60

THE; E V E N I N G PRAYER

2. Love is a Sweet Tyrant, sweet- to the person
beloved but a tyrant to the lover that is Jesus
Christ that is God.

'3 v The heathen philosophers when (they) 'knew
God had not glorified Him as God or given
thanks but became vain in their thoughts and
their foolish hearts were darkened wherefore God
gave them up *o the sameful affections and to
the desire of their own heart to uncleanness.
(N.B. This note has been altered, 'as in the

original it' is slightly mixed up through misplacing

some of the words). ' '

4. He that oppresseth the poor upbraideth his
maker, but he that hath pity on the poor
honoureth him. Prov. 14 G. 31 V.

5. God says^St. Augustine can only be honoured
by love.,

6. How I long that Thou mayest be master of
my heart my Lord Jesus.

- 7. O King of Penitents who pass for fools .in
the opinion of the world but very dear to you oh,
Jesus Christ.

8. (This is not in Talbot's handwriting but is
in a woman's- hand. It is the prayer of the Angel
of the Agony from the Dream of Gerontius by
Cardinal Newman, beginning:

"Jesus ! by the shuddering dread which fell on
Thee ")

On the back of this prayer, in the handwriting
of Matt Talbot, is a note about " St. Ignatius 846
and Photius; the Council of Constance 809, the

.61

LIFE OF MATT T A ;L BO T

death of St. Ignatius 878, 4 score years old. 608
St. Ulric the first Saint solemnly canonized by the
Church 4th July 973." :. . :...;.'

9. The exterior acts of religion are 3 Adora-
tion, Sacrifice and Vows.;

10. Three Substances were united in Christ-
His Divinity, His Soul and Body. -

11. Absolute miracle is ~fro$n God alone, a
miracle from an angel is an efficient -miracle done
by His own strength. Hume tells us that a
miracle may be accurately defined a transgression
of a law of nature by a particular volition of the
Deity.

- 12. Should (you) ;ask^ me what is Grace, I
answer you Grace as Divines (?) define it is a
participation of the Divine nature that is God,
Sanctity, Purity and Greatness by virtue of which
a man. rises from the baseness and filth he re-
ceived from Adam.

13. The prophet Amas-G. 8 v. 9 & 10. The
sun shall go down at midday and I will make the
earth dark in the day of Light and I will turn
your feasts into mourning and all songs into
lamentations.

14. All flesh have sinned and all flesh iruist
suffer. St. Ambrose says without combat there is
no victory and without victory, there is no Grown.

15. Our Lord appeared to St. Gertrude pale,
weary and bleeding and dirt stained and said

, open your heart my daughter for I want to go in
and lie down 7 . I am weary of these days of sin,

62

THE EVENING PR A Y E R

16. Sin is an excessive evil because it is an
infinite evil.

17. Perfect happiness consists of the full activity
of a perfect nature. The angels have it.

18. At present the human body is an animal
body inasmuch as to preserve its life on this earth
so it is (necessary) to nourish it with earthly food.

19. What do the letters I.H.S. mean. It means
they are the first three letters of the name Jesus
in the Greek language.

20. The word Canon signifies a rule or ordin-
ance of prayer, human testimony to prove miracles
(ends).

21. Jesus, says Origen, is the Sun of Justice
arising with the Spring of Grace upon our hearts.

22. The Holy House 13 F. 3" hi (sic) 29 F. 4"
length, 12 F. 8" width..

23. The Heart of Jesus is with me. Stop cease.
The inhabitants of Antioch it is related once

arrested a violent, earthquake by writing on doors
of their houses Jesus Christ is with us, Cease.

24. Sir Henry Wotton a great authority on the
point, Ambassador at Venice, tells us that an
Ambassador is one sent to foreign Courts to invent
lies for his country's good.

25. Blessed Mother obtain from Jesus a share
of His Folly. .

26. It is the will of God that man should have
two lives, the one natural the other supernatural..

27. The sons of Man neither know what is the
greatness of what is eternal nor the baseness of

63

L I F E P MATT T A D B O T

what is temporal. The- time of life is but a career
of death in which no man is permitted to make
stay. . -

28. The Pope is subject to no human authority.
This is his temporal power. Christ is not divided
so neither is His Church divided . . . . after
all the world can do God is still upon His Throne.

The obedience of Jesus Christ to the will of
God was the recognition of the Sovereignty of
God over the will of man.

29. The teaching of theologians that al! 4 venial
sins with which a just man dies are remitted as
to the guilt at the moment when the soul is
separated from the body, by virtue of an Act of
Love of God and the perfect contrition which it
'then excites over all its faults. In fact' the soul
at this moment knows its condition perfectly, and
the sins of which it has been guilty before God,
and all the stain of guilt has then disappeared but
the pain remains to be endured in all its rigour
and long duration. '

30. 'To constitute a mortal sin three circum-
stances must be united (1) The matter must be
grave and (2) the mind must have a full know-
ledge of the culpability of the act which it com-
mits or of the omission which it permits or of the
danger of the occasion of sin to which it exposes
itself (3) the will must decide with ah entire
consent and a criminal preference for the for-
bidden act, - the culpable omission, or the
dangerous occasion. ' -

64 .

THE E V E N I N G PRAYER

31. The Body and the Soul of Jesus Christ
were united by the hypostatic Union, that is by
the personalassumption of our manhood into God
to the -Person of the eternal Son two natures in
one, person Jesus Christ.

The use of the will is to do good but the abuse
of the will is to do evil. .

32. One Our Father, one Hail Mary in honour
of life ignominy of Jesus offer yourself to God
Avith Joy and Peace. Man enjoys by the Union
of a God to his nature an advantage which the
Angels never possessed.

33: The Kingdom of Heaven was promised not
to the sensible and the educated but to such as
have the spirit of little children.

34. Oh Virgin I only ask three things the Grace
of God, the Presence of God, the Benediction of
God. ,

35. In Meditation, we labour to seek God. by
reasoning and by good acts, but in Contemplation
we behold Him without labour already found.
In Meditation, the mind labours, operating with
its power, but in Contemplation it is God Himself
who operates, and the soul merely receives the
infused gifts.

"36. What do I want to speak to you when I

have Jesus to speak to me.

Amongst these little extracts and prayers was a
very beautiful prayer, not in his own handwriting,
for his spiritual director. It begins, "Oh, my God,
bless, guide and enlighten him amongst Thy

'65

LIFE OF MATT TALBQT

Ministers to whom Thou hast entrusted the, guidance
of my Soul .; . ...,". which would .go ...to show
that there must have been some priest, to whom he
confided his mode of life, but who pre-deceased
him this shall be referred to : later on. - *

The high spirituality revealed by the extracts
given above is further emphasized by the nature of
the books which formed his usual reading. He had
a large box filled with books ranging from the book-
lets issued by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland
and the Irish Messenger Office to. large and expensive
books which he bought or which were presented
to him. His memory was so good that he could
give the dats of the births, deaths, and canoniza-
tions of almost all the .great saints in the calendar.
At the end of this chapter is given a fairly compre-
hensive list qf : his principal books. He had a very
tender devotion to Our Lady, and his, love for her
followed close, as does the love of all spiritual souls,
on his devotion to Our Blessed Lord. That he_ could
read with full understanding a work such as the
Mystical City of God, compiled from the writings of
Mary of Agreda, the Spanish Mystic, shows that
he was himself deeply versed in .the highest form
of mystical prayer. This book he obtained with
difficulty, having apparently to procure it; outside
Ireland, possibly owing to the difficulty of importing
books during the Great War, and he never parted,
with it. Another book on Qur Lady which he highly
prized was "True Devotion to the Blessed yirgin,"
by the Blessed Louis Marie Grignion de Montfori,

*

66

THE EVENING PRAYER

\

from which he first got the idea of wearing chains.

During the ten years which elapsed between the
death of his mother and his own death these evening
hours are., clothed, in silence. To be alone with
Jesus he had gone aside from the crowd, and what
passed between him and the Great Lover of his
Soul was known only to themselves. We have got
a glimpse of his prayer in the early morning when
his mother watched him in an ecstasy ppuring out
his soul to God and God's Mother. Once or twice
he broke the silence: speaking to his. sister, Mrs.
Fylan, he complained of the lack of the love of God
amongst men, and said, " Susan, if I could only tell
you. of the great joy I had last night talking to .
God and the Blessed Virgin." But such confidences
were very rare, and should he think he had spoken
too much of himself he would say at once that there
was no credit due to him but to God, Who gave
him such grace. . ..'''

We shall conclude this chapter with a list of some
of his books, though they do not, by any means,
represent all that he read. He borrowed books from
friends,, and from the libraries of religious houses.
These were returned, and therefore, their .names
are unknown* : .The attached list is given merely to .
show the class of books he had trained himself to
read. with. appreciation and, understanding: r "'.

The Holy .Bible and: the. New Testament. , ' ..

"The Sufferings jjf Our Lord Jesus

Christ." '"'"'"' ....: '"' ... . . ../ ByFr. Thomas of Jesus. .

" Imitation, of the Sacred Heart." .

..' 67i '

L I F E O F M AT T T A L BO T

" Our Divine Saviour." ...' ... By the Bishop .of Newport
" The School of Christ." ... ... By Pere Grou, S.J. .

"Christ Among Men." ... ... By L'Abbe Sertillange.

"All for Jesus." ... ... By Father Faber.

" The Real Presence." ,.. ... By Pere Eymard.

-" Eucharistic Retreats." ... ... By Pere Eymard!

"Manual for Interior Souls." .'.. By Pere Grou.
" Spiritual Conference." ... ... By, Father Faber.

"Spiritual Instructions." ...- ... By Veh. Blosius.
" Introduction to the Devout Life." By St. Francis de Sales.
"The Science of the Soul." , .

"Meditations on the Hidden Life." .

"The Precious Blood." ... ' ... By Father Faber.
"Loss and Gain." ... ... ... By Newman. -

" Arians of the 4th Century/' .... By Newman.

"Essays on Miracles." ... ... By Newman.

"Leaves from St. Augustine." ... By Allies.

"Life of St. Augustine." "... By Bishop Moriarty.

" Life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary." By Jones.

" Life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary." By Montalembert.

"Lives of F. A. Talpa, etc." -

" Lives of Fabrizzio dell' Aste." ' ,

"The Mystical City of God." ... By Mary of Agreda.

" True Devotion to. the Blessed By Blessed Louis

Virgin." ... .... .... Marie Grigniqn de

Montfort.

" Social Value of the Gospel." ... By Carriquet.
"Democratic Industry." ... ... By Fr. Husslein," S.J.

" Butler's Lives of the Saints." 2 vols.

."Behold Thy Mother." ByFr. Russell, S.J.

"Present Position of Catholics in

England." ^ .... .*-. ' .... By Newman.

"Course of Religious Instruction." By" Fr. Schouppe, S.-J.-- , ; -

"Preparation for Death." . - -

" Old and Nev/." ... ... ~ ... By Rev. N J. Walsh, S.J.

"History of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin." ;. .. ~- .

"The Devout Pilgrims of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary." .
"Purgatory according .,to St. ^Catherine of Genoa,".
" Life of St. John of the Cross."

68

CHAPTER VII.

FASTS AND MORTIFICATIONS.

GHE extraordinary severity of Matt Talbot's
austerities has -caused many inquiries as to the
possibility of there being an error in the
account- given of them in the original little Life. So
far from there being any error, the writer is con-
vinced from all investigations since made by him
that the Life contains an exact account of Matt
Talbot's fasts. These began almost with his conver-
sion, and continued, with increasing severity, until
illness compelled him to make some small conces-
sion to his bodily health. His sister, Mrs. Andrews,
as already stated, says that his fasts began while
he lived in lodgings in Gloucester Street, some
years prior to his father's death: He concealed his

v * --

fjasts very successfully from his fellow- workers
and from friends outside his immediate family by
a rule of not persisting in refusing food if pressed
to partake of same. .

M. D., a sawyer in Messrs. Martin's, who was a
very old friend of Matt Talbot, states that he pre-
pared Matt's midday meal for many years, and that
it consisted of a cup of ^ea and a slice of dry bread.
If it were a fast day Matt took no milk in the tea.
The lunch, however, was a ; very hurried meal.
Matt arrived about 11.15 a.m., when M. D. had the

'.'' ,69

LIFE OF M A T ,T T A, L B T

water boiling and the tea made. Matt then
hurriedly ate the piece of bread- Avhich, he had
brought in his pocket, drank the tea and rushed
back to his work. If M, D. had not the tea ready,

Matt did not wait for it but left the shed. In the

/

many years that M. D. prepared the midday meal
he only saw ; Matt bring a little meat on three 6cc$,-
sions. In 1920, M. D. met with an accident aricfcwas
retired on pension, after 50 years' service. It was
tljen that Matt asked Mrs. M. to prepare his tea for
him. M. D. says ; that it was -always tea r he took
prior to 1920 and the cocoa would appear tb be a
later addition. Matt's lunch hour being an unusual
one, M.. D. had to accommodate himself to Matt's
ideas and take his own lunch at the same time as

i

Matt did. M.D. states that Matt Talbot during nine
months of the year never eat meat.

When stocktaking was on, Matt was sometimes
kept in the office on a Saturday with one of the
foremen, W. G., to whom the housekeeper sent
some tea and bread and butter. W. G. divided the
bread and butter with Matt, who, having carefully
scraped the butter off the bread, ate the dry bread
without comment. In consequence of Matt Talbot' s
rule of not refusing food, a friend of nearly 30 years'
standing did not realize the full nature .of his fasts
because when his friend invited Matt to his house
to lend him books and .persuaded him to wait for
tea, Matt invariably made' an excellent meal. Mrs.
H., who knew his Secret, made iise of her know-
ledge to make him take a meal in her house when-

70 '

HIS PASTS & M R T I F I C A T 10 N S

' . , f

ever he called to see' her. To this friencLhe stated
that a hearty meal did not agree with him owing to
his abstemious habits. One old friend (J. G.),
who had many interesting stories .of. Matt Talbot,
said that Matt spoke to him about fasting and tried
to get him to do severe fasts. J. G. replied that he
could not do more than he was doing. Matt then
mentioned some of his own fasts and told J. G. that
he. should punish his body and " not be studying
the gut," that being: his homely way of describing
too much attention to matters of food. .

The fasts which he performed when in his usual
good health, that is. until about two years before
his death, were as follow:

During Lent complete black-fast every day on two
slight meals without meat or butter. During
June, in honour of the Sacred Heart, a similar
black-fast. Every Saturday and every vigil of a
Feast Day, a black fast. Every Wednesday no
meat, but, occasionally, a little butter. Probably
the .full Franciscan fasts after their abrogation by
Pope Leo XIII. At other times of the year his
routine was -Sunday, his ordinary dinner at 2
o'clock, that beifig his first meal of the day; if this
were!' fairly substantial,. he did not. eat again, but if
it were a light meal, he partook of cocoa or tea and
bread about 6 p.m. Monday , dry bread and black
-tea. Tuesday, if not a vigil of a Feast or in Lent,
breakfast consisted of cocoa and bread and buller;
dinner of a little meat. Thursday was as Tuesday,
and Friday a full .fast. When he was getting old he

.i' '

71

LIFE OF M A T T T A L' B T

found a difficulty in swallowing dry bread and to
enable him to eat it without butter he got his sister,
Mrs. Fylan, to boil a whiting and to steep the bread
in the water in which the whiting had been cooked.
He did not eat the whiting itself, which Mrs. Fylan
took home. Later on, to avoid the expense, Jhe
got Mrs. Fylan to bring with her some of the water
in which she had boiled the fish for her own dinner
and this he used with his bread. When his health
broke down completely and he had to abstain from
work, he ate whatever was recommended and would
take meat, an egg, or bread and butter.

We have seen that every night he slept on a plank
bed with a wooden pillow, covered with a half
blanket, summer and winter, or with a few sacks
in very cold weather. This he had done for many
years, as his sister, Mrs; Andrews, states that he
first used the plank bed when he lived in Gloucester
Street. The effect of the wooden pillow was that in
later years his 'face became numbed and his hearing
impaired. On this bed he slept in chains. These
he appears to have worn for about fourteen years
prior to his death, though", some of his most familiar
friends were unaware of the fact thjit he wore them,
as he confided this information to very few; and then
only with the object of encouraging them to do like-
wise. One lady who greatly desired a spiritual
favour for a near relative was advised to wear a
chain and did so. J. G. tells the story of the chain
with not a little humour. Matt and J. G. were good
friends as they lived near each other in Middle

72.'. . ' ' ' '", '-

HIS FAS T S & M R TIP I C AT I N S

Gardiner Street, and Matt often visited J. G. in the
latter's room, J. G. being a bachelor. One Sunday,
Matt informed J. G. that he had read of a devotion
which lifted him from earth to Heaven, and, in
reply to J. G.'s inquiry as to what it was, said
it was the wearing of a chain. J. G. asked if he
.had it on him and Matt said " Yes " and showed
a, small chain wound round his leg. It was the same
class of chain as was used to hang the weights of a
clock. Matt lent J. G. the life of St. Catherine of
Sienna, and J. G. asked Matt if he had read in that
life that St. .Catherine wore a chain. He looked
confused and said he supposed, she did. J. G. then
said that she wore it round her waist and that after
her death it was found embedded ,in her flesh, an
exact parallel of what happened in the case of Matt
Talbcit himself. It was, however, the book of
Blessed Grigriion de Montfort which caused Matt to
wear chains. He induced J. G. to wear a chain and
brought the latter to Clonliffe College, where he had
him enrolled in the chain by one of the* priests.
At_ v first Matt wore the- principal chain around his
shoulders j but as this prevented him from carrying/
the timber he changed it to his waist. He told this
to Mrs. X, when speaking to her about wearing a
chain. The following is the statement made by
those who undressed Matt Talbot's body in the
mortuary at Jervis Street Hospital when he was
brought in dead from the street: " On Sunday,
" June 7th; 1925, a dead body was brought in the
" Corporation Ambulance to Jervis Street Hospital.

""". : ; ' 73

LI F E P MA T T T ALB T

" On the body being identified, it proved to be..- Mr.,
"Matt Talbot and when we the undersigned un-
" dressed the remains we found chains, ropes
"and beads on the said body. Around the middle
"of his waist were two chains and a knotted rope.
" One chain we took to be an ordinary chain used as
"a horse trace, and the other a little thinner. Both
" were entwined by a knotted rope and medals were
" attached to the chain by cords. Both were deeply
" embedded in the flesh and rusted. Also on the
" left arm was found a light chain .tightly wound
" above the elbow, and on the right arm above the
" elbow a knotted cord. On his left leg a chain was
" bound round with a cord below the knee, and
" on the right leg, in the same position, was some
"heavy .knotted cord. Around his neck was a
" very big beads and attached to same were a great
"many religious medals. Some of the medals
" were as big as a half-crown and others ordinary
"sodality medals.

(Signed) " Charles Manners, Laurence Thorn ton,
" Jeryis Street Hospital."

All my devotions whether in church, or at home,
or even in the timber yard were, as we have seen,
performed on his knees. Even for his spiritual
reading he did not sit down . As he had, by the
ingenious device of splitting the front of his trousers,
bared his knees, it follows that he always knelt on
his bare knees. Nor, as we have seen, .did he rest
his arms or hands on anything when praying, but

74 "

H I S- PA S T S i M O R T I F I C A T I O N S

knelt perfectly erect often for seven hours at a time
in church on Sundays.

His eyes he mortified by keeping them fixed on
the 'ground when passing through the streets, and
by not reading either newspapers or placards. The
ordinary news of the day he ignored, so much so,
that the anti-concription campaign of 1916-17 had
gone on for six months before he heard 'of it from
a friend. -

How far all these fasts and mortifications were
performed under spiritual direction we do not know
as those v priests who could tell are dead. Father
James Walsh, S.J., knew Talbot very well and,
possibly, knew of his mode of life. The Right Rev.
Monsignor Hickey, D.D., V.G., when President of
Clonliffe College, also .was very well acquainted
with him. Matt Talbot went frequently to Confes-.
"sion to Clonliffe College, and Monsignor Hickey
was in the habit of .visiting him in his room in
18 Upper Rutland Street. This was verified in an
unexpected manner after the first life appeared.
Monsignor Hickey had been appointed parish priest
vOf Haddington Road parish and one of the Vicars
General of the Dublin diocese, a few years before
Talbot's death: . He did not live long to enjoy his
new position and died suddenly in 1924. Some
three weeks before his death he was dining with a
parishioner when the conversation turned on
answers to prayer. Monsignor Hickey stated that
when lie wanted a very particular favour he always
got a poor old -man named Matt Talbot to pray for it

L I F EOF MAT T TALBOT

''.' . : /' ' ' . '

and that his prayers had never been refused. When
the person in question had read the life of Matt
Talbot the conversation with Monsignor Hickey
came back to her memory and she communicated
the incident to the present writer.

Talbot was 1 very shy of speaking to priests, and
Brother F., of St. Francis Xavier's Church, N states
that he never disclosed his identity to the priests
there but went in and out unobtrusively. Even with
Brother F. he would only speak when addressed.
The same statement holds good for the Franciscan
Church, Merchant's Quay, as the spiritual director
of the Third Order did not know him by name.
This is not remarkable when it is remembered that
in both, churches the men at their meetings filled
the churches to their utmost capacity. Although
Father M., the spiritual director of the sodality of
the Immaculate Conception at St. Francis^Xavier's
Church, could not recall him by name, when a'sked
by the present writer, yet 'Matt Talbot was recalled
to his memory by a very characteristic action of
Talbot's which was related to Father M. by Mrs i
Fylan, after the appearance of the first life. She
asked Father M. if he remembered a man who had
handed him a substantial sum of money in the
confessional on a certain date. She knew the
amount as she was in the habit of keeping, Matt' s.
money, for him. and he had asked for 5 which he
said he intended to give to Father M. for charity.
Father M. then remembered a poor man asking -him
to take some money for charity. Father M.-took it

76 - :

HIS FASTS & MORTIFICATIONS

casually and then seeing 1 that it amounted to some
pounds asked his penitent what he wished done
with it. The latter told him to do, what he wished
with it, and Father M. said, he -would give it to the
poor. As he turned to inquire as to ifie identity of
the donor the latter got up and left- the confessional
at once." This occurred only a few weeks before
Talbot' s death. Although he^ never revealed himself
to Father M.. he had a very great lova fo,r him and
spoke to the head of his section in the sodality of
Father M. with sincere affection and respect.

His action dn this and An other matters was typical
of his very great humility. People who thought
they knew Matt Talbot intimately were astonished
to learn after his death of his chains, his fasts and
the various other mortifications which he had suc-
cessfully concealed from them. In fact, when he did
reveaL any of them it was for a definite purpose
affecting the person in whom he confided. He cer-
tainly^ spoke openly of God amongst his friends and
this, on one or two occasions, /led them to feel uneasy
lest there was anything of self-complacency in his
action. One very great personal friend stated that
he once spoke to Matt Talbot on the danger of feel-
ing any pride in his great spiritual gifts. Talbot
listened very respectfully and then simply said that
he could not feel pride in anything he had done
when ne thought of the actions of the great saints.
He was not hurt by the remark of his friend, and,
indeed, afterwards referred to this conversation.
The same friend gave an interesting note on

';/-" .-"'. . 77. ' '

L I F E P M AT T T A L B O T

* '

Talbot's mode of life which is worth quoting:
"Those who read the smaller Life were puzzled
" as well as amazed, that a poor fellow like Matt
" could have set his mark so high and then con-
" sistently wtfrked up to it. The explanation seemed
", to .me. to lie in, his clear, logical, mind.. He : w,as
"convinced that if the truths of Revelation, as
" regards the. Incarnation and Redemption were
" accepted as true, there should be no limit to our
" service save the impossible. It was this view, in
" my opinion, that urged him on to his., life of
" extreme penance and enabled him to persevere
"to. the end."

This statement seems to the pr.esent writer to
contain the ^rue explanation of Matt Talbot's whole
life from the day of his conversion to his death.
Neither the present writer, nor his correspondent,
mean to convey that such, austerities as were
practised by Matt Talbot are essential to true
sanctity, nor, indeed, that they are the things which
in Matt Talbot's life are most worthy of praise and
exact imitation. A saint has been well described as
one^ who, in order to please God, does his ordinary
duties extraordinarily well. This definition was
v fulfilled in every respect by Matt Talbot. . His life
shows, apart from his extraordinary .penances and
long hours of prayer, the. resistance to temptations, -
which is the duty of everyone, . and the perfect
fulfilment of the simple duties of his daily life which
should also be our aim. . -The motive with which,
he performed these duties made them" perfect, and

, 78 '

. .. . . .

HIS FASTS & MORTIFICATIONS

in the end led him v to heights of sanctity which
it is given to few to attain. If we cannot imitate
him in his austerities we can, at least, look up to
him with the admiration which lives such as his
compel in all "men of good will.

79

CHAPTER VHL

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY. '

E may begin this Chapter with' a description
of his personal appearance. He. was. below
th"e middle height, of slight but" wiry build.
His face was long, with slightly prominent cheek-
bones, which had some colour in them; nose
straight; eyes large and lustrous ^ with drooping
lids; forehead high and temples rounded; 'head in
-later life, bald except for a fringe of hair below his
hat. His expression was serious and thoughtful
and became very animated when he spoke on a
subject which moved him to emotion, at which
tinies he could show very great indignation. He
walked along the streets rapidly with long strides'
and a loose swinging gait, but quite simply and
naturally, with his eyes- fixed on the ground, and
an air of deep recollection. To those with whom
he spoke he appeared a shrewd and practical man,
full of commonsense. In his "conversation he was
plain and blunt, but the description "rough-
spoken " quoted in the original life brought several
protests to the writer. These letters described him
as very gentle and sweet-mannered, with ~a very
sweet smile. The fact is that th'e word " blunt"
would have better described him. He was blunt
in his speech when occasion called for bluntness
and, at tinies, hot-tempered and a little impatient
if there was what he considered unreasonable delay;

80 -

TEACHING CATECHISM.

(Copyright : by courtesy of Rev. Mother Xoalis.
R.S.C.J.* Canada.)

Matt would join her hands together and hold them in
his own hands."

[Facing page 80

CHAPTER VHL

CIRCLE OP FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY. -

E may begin this Chapter with' a description
of his personal appearance. He was below
tlie middle height, of slight but wiry build.
His face was long, with slightly prominent cheek-
bones, which had some colour in them; nose
straight; eyes large and lustrous, with drooping
lids; -forehead high and temples rounded; head in
-later life, bald except for a fringe of hair below his
hat. His expression was serious and thoughtful
and became very animated when he spoke on a
subject which moved him to emotion, at which
times he could show very great indignation. He
walked along the streets rapidly with long strides
and a loose swinging gait, but quite simply and
naturally, with his eyes fixed on the ground, and
an air of deep recollection. To those with whom
he spoke he appeared a shrewd and practical man,
full of commonsens.e. In his conversation he was
plain and blunt, but the description " rough-
spoken " quoted in the original life brought several
protests to the writer. These letters described him
as very gentle and sweet-mannered, with a very
sweet smile. The fact is that tlie word " blunt "
would have better described him. He was blunt
in his speech when occasion called for bluntness
and, at times, hot-tempered and a little impatient
if there was what he considered unreasonable delay;

80

i'EACTTTNO CATECHISM.

(Copyright: by courtesy of Rev. JfoUicr Xoalis.
R.S.C.J.". Canada.)

" Matt \vonld join her hands together and hold thorn in

his own hands."

[Facing page SO

NOTE TO DALGAN PARK.

Facsimile of the only letter Matt Talbot is known to have

written.

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY

but his habitual manner was one of good humour
and kindliness .towards all who met him.

No one knew him intimately though many knew
him either at work or in the Church. His penitential
mode of life forbade close intimacies and his con-
stant state of recollection and prayer made him
avoid human, companionship except when the claims
of family or of charity called for it. Thus he would
spend a quiet hour, now and again, in his brother-
in-law's house chatting on their personal 1 affairs, or
he would visit, the home, of a friend who had a
little library in order to borrow books. Many came
to him for advice and all were received with kind-
liness and advice was given or prayers promised
according to the request of the visitor. Persons who
had heard of his holiness used to write for prayers
without disclosing their identity, and when the
prayers were answered a letter of thanks was sent,
often accompanied by a money offering which, as it
could not be returned because the donor was un-
known, -was given in charity. One of the foremen
in Messrs. Martin's (E. C.) relates two- incidents
which struck him at the time 'as somewhat remark-
able because of the nature of the replies given by
Matt Talbot to E. C.'s request for prayers - for
persons who were ill. In 1922, E. C.'s wife was
very ill and he was very worried, on her account.
He spoke to Talbot and asked him to pray for her
recovery. Talbot promised to do so and also got a
novena of Masses offered up for her in Mount" St.
Joseph's Abbey (Trappist) , Roscrea. He told E. C.

81

NOTE TO DALGAN PARK.

Facsinwle of the only letter Matt Talbot is known to liavo

written.

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY

but his habitual manner was one of good humour
and kindliness towards all who met him.

No one knew him intimately though many knew
him either at work or in the Church. His penitential
mode of life forbade close intimacies and his con-
stant state of recollection and prayer made him
avoid human, companionship except when the claims
of family or of charity called for it. Thus he would
spend a quiet hour, now and again, in his brother-
in-law's house chatting on their personal affairs, or
he would visit the home, of a friend who had a
little library in order to borrow books. Many came
to him for advice and all were received with kind-
liness and advice was given or prayers promised
according to the request of the visitor. Persons who
had heard of his holiness used to write for prayers
without disclosing their identity, and when the
prayers were answered a letter of thanks was sent,
often accompanied by a money offering which, as it
could not be returned because the donor was un-
known, was given in oharity. One of the foremen
in Messrs. Martin's (E. C.) relates two- incidents
which struck him at the time as somewhat remark-
able because of the nature of the replies given by
Matt Talbot to E. C.'s request for prayers -for
persons who were ill. In 1922, E. C.'s wife was
very ill and he was very worried, on her account.
He spoke to Talbot and asked him to pray for hei*
recovery. Talbot promised to do so and also got a
novena of Masses offered up for her in Mount' St.
Joseph's Abbey (Trappist), Roscrea. He told E. C.

81

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

not to worry as she would recover, and in fact she
was. quite well in three weeks. What struck E., C.
was Matt Talbot's firm statement that E. C.'s wife
would recover and the contrast it made to the reply
to a" similar request for prayers for the recovery of
E. C.'s brother-in-law, who had met with an acci-
dent on his farm, and who, after a long illness, was
removed to a Dublin Hospital for an operation.
This man had several children and his friends were
very anxious that- he should recover. When Matt
Talbot was asked to pray for his recovery he
promised to do so but always told E.G. that he
should be reconciled to God's Will and never held
out any hopes that his prayers would be answered.
Although E. C. and Talbot spoke of the patient on
many occasions, the burden of Talbot's conversation
was always the same resignation. The patient
died after a few weeks. ~

Another foreman (G.) had a daughter who at the
age of 15 years was dying of tuberculosis.- As her
name was Teresa, Matt constantly enquired about
her because of his own devotion to St. Teresa. He
eventually called to see her, and during the visit
spoke to her about the Saints. She was very anxious
to find out whether she was dying and, as her father
gave evasive answers to her questions, she asked.
Talbot if she would recover. Talbot hated an 'un-
truth; but as he felt that he could nof tell the girl
that she was dying, preferring to allow" her father
to choose his own time for doing so, he got out of
the dilemma by saying " He had heard it" laid

.82

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS : HIS CHARITY

down that the patient was the best judge-of that."
In one of -his books of devotion is a note of her ddath
and age.

Another friend (J. T.) attributed his restoration
do health to Matt Talfoot's prayers. J. T. was suffer-
ing from a gastric ulcer and was advised to under-
go an operation, which he declined. He .decided to
consult Talbot and went to 18 Upper Rutland Street
about 1.30 p.m. on a Sunday so as to meet Talbot
coming from Mass. He told Talbot that he was
very ill and asked his advice. Talbot replied, " Go
to the same Doctor that I do. I never went to any
except one. Go to Him." J. T. said he would,
as he knew Talbot meant God, Talbot promised, to
pray for him and told him. to pray with confidence
and to tell him. how he was getting on. J. T. went
every Sunday to the Passionist Church at Mount
Argus to be touched with a relic and whenever he
met Talbot, the latter always told him to continue
praying. After some time J.T. completely recovered
from his illness and never had any further gastric
trouble, J. T. was in the habit of consulting Talbot
on many matters and had the utmost confidence
in his advice and prayers.

:.I. G., who used to meet Talbob at early Mass and
whose account of the chains. has been already told,
used occasionally to miss the 6.15 a.m. Mass if the
weather .was very bad and would, in such cases,
go to- a later "Mass. Talbot did not approve of
this "at all and replied to J. G.'s excuses, " It is
constancy God wants." During the strike of 1913,

.83

LIFE OF. MATT- TALBOT

J. G., with very considerable difficulty, persuaded
Talbot to accept loans of money, amounting in all
to about 5. These sums were repaid at the r.ate
of five shillings a week when work was resumed.
Some years afterwards J. G. lost his regular work
because of the decline in his trade owing to the
Great War, and Talbot gladly lent him money
which was repaid when J. G. got temporary
employment.

As Talbot lent quite a considerable amount of
money at various times to fellow-workers who had
families, it is interesting to learn his reason for
lending rather than giving money in such cases.
One very old friend, the M. D. already spoken of,
who had been at school with Talbot and who
worked in Martin's from 1870 to 1920, constantly got
the loan of money for clothes for his children. He
knew that Matt Talbot never refused a loan where
there was genuine need and where the money was
not wanted for drink, but Matt told his old friend
thatf it was better to make the men pay it back by
instalments and thus prevent them spending the
amount in the public-house. Those who tried to
tell a piteous tale on a Monday morning, after
having spent their wages in drink during the week-
end, got a very vigorous refusal of their requests.

Although he was shy of women's society, he had
several women acquaintances whom he had met
at thfi Church or in. connection: with the various
sodalities of which he was a member. One of these
had a brother Jiome from the~ United States on "a

84

HIS CIRCLE OP FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY
visit, and when he returned to America, she told
Talbot that she was very lonely. His answer was,
"Lonely! How could you be lonely? That's
nonsense, and Our Lord in His Tabernacle." The
reproof brought her more consolation than any form
of sympathy could have done.

Some of Matt Talbot' s women friends observed
that he was ajways poorly dressed, and went to
Father James Walsh, S.J., about it. They offered
to buy clothes for Talbot and asked Father Walsh
to undertake the delicate task of speaking to Matt
about the matter. Father Walsh sent for Matt
after the meeting of the Sodality in St. Francis
Xavier's and the following conversation took place :

"Talbot, you have very bad clothes." "Yes,
Father," Matt replied, "I promised God I would

never wear good ones." " Go down to- ,"

said Father Walsh, "and get a suit." "I'll do no
such thing," was the reply, ."I promised God I
would never wear good clothes." "Well," said
Father Walsh, "God has sent them to you. Get
the^n." "If God sent them I'll take them," replied
Matt, and without further ado he got the clothes.
Another person who gave him a good suit was not
so lucky, as Matt gave it away. He usually got his
clothes from a gentleman who was a very great
personal friend, and who gave him his own old

clothes. In fact Matt had only one suit for Sunday or
weekday, or, as he said, he had no "Sunday

clothes."

The lady wjip told the story of her conversation
with 'Matt Talbot in his room on a Saturday evening

85

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

relates that when Talbot was in bad health and very
poor she got five shillings for charity from .a man
who asked for prayers for a special intention in
return. This lady asked Talbot to take the money,
as he wanted it. He took it, thanked the lady
and promised to pray for. the intention, which was
granted in a most unequivocal manner. Amongst
his friends was one who, though a lifelong total
abstainer, had for 30 years been absent from the
Sacraments. During a conversation with Matt
Talbot on the question of temperance, the latter
suddenly asked him about, his soul. Matt spoke
seriously of the danger his friend ran of dying with-
out the Sacraments and, eventually, ' made an
appointment with him for the 'following Saturday
afternoon, when Matt brought him to Holy Gross
College, Glonliffe, and after he had made his Con-
fession introduced, him to the Sodality of the Imma-
culate Conception, of which he subsequently became
a very prominent member. He was,. several years
later, killed by a fall into the hold qf a ship on
which he was working. He often spoke to Matt
Talbot with gratitude for having, brought him back
to' the Sacraments. .

These little stories could be multiplied indefinitely
but the. few given will show that in all his dealings
with his fellowmen, Matt Talbot was actuated by
Christian Charity. His actual money" gifts to various
charities and to the poor sound incredible;, yet
the writer has taken every possible pains to verify
the statements made. When Talbot earned less

86

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY

than.a, pound a week he lived on six shillings, in-
cluding his rent. . He was scrupulous in fulfilling
his duty and for that reason he always allowed
whichever of his sisters looked after his mother
and himself a few shillings a week for their trouble;
but everything else was given away. He had a
habit in his later years of placing on the chair under
one of his books, the housekeeping money for the
week. On Friday he told his sister to take it. At
times he gave her his wages to keep for him,
especially if he was gathering up a sum for a special
purpose. When it had reached the requisite alnount
he got it from her and disposed of it. We have seen
that he gave a sum of five pounds to Father M. in
the confessional. This was no isolated donation, as
Brother F. relates that he often saw Matt Talbot
hand sums of money in the corridor of the church to
Father M. merely stating that they were for charity.
One woman who was collecting for the Shrine of
the Little Flower,, in the .Carmelite Church,
Clarendon Street, told him about it and got a pound.
She asked him to give it himself but he excused
himself on the ground that he did not understand
these things and asked her to hand in the contribu-
tion. Several collectors from religious houses knew
him well and got regular subscriptions from him.

In the . original life a statement was made that
Matt Talbot had contributed 3Q a year towards the
Mayndoth Mission to China. It was also stated
that it was not possible to verify this statement in
full because the Card Index of the Mission only

87

L I F E F M A T T T A L B T

started in September, 1921. The foundations for
the original statement were two-fold : Firstly, Mrs.
Fylan, Talbot's sister, was told by him that "he
had finished three priests and was at the fourth."
Secondly : he told his foreman (G.) that he had
given 30 a year towards the Chinese Mission.
The foreman remembered the conversation well
because it was caused by Matt Talbot stating that
the foreman, who had a good salary, should give
more to the Mission than he had done, when he,
Talbot, a poor labouring man, gave 30 a year.
Inquiry from the authorities of the Maynooth
Mission to China brought the following letter:
" I have gone thoroughly into the question of the
"amount of money he sent here, but I am afraid
" you will not find the results quite satisfactory from
" the point of view you have mentioned namely,
" of verifying the statement about his having edu-
" cated three students. We have gone through all the
" letters in the Dublin file and have picked out those
" written here by Mr. K. This man it was who sent
"on all Talbot's donations with the exception of
" 1 10s. Od. sent by Talbot himself in December,
" 1924 1 being his own gift and 10s. from his
"sister. This is the only letter we ever received
" from him : . , , .

" 'Matt Talbot has done no work for the

T past 18 months. .

. " 'I don't think I will work any more. -Here

" ' is - one pound from me - and ten shillings
'from my sister,'. <

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS CHARITY

" The total sum we received from Talbot

" through K. is 40, to which you should add the

" 1 10s. Od. mentioned above, or 1 leaving out

" his sister's share. I have no hesitation in saying

"that these figures are as accurate as we can

" possibly arrive at. He began to contribute to-

" wards this Mission in December, 1920, and I

"have no doubt we have here the first letters in

" which K. mentions Talbot. The tone of them

" implies this for he introduces him to us ' an ex-

" ' tremely pious holy man who, when not en-

-' ' gaged in work, spends his time in prayer.'

" The next letter, February, 1921, speaks of Talbot

"in the same manner, buf afterwards K. takes

"it for granted that wt* know all about our

" benefactor." With this letter was enclosed a

sheet of paper giving the various sums which were

identified by them as coming . from Talbot :

December, 1920, 2. During the year 1921, 23 in

8 different sums. During 1922, 11 in 7 different

sums. In 1923 to the date of his illness in June, 4

in four sums and then December, 1924, 1 and 10/-

sent directly by himself. In January, 1923, a sum

of 5 was sent on Matt Talbot's behalf by his

brother-in-law, W. Fylan, but as the letter did not

state that it was sent on behalf of Matt Talbot, 5

was credited to W. Fylan. Mrs. Fylan, Matt

Talbot's sister, still maintains that Matt had told her

he had finished three priests and was at the fourth,

but as we cannot get any further evidence we must

assume either that Talfeot had been mistaken in the

89

ii;i;jp..E... Q^F MA T:T T.A;L;B o T

sums he. sent or had,sent .money, anonymously. The
pound. iseht in.. 'December,- 1924,. was almost the. last
of .his little savings: as. he always kept a little money
with .Mrs. Fy Ian for any sudden emergency. A
few of his friends insisted on his accepting gifts of
money from .them during his long illness and the
i : 10s. was taken from these sums. Mrs. Fylan
says that he paid the 10s. for her as compensation
for her attention to him. His reason for sending
it to the Maynooth Mission was because he had got
a letter from the Bursar stating that they had missed
his generous gifts for some time. Hence his letter
in reply informing them of. his illness and unem-
ployment. '. ,

One of the foremen (E. G.) relates an incident
which occurred in 1921 or 1922. A South of Ireland
priest came to the Castle Forbes' Yard and asked
permission to make a collection amongst the. me'n.
E. G. told him to put up a notice stating the day he
would collect, namely, pay-day, so that the men
might be prepared for his visit. The men were
always generous in such cases and gave a shilling
each,.or more, quite willingly. When the priest hap!
finished the collection E. G.. told him that there
was another man at the end of the yard and directed
him to go there and ask for Matt Talbot. The priest
did so and on his return remarked to E.. G. that
he. had .never met so generous a man and that he
had scrupled taking what Talbot gave him. E. C.
asked how much that was and the priest replied,
"All he had about him." As Talbot had just

90

HIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: HIS .CHARITY

drawn his week's wages, which in those years were
3 : 1 : 6 a week, it -would appear that the greater
portion of this sum was given for the Church for
which the collection, was. being made. The same
priest called again in 1923 and asked about Talbot,
who was then ill in the Mater Misericordiae Hos-
pital. Having got. his address the priest promised
to call on him. ....-.._.-...'.

The only change which .the increase of wages
made in Matt Talbot's. circumstances was to increase
his gifts to charity. Ten shillings a -week, during
the Great War. and afterwards, supplied all his
wants r for food, rent, and subscriptions to his trade
union, including the. premium for his burial ex-
penses. It was no wonder that one of his old fellow-
workers, said, "The men loved him"; adding,
" Matt" had no use for money."

91

CHAPTER IX.

ILLNESS AND CLOSING YEARS.

ITHERTO Matt Talbot's sufferings had been,
self-imposed. 'We have seen how severe were
the mortifications to which he subjected his
body; but that body was strong, though small, and
his iron will bent it to his bidding. The gathering
years were telling their tale, yet the daily round
went on unceasingly; the heart beat a little faster
when the shoulders bent to the load of timber, and
the breath came a little quicker. At length Nature
rebelled, and he who during a long life had really
never known illness now found himself suddenly
unable to carry on his work. For two years more
he was to live and suffer. He who was so active
was to be idle all the day long, he who had im-
posed so many sufferings on himself was to accept
sufferings from the hands of the Lord he had so
faithfully served. The great trial which came to
many saints came to him in the destruction of his
own activities and the patient acceptance of the
Will of God in his regard. Feeling very ill, he
spoke to a friend who procured him a letter of in-
troduction to an eminent surgeon attached to the
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, and armed
with this letter, having humbly removed his chains
le_st they should reveal his life of penance, he
presented himself at the hospital. The examining

92

ri/LNES S AND CLOSING YEARS

doctor diagnosed heart trouble and admitted him
at once to the medical ward of the hospital on June-
18th, 1923. This beautiful hospital, which was
founded in the year 1861, stands in a commanding
position on the north side of the City of Dublin.
It ; contains over 350 beds and is in charge of the
Irish Sisters of Mercy. The physician, in whose
care he was, writes, " When Talbot first came
" to the hospital we had no electrocardiograph and
" therefore it would be impossible to give an exact
" diagnosis of his condition. He was suffering
"from a cardiac arrhythmia which I believe to be
" auricular flutter. We have cured several cases
",of this condition within the past few years, but
" when Matt Talbot was coming to the hospital
" the condition was neither well understood nor had
" we the means of treatment that we have now at
" our disposal. 1 '

This letter refers to Matt Talbot's first stay in
the Mater Hospital. The electrocardiograph was in
the hospital r the second time he was there, as will
be seen by the statement of Sister Dolores, quoted
later on. During his first stay he was changed
from one ward to another as it is customary during
the summer to have the hospital thoroughly cleaned
ward by ward. This fact has made it difficult to
obtain particulars of his first stay, but one fact is
recorded by the Sister of Mercy in charge of the
ward which he occupied when he was removed
from the upper to the lower -floor, namely, that he
spent all his spare time before the Blessed Sacra-

f 93

L I F E F M AT T T A L B T

ment in the chapel of the hospital. The records
show that he had received" the last Sacraments on
June 21st and was discharge'd from hospital on July
17th. He continued to attend the hospital as an out-
patient until August 17th, when lie resumed work
at Messrs. Martin's. He was unable to continue his
employment and left again on the 3rd September.
He was re-admitted to the Mater Hospital on October
1st, when he was placed under the care of Sister
Dolores. Her statement is of great interest and is
given in full :

"I was Sister in charge of St. Laurence's Ward
" of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital when Matt
" Talbot returned there on October 1st, 1923.
" He was suffering from heart disease and was put
" to bed at onee^ He remained in bed nearly all the
" time he was in Hospital, viz.. from 1st October,
" 1923, to the middle of November. He did not
" then wear chains. He was very quiet and retiring
" and had little to say to anyone. He had a very
" sweet smile, and was always very gracious in his
" manner. He took whatever food was given to
" him, and made no comment nor complaint. It
"was noticed that he did riot 'use butter. His
"sisters and a friend, Mrs. B., brought him eggs
" arid fruit. These he handed to me without any
"remark. I was at liberty to use thein as I liked,
"but! gave them to him with his meals. He got
" very ill and I had him aiiointed. I sentHfor his
" sisters, and told them he was dyingf, and that it
"was as well he should die then, he was so well

Si

I L L NESS AND G L OS I N G Y E A R S

" prepared. He seemed to be dying, as he was
" scarcely breathing after 'having received the /last
" Sacraments." I" now think he may have been in a
' state 'of profound recollection. His extraordinary
" calmness at the time struck me as remarkable. 1
" said all the prayers for the dying. He got over
" this attack, and two days later was able to go
"down stairs to have a cardiograph taken. He
"then returned to bed and after a few days more
" was allowed up. The first day he was allowed
"up he disappeared and could not be found in
" the hospital or in the grounds. I thought he had
" gone out and had got an attack in' the street.
" He was eventually discovered in a corner of the
" chape] praying. When I Complained to him that
"he had given all of us a great fright, he replied
" with his usual quiet smile, ' I have thanked the
" ' nurses and the doctors, and I thought it only
" ' right to thank the great Healer.' These words
" made such an impression on me that I have since
" told the patients to go to the chapel to thank God
"for their recovery. "At the various times he was
" in hospital, the Sisters noticed his great look of
" recollection in the chapel- and observed that he
" never -used a prayer-book. He was in the chapel
" every evening when the Sisters recited the Office.
"He always was to be seen in a remote corner
".kneeling quite erect. He never 1 , asked . for any
"- privileges. He" received Holyr'Communiori "every
" Monday. "On other mornings, i'f any patient was
"to receive Holy Communion, I asked him if he

95

L IF E OP M A T T T A L B T

" would like to receive also. He always said ' Yes '
"but he never asked for It. himself; He did not
" speak of religious matters, with the Nuns. Some
41 patients like to discuss religion, but Matt Talbot
" never showed by his conduct that he was ariy-
" thing more than a sweet-natured, holy, old man.
" Knowing now the life of austerity which he led,
" it is obvious to me that he sought to conceal his
" holiness froni all around him."

On his discharge, he was 'unable to resume work
and attended the hospital dispensary at regular in-
tervals. It is possible to trace the course of his
illness by the payments he received under 1 the
National Health Insurance Acts from his approved
society, the builders' labourers' section of the Irish
Transport and General Workers' Union./ On 26th
November, 1923, he had drawn 26 weeks sickness
benefit at the rate of 15/- a week. From the 26th
November he became entitled to disablement benefit
at a lower rate, namely 7s. 6d. a week for the
entire period of the disability. In November, there-
fore, he found himself ill and unable to work, and
with his only income a sum of 7s. 6d. a week to pay
for his 'food, lodging, fire arid light. His condition
was known to his well-to-do friends and some, with
very great difficulty, persuaded him to accept gifts
of money.

He found it difficult at times to attend the 6.15
a.m. Mass, but whenever possible he was "at his
place in the church, and on his return, having par-
taken of his meagre breakfast, he returned to the

96

9G

LIFE OF MATT T A L B T

" would like to receive also. He always said ' Yes '
" but he never asked for It himself. He did not
" speak of religious matters, with the Nuns. Some
" patients like to discuss religion, but Matt Talbot
" never showed by his conduct that he was any-
" thing more than a sweet-natureel, holy, old man.
" Knowing now the life of austerity which he led,
" it is obvious to me that he sought to conceal his
" holiness from all around him."

On his discharge, he was unable to resume work
and attended the hospital dispensary at regular in-
tervals. It is possible to trace the course of his
illness by the payments he received under the
National Health Insurance Acts from his approved
society, the builders' labourers' section of the Irish
Transport and General Workers' Union. On 26th
November, 1923, he had drawn 26 weeks sickness
benefit at the rate of 15 /- a week. From the 26th
November he became entitled to disablement benefit
at a lower rate, namely 7s. 6d. a week for the
entire period of the disability. In November, there-
fore, he found himself ill and unable to work, and
with his only income a sum of 7s. 6d. a week to pay
for his food, lodging, fire arid light. His condition
was known to his well-to-do friends and some, with
very great difficulty, persuaded him to accept gifts
of money.

He found it difficult at times to attend the 6. 15
a.m. Mass, but whenever possible he was at his
place in the church, and on his return, having par-
taken of his meagre breakfast, he returned to the

96

[Fucinu IIIHJC DO

AT GLASNEVIN

' ; . . .where in a humble grave .

the body oi ! Matt Talbot awaits the Jlesnrrection."

ILLNESS AND CLOSING YEARS

church for 11 a.m. Mass, remaining in prayer, if he
felt able, until 1 p.m. He suffered very severely
during this period. His sister, Mrs. Pylan, who
came in the morning to see him, relates that she
often found him lying exhausted on his plank bed
unable to speak owing to the exertion of walking
from the church to his home. Though he could not
speak she observed that he continued to pray.
When he had taken some food and felt somewhat
relieved, he went out again to the later Mass.
Knowing. that he might die suddenly, Mrs. Fylan on
one occasion asked him if she would come back later
and remain with him. His answer was, " What

Since this book was first published, I have got in touch
with Mr. John Mtilvany, who, about five years before Matt
Talbot's death came to live in the same tenement, occupying
the room which adjoined the hall-door, which was usually
closed. He stated that he frequently opened the door for
visitors to Matt Talbot, and in that way washable to supply
further interesting information.

Mr. Mulvany at first regarded Matt Talbot as an old man
who lived the life of a recluse. He frankly admitted that' at
first he thought him an old miser, but after some conversa-
tions with Matt's visitors, he got to know him as a man of
prayer. He related one very interesting story of a girl who
knocked at the door early one evening, enquiring for Matt
Talbot. She stated that she was out of work and she wanted
his prayers that she might secure a job. She saw Matt, and
went away immediately. Within a week she called again in
glowing spirits, and told Mr. Mulvany that Matt's prayers
had secured her request.

T questioned Mr. Mulvany regarding his last conversation
with Matt Talbot, and he made the following statement :

" On Trinity Sunday I met Matt Talbot at the halldoor
about 8.30 a.m. I asked him how he was, and he replied
that he was feeling weak. I said that he ought not to have
gone back to work, and he said that he had felt all right
until that morning. He went upstairs, and I remained
about half-an-hour at the hall-door. He came downstairs
and he looked very weak. I remarked that he ought not to
go out until he had rested himself."

97

AT GLASNEVIN

'' . . . .where in u humble grave.

the body of Matt Talbot awaits the .Resurrection.'

1 L L N E S S A N D C L SING Y E A R S

church for 11 a.m. Mass, remaining in prayer, if he
felt able, until 1 p.m. He suffered very severely
during this period. His sister, Mrs. Fylan, who
came in the morning to see him, relates that she
often found him lying exhausted on his plank bed
unable to speak owing to the exertion of walking
from the church to his home. Though he could not
speak she observed that he continued to pray.
When he had taken some food and felt somewhat
relieved, he went out again to the later Mass.
Knowing that he might die suddenly, Mrs. Fylan on
one occasion asked him if she would come back later
and remain with him. His answer was, " What

Since this book was first published, I have got in touch
with Mr. John Mulvany, who, about five years before Matt
Talbot's death came to live in the same tenement, occupying
the room which adjoined the hall-door, which was usually
closed. He stated that he frequently opened the door for
visitors to Matt Talbot, and in that way was able to supply
further interesting information.

Mr. Mulvany at first regarded Matt Talbot as an old man
who lived the life of a recluse. He frankly admitted that at
first he thought him an old miser, but after some conversa-
tions with Matt's visitors, he got to know him as a man of
prayer. He related one very interesting story of a girl who
knocked at the door early one evening, enquiring for Matt
Talbot. She stated that she was out of work and she wanted
his prayers that she might secure a job. She saw Matt, and
went away immediately. Within a week she called again in
glowing spirits, and told Mr. Mulvany that Matt's prayers
had secured her request.

T questioned Mr. Mulvany regarding his last conversation
with Matt Talbot, and he made the following statement:

" On Trinity Sunday T met Matt Talbot at the hnllifoor
about 8. HO 'a.m. T asked him how he was, and he replied
that he was feeling weak. I said that he ought not to have
gone back to work, and he said that he had felt all right
until that morning. He went upstairs, and I remained
about half-an-hour at the hall-door. He came downstairs
and he looked very weak. I remarked that he ought not to
go out until he had rested himself."

97

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

e;ood could you do? If I die here I shall have Jesus
and Mary with me." He "resumed his chains, as
Mrs. Fylan testifies, and continued, so far as his
broken health allowed, his regular fasts and vigils,
but there were intervals when he could only move
about. Through it all he made no complaint beyond
regretting his enforced idleness. In April, 1925, he
felt that he could resume work and went back to
his old post at Castle Forbes. He looked broken and
ill but he continued to do his day's work in the yard
as usual. As time went on he seemed to recover,
and on the very day before his death he 'told the
foreman that he felt as well as ever. He was
able to go out to an early Mass on Trinity Sunday,
June 7th, 1925, and returned to breakfast as was
then his habit, leaving his home for the last time
after 9 a.m. to, -go to St. Saviour's Dominican Church,
a walk of from 15 to 20 minutes, via Mountjoy
Square, Gardiner's Row, Parnell Square, Granby
Row, into Granby Lane, which leads to Dominick
Street, where the church stands. There is a foot-
path on the left-hand side of Granby Lane going
towards the church, and on the right, about half
way down, is a general store kept by Mrs. Anne
Keogh. Matt Talbot was passing along the foot-
path, when Mrs. Keogh, coming out of the doorway
adjoining her store, saw him fall. She called her
son and both ran over to where he lay, lifted him
and carried him to the hall door beside the store
from which she had come, intending to bring. him
into the store. Seeing that he was very pale arid

98

ILLNESS AND C L 0' S I N G YEARS

unable to speak, she entered the shop to get some
water, which she brought out. Then lifting his
head to give him a drink, she realised that it was
not a faintness but that he was dying. As she put
the cup of water to his lips she said, " My poor
fellow, you are going to Heaven." Matt Talbot
opened his eyes and stared at her very earnestly,
but did not speak. He then laid his head down, and
as she withdrew her hand from under it, he died.

A man who was returning from the church came
over to where Matt Talbot lay and blessed him with
the crucifix. Father Walsh, O.P., came from the
church, and seeing that he was dead, knelt in the
lane and recited prayers. Later on the Corporation
ambulance arrived and the body was removed
to the mortuary attached to Jervis Street Hospital
(Sisters of Mercy), which was close by. " Here,
later on in the morning, Sister Ignatius, Sister of
Mercy, came with a nurse and the hospital porters
to prepare the body for burial. As Sister Ignatius
was. cutting away the clothes the scissors struck
something hard, which, on further investigation,
proved to be the chains / which bound the body
around the waist. With reverence, not unmixed
with awe, they removed the chains and ropes and
the big beads with its crucifix which always rested
against his heart. The chains were rusty but the
body was scrupulously clean. Then dressing the
body in the brown habit of St. Francis, they placed
it in the coffin with the chains, ropes and medals.

Lest there should be any question hereafter as

99

LIFE OP MATT TALBOT

to the class of chain found on the body, it is well
to mention that Mrs. Fylan possesses a new chain
which she had bought for Matt Talbot to replace
the one found on him, as he was in the habit of
changing the chains when they became very rusty.
This chain is not a cart chain but resembles a strong
dog chain with a hook at one end and a ring at the
other. Those who removed the chains from the
body thought that the larger chain was a trace for
a cart. The point is a very small one, but it is
mentioned for the sake of accuracy. <

It was not considered necessary to hold an inquest,
and on Wednesday, June 10th, the body was re-
moved to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Upper
Gardiner Street, so often mentioned in this book,
and from there the funeral took place on Corpus
Christi, June llth, 1925, to the Glasnevin Cemetery,
where in a humble grave in which no one had ever
been buried, the body of Matt Talbot awaits the
Resurrection.

100

CHAPTER X.

THE GROWING CULTUS.

As stated in the introduction, the first Life of
Matt Talbot appeared in the second week in the
Lent of 1926. At once devotion to him spread and
favours were sought through his intercession.
Some extracts from letters which have been received
since the publication of the last edition are here
appended.

The Rev. Mother of a large community of the
Sister of Mercy, in Ireland, writes

Two Sisters of this Community were so seriously
ill that the physicians entertained but little hope of
their recovery. The entire community recited the
prayer for the Canonization of Matt Talbot for about
a month, asking Almighty God to honour His
humble servant by the cure of these two Sisters.
At the end of that time both were able to resume
their duties, much to the astonishment and contrary
to the expectations of the two Doctors who had
attended them,

A Sister of St. Louis writes

I have been suffering for some months with a
stone in, the kidney, and promised Our Lady of
Lourdes and Matt Talbot to have it published if I
got well again without an operation. I did avoid
the operation and am now quite well again. I wish
now to fulfil my promise.

101

LIFE OP MATT TALBOT

A District Nurse (Co. Dublin) writes
Two years ago a growth developed in my neck
and gave me great trouble. I consulted a Dublin
specialist, who told me I was a bad case and^the
only cure was an operation, which I dreaded. I
began a novena to Matt Talbot, through Our Blessed
Lady, for the intention that if it was God's Will I
would not have to 1 go under any operation. I am
perfectly cured, thanks to the All-Loving Lord,. Our
Blessed Lady and Matt Talbot. ......

Mrs. McG. .(Co. Cork) writes
I travelled to Dublin to visit my sister, S. McD.,
without knowing that she-was ill. I found her in
most awful agony. She had been .suffering for
about six weeks, with a clot of blood at the ankle,
which seemed almost ready to burst. I. told her
to pray for patience and to suffer on, and was really
convinced that. Our Lord was going to. take her.
Next day. (Sunday), without even a thought of the
holy man, I was .handed a relic of .Matt Talbot at
Gardiner Street Church. I gave it to my sister on
returning to her house. She received it reverently
and placed it on her foot, but the pain grew worse
and confirmed my belief that she was going to die.
Next morning she was worse than ever. I went to
Mass but on my return found my sister so excited;
walking about without pains and th swelling com-
pletely gone.

J.S. and his wife testify as follows
.Their daughter before her twelfth year had had
three attacks of pneumonia. In her thirteenth year,

102

THE GROWING CULTUS

following an operation for adenoids and tonsils, slie
became seriously ill. A second operation, for
middle ear abscess, was then performed, followed
soon afterwards by, an operation for mastoid. The
operations were carried out by eminent Dublin
specialists, the first on July 1st, the second about' 18
days later and the third on July 22nd, 1933.
General, septicemia and a fourth attack of pneumonia
developed. A fourth specialist was called in for
consultation and pronounced the chill's condition as
" absolutely hopeless "; he had never, in his ex-
perience, seen a recovery in a similar case. J.S.
then had relics of Matt Talbot applied to the sick
child and he and his wife and their friends started
a novena,, and from that time her condition improved
steadily, so that at the end of six months she was
able to return to school.

M.B.O'L., a trained nurse, writes as follows
A shopkeeper toldi me he was drinking very
heavily and asked if I could do anything to cure
him. I gave him general advice and we parted.
He went straight into the public house. Less than
a week later, I had some business in his shop and
went in. I saw him standing inside the counter
and he was obviously in a very bad state from
drink. His. sister was present. He said someone
was stabbing him with knives and that he would
be dead before morning. He. said he would kill
.the other fellow first and that he would go for a
bottle of whiskey and would drink it down and that
he would not care then what happened to him as he

103

LIFE OF MATT TALBOT

could hot keep away from drink. He then said;
" Can you not do anything for me? "I said, " I
gave you my advice a few days ago ". His sister
then said, "That was of no effect.' He is worse
than ever ". It then came into my mind that I
would try Matt Talbot. I asked for some paper, as
I had not the printed prayer for Matt Talbot' s
beatification with me. The drunkard tried to get
out but was kept back by his sister and by me. I
then, from memory, wrote out the prayer for the
beatification and asked him to read it. He sat down
and read the prayer. I had first read it for him
and told him to say it morning and evening. I am
aware that from the moment he read the prayer he
has not tasted spirituous drink. He calls to see me
at the hospital to report how he is going on and
also wrote to me to thank me for what I had done
for him. I have often nursed cases of delirium
tremens and believe that he was bordering on
delirium, as he was undoubtedly suffering from de-
lusions. He is prepared to make a statement to this
effect.

A German Jesuit, writing from Valkenburg,
says :

A boy, six years. old, was confined to bed for
several days with a dangerous skull-fracture. He
was entirely unconscious. The physician gave no
hope. At noon I handed the relic (a fragment of
Matt's wooden pillow) to the sister in order to
attach it to the boy's shirt. At three o'clock, when
his, mother approached his bed, he opened his eyes,

i.Q4

THE GROWING CULTUS

saying : " Mother, I should like a cup of coffee ".
He was quite recovered.

A country woman, afflicted with the gout so badly
that she was unable to work, regained health
through a novena and the same relic. In thanks-
giving she is sending 200 marks every yean for poor
students.

A seminarist was many months in bed on account
of articular rheumatism. After a novena he also
recovered his health.

j

J.P.M., (Donchester, Mass., U.S.A.) testifies that
After reading Matt Talbot's " Life " he gave it
to his brother, a young civil engineer, who had been
unemployed. The latter, too, read the book and
both began a noyena. " Our novena commenced
on July 20th and on the morning of the last day,
i.e., 28th, my brother obtained, employment for a
month, with .the. hope of permanent employment."

106

Prayer for the Canonization
of Matthew Talbot

O Jesus, true friend of the
humble worker, Thou hast given
us in Thy servant, Matthew, -a
wonderful example of victory
over vice, a model of penance
and of love for Thy Holy
Eucharist, grant, we beseech
Thee, that we Thy servants
may overcome all our wicked
passions and sanctify our lives
with penance and love like his.

And if it be in accordance
with Thy adorable designs that
Thy pious servant should be
glorified by the Church, deign
to manifest by Thy heavenly
favours the power he enjoys in
Thy sight. Who livest and
reignest for ever and ever.

Amen.

100 days' indulgence each time.

Permissu Ordinarii Dioec, Dublinen.,
die /sJunii, anno 1931.

106

Pastoral Letter of
His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin

His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin issued the
following letter on the Feast of All the Saints of
Ireland, 1931, to.be read in the Churches of the
Archdiocese on -Sunday, November 8:

" The exaltation of the lowly and the glorifying of
the humble were new and characteristic doctrines
of the Religion whose Divine Founder was born -in
a stable, and died, stripped of all reputation, on. the
tree of shame. The understanding of the sublime
truths which He came to teach was freely given to
the simple and humble, but denied to the proud.
For this Jesus Christ gave thanks, saying: ' I con-
fess to Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth,
because Thou hast hid these things from the wise
and prudent and hast revealed them to little ones.'
(Matt, xi., 25.)

" The Faithful are aware that a popular devotion
has already grown up and spread far beyond the
limits of our diocese and country, the- object of
which is a working man, named Matthew, or
familiarly Matt., Talbot, whose lonely death in a
laneway of our city, on June 7, 1925, gave little
indication of the fame which, in a very brief space
of time, was to make his name and story known in
almost every country in the world.

107

" This story of a man, until recently living in
obscurity in our midst, whose spirit of prayer and
penance seemed to belong to the ages of Faith,
rather than to the materialistic world of to-day,
filled many minds with wonder.

" We were not surprised to learn that such a man
lived in our midst. Every priest, whose mission
has taken him amongst the poor of Dublin, will
have come into contact with many lives of mar-
vellous holiness.

" Nobody, however, could fail to be impressed
by the astonishing rapidity with which the story of
the humble Dublin working man spread throughout
the world, and the powerful appeal which it made
to people varying very much racially and socially.
It seemed that the hand of Providence must surely
be here, and -that God had chosen one of our own
beloved poor to show forth to the world the working
of the ever abiding principle of holiness which is
in the Catholic Church. Almost at once the hope
was widely entertained that the ecclesiastical
authorities would take the first steps which might,
if it were God's Will, lead to: his eventual canonisa-
tion.

" This, however, was a question concerning
which it was necessary to proceed with that great
caution which the Church prescribes where the
public veneration of Saints is involved.

" It is, therefore, only after much reflection that
it has been decided to open what is known as the
Ordinary or Informative Enquiry into the reputa-
tion for sanctity of the Servant of God, JVIatt. Talbot.

108

This Enquiry will also cover whatever miracles
may be attributed to him.

" We have been moved to institute this Process,
not merely by our own personal admiration for his
virtues and life, but also by the petitions of others,
and by the evidence of widespread private devotion
to him here and in foreign lands. It is a serious
step and involves a recognition of his widespread
fame.

" It is, however, important that the Faithful
should understand clearly what the present Enquiry
means. In its Ordinary or Informative stage it
means the collecting of evidence from those who
knew the Servant of God, or who claim to have
received special favours through his intercession;
undue delay in this stage would, clearly, involve a
risk thaf valuable information might be lost by the
death of those in possession of it.

" Its purpose is to supply the Holy See (which
alone can give judgment in thes.e matters) with
such information as will enable it to decide whether
a prima facie case exists for the introduction of his
Cause. Should this be found to exist, the Holy See
will then prosecute enquiries into the case, and, for
this purpose^, it usually appoints the same Bishop,
who held the Informative Process, to act as its
delegate in the holding of an Apostolic Process. ;

" Even .at that stage there is no authoritative
"decision of the Church as to the sanctity of the
Servant of God. It is only when the further infor-
mation collected in the Apostolic Process has been
most critically examined in Rome and found satis-

109

factory that the Church proceeds to give its sanction
to any cultus of him or to declare him Blessed.

" The fame of the Servant t of God for sanctity
must be confirmed by at least two miracles, recog-
nised by the Church as of primary importance and
fully proved, before this step is taken.

"For the final act of Canonisation two further
miracles, taking place after Beatification, are re-
quired.

" It is clear, therefore, that the present investiga-
tion, important though it be, is but the first step
on the long road which the Church requires to be
travelled before Beatification or Canonisation is
reached. She is most solicitous that the honours
of her altars should be rendered only to those whose
right to them has been proved .beyond all doubt.
Any attempt to anticipate her judgment by Showing
premature public liturgical honour would seriously
impede the Cause.

" Hence, whilst private devotion to Matt. Talbot
is quite legitimate, based as it is on 'well-founded
but merely personal belief as to his holiness, it
would not be lawful to erect images of him in
churches or to adorn them with the insignia of
sanctity or to place votive tablets or lights on his
grave, or, in a word, to do or say/ or write -anything
about him which might anticipate the formal decree
of the Church in his regard.

"It is to be remembered that this inquiry is 1
strictly impartial, and that it is the business of the
Ecclesiastical Court to procure all possible evidence,
whether favourable or unfavourable, to the Cause

110

of the Servant of God. We, therefore, urge all those
who can give such evidence to communicate with
us, either directly or in writing, or through their
parochial clergy.

" We earnestly exhort the Faithful to pray that
the guidance of the Holy Spirit may direct our
steps, and that God may be pleased to add the name
of His humble servant, Matt. Talbot, to the glorious
roll of Ireland's saints, whose common triumph is
commemorated in to-day's Feast."

Ill

PRAYER

FOR THE CANONIZATION

OF

Matthew Talbot

O Jesus, true friend of the humble
worker, Thou hast- given us in Thy
servant, Matthew, a wonderful ex-
ample of victory over vice, a model
of penance and of love for Thy Holy
Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee,
that we Thy servants may overcome
all our wicked passions and sanctify
our lives with penance and loye like
his.

And if it be~in accordance with
Thy adorable designs that Thy pious
servant should be glorified by the
Church, deign to manifest by Thy
heavenly favours the power he en-
joys in Thy sight, Who livest and
reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
(Copyright.}

100 days' Indulgence each time.

Permissu Ordinarii Dioec. Dublinen.,
die 15 Junii, anno 1931.

An artistic prayer book leaflet contain-
ing the above prayer has been published
by the Catholic Truth Society of Ireland
and is obtainable from Veritas Company
Limited at Is. per 100 (post free Is. 2d.) ;
5s. per 500 (post free); 10s. per 1,000
(post free). Trade terms on application.

nill!l RS H?i FC iiiiir p
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UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

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