Today we pray the ninth and therefore final day of our Novena to Matt Talbot for Alcoholics. Like yesterday we begin with:
PRAYER FOR THE ADDICTED
God of mercy, we bless You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who ministered to all who come to Him. Give Your strength to N., Your servant, bound by the chains of addiction. Enfold him/her in Your love and restore him/her to the freedom of God’s children. Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, and strengthen them in the work of recovery. To those who care for them, grant patient understanding and a love that perseveres. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hope is the keyword for today. We have spent the last 9 days praying for someone still caught or struggling with an addiction. What is there left?
Giving them hope. At some point, either by now or later on, you’ll (hopefully) help the person you’ve been praying for. If that’s not possible for whatever reason, that’s all right. Perhaps as a result of your prayers the Holy Spirit will guide someone else to do what you cannot.
Whoever does help the person is ultimately providing them hope. That person will see, quite darkly at first, that there is a way out.
When I entered the rooms of a Twelve Step program for a meeting, I wanted what everyone else had, and I wanted it as soon as possible. I struggled hard for 7 months before finally stopping. I think it was the glimmer of hope that I would eventually stop that helped me to continue and achieve some degree of sobriety. That was enough to help me get back into the Church.
Hope is a lifeline. It is a desire for things not yet gotten, but with a conviction that they will be had.
We conclude the daily novena with:
Official Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Matt Talbot
“Lord, in your servant, Matt Talbot you have given us a wonderful example of triumph over addiction, of devotion to duty, and of lifelong reverence of the Holy Sacrament. May his life of prayer and penance give us courage to take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Father, if it be your will that your beloved servant should be glorified by your Church, make known by your heavenly favours the power he enjoys in your sight. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.”
The source of these prayers is Circle of Prayer – Matt Talbot Intercedes for Alcoholics .
My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)