The Sacred Heart and the Venerable Matt Talbot
Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The video above, produced by the Apostleship of Prayer, tells us something of the struggle of the Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) with alcoholism. It mentions the fact that he didn't have the benefit of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which hadn't yet come on the scene. But it doesn't mention that he was one of the earliest members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart . The Pioneer Association, or PTAA, describes its mission and vision as follows: Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through: Faith and prayer Self denial Example Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young Advocacy Our vision - based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels - is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be ...