Alcohol, Venerable Matt Talbot & the Calix Society

"Never be too hard on a man who cannot give up drink.
It is as hard as raising the dead to life again.
But both are possible and easy for the Lord.
We have only to depend on Him."

-Venerable Matt Talbot

Alcohol and the Brain

Many of us use alcohol to combat stress, anxiety and improve socialization. Alcohol lowers inhibition and increases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. For those with alcohol sensitivities, this creates an abnormal craving. In 15 to 20%, we will become alcoholics. Of all known addictions, alcohol is the only one that shrinks the brain from brain cell death as evidenced by imaging. Chronic abuse turns off gluconate receptors leading to forgetfulness, altered judgement and ultimately, dementia. Without working g-receptors, our body makes more and more g-receptors to try to sense alcohol, which then shut off. This is not sustainable. When attempting sobriety, these abnormal numbers of g-receptors turn back on--en masse--which cause hyper anxiety, tremors and seizures. Permanent damage from irritated nerves leads to peripheral neuropathies, atrial fibrillation, liver cirrhosis, cancers, dementia, hypertension and strokes.

September is National Recovery Month

In 1989, September was designated as a month to promote mental health and addiction recovery. In a formal recovery process, we admit powerlessness and surrender to a higher power. This higher power is self-defined in anonymous 12-steps programs. Unfortunately, atheists define their higher power as a friend, their sponsor or abstractions that pull us away from God. Being in 12-step program with agnostic peer pressure makes it difficult for Catholics to discuss God. While 12-step programs are still recommended for Catholics, an adjunct for ALL addictions is called the Calix Society, calix being Latin for chalice. For more, please see calixsociety.org. Calix was started by a nun and others who sought to add God, the sacraments and Catholic-based dialogue. Often, trauma or mental illness is the reason for negative coping mechanisms leading to addiction. Calix seeks God's grace as a substitute for chemicals which only numb our trauma, dull our pain and snowball our problems.

The Calix Society's Patron Saint

Sister Agnes et al began the Calix Society in 1949, formally approved by Pope Paul VI after 25-years. In his address to the Society in 1974, he stated,

"You have chosen Matt Talbot as an admirable exemplar of discipline and supernatural virtue. It is our hope that his success will encourage countless men and women throughout the world to realize the need for conversion, the possibility of real rehabilitation, the serenity of Christian reconciliation, and the peace and joy of helping others to overcome abuses, disorders and sin."

Matt Talbot was an Irish lad, addicted to alcohol at age 13. Having drunk excessively for 16 years, Talbot maintained sobriety for the following 40-years. There is evidence that Talbot's first 7-years after taking the pledge were especially difficult. He found strength in prayer, attended daily Mass and read spiritual books and pamphlets for distraction. He repaid all his debts scrupulously. Unsuccessfully having searched for a fiddler, whose instrument he had stolen, he used the money to have Mass said for him. He was a loner, never married and was said to have had conversations with Mother Mary. In 1925, he was found dead on a Dublin street, wrapped with hidden chains around his waist and extremities for penance. It was these chains that signaled his Spiritual Director to come forward with his story. In 1975, Pope Paul VI declared him venerable.

As we navigate the complex landscape of addiction, true happiness comes from within and depends God's grace and good decisions. The first step is to seek help. While the allure of alcohol’s quick fix is tempting; contentment and balance is found by building a life rich in purpose through connections to God and neighbor. As Venerable Matt Talbot said, only God can raise us back to life, whether from grief, trauma, mental illness or addiction. There is help, please say yes to becoming free from this horrible slavery. Jesus, we trust in You.

Sources:

CalixSociety.org

Drinking Alcohol with Professor Nutt | You Tube

Pope Paul VI addresses the Calix Society | calixsociety.org

Venerable Matt Talbot, the Irish Pub saint | You Tube