Prayer and Spiritual Guidance
In 1913 Matt's spiritual
director and soul friend Fr. James Walsh died he
was a great loss not only to Matt but to all the
members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Men's
Sodality in Gardiner Street. He had guided Matt
through the most difficult and challenging years
and had helped him learn to read and write. But
Matt would find another soul friend and
Spiritual Director Mgr. Michael Hickey of Holy
Cross College, Clonliffe. He would become Matt's
trusted friend and confident. After the death of
his mother in 1915 Mgr. Hickey would frequently
go to Matt's little flat in Upper Rutland Street.
He was fifteen years younger than Matt, a man of
considerable intellectual attainments, Rome
educated, a linguist and a scholar. A man who
himself had a reputation for holiness and was
also a popular confessor. When asked for his
prayers for someone he would assure them not
only of his prayers but also of his friend Matt
Talbot, 'a very holy man, whom I often ask to
pray for favours, and whose prayers are never
refused.'
Matt was often asked for prayers. On one occasion when asked to pray for a man's wife who was seriously ill, Matt said he would ask Our Lady. Next day Matt told the man that his prayer would be answered but not perhaps in the way he would wish but not to be worried all will be well. The following day the woman died, but her husband was deeply consoled for he knew she was in heaven. Matt's prayers had been heard.