Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Because You Are Chosen
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Called to be holy
Because you are the Lord's beloved
You must clothe yourself with kindness
With heartfelt mercy
In the meekness of humility
So bearing now with one another
Over all these virtues
Bind them all together
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
Over all these virtues
Bind them all together
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
Over all these virtues
Bind them all together
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
The song "Because You are Chosen" by John Michael Talbot speaks about the call to holiness and the virtues required for it. The opening line, "Because you are chosen," refers to the believer's calling by God to be holy through His grace. As we are loved by the Lord, we are called to respond in kind by clothing ourselves with kindness, heartfelt mercy, and meekness. These virtues are essential to our growth in holiness, and they stem from God’s own loving nature.
The chorus reminds us to bear with one another and forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven us. These virtues, along with kindness, mercy, and meekness, must be bound together in the love of Jesus Christ. These virtues work together, complementing one another and creating a balanced, fruitful life. The ultimate aim is to grow in our love for Christ and to respond with love to others.
Overall, the song speaks about the call to holiness and the virtues that must be cultivated in response to this call - kindness, mercy, meekness, forgiveness, and love. John Michael Talbot's lyrics remind us that these virtues are not isolated but interconnected and that love is the binding force that unites them all.
Line by Line Meaning
Because you are chosen
You have been selected and called by God for a special purpose
Called to be holy
You are called to live a pure and righteous life
Because you are the Lord's beloved
The Lord loves you deeply and unconditionally
You must clothe yourself with kindness
You should show compassion and benevolence towards others
With heartfelt mercy
You should show forgiveness and compassion from a sincere and genuine heart
In the meekness of humility
You should have a humble approach and submit to God's will
So bearing now with one another
You should show patience and endurance towards other people
And forgive as the Lord's forgiven you
You should forgive others just as God has forgiven you
Over all these virtues
In addition to these attributes
Bind them all together
Bring them all together and merge them into a coherent whole
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
Through the love of Jesus Christ
Over all these virtues
In addition to these attributes
Bind them all together
Bring them all together and merge them into a coherent whole
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
Through the love of Jesus Christ
Over all these virtues
In addition to these attributes
Bind them all together
Bring them all together and merge them into a coherent whole
In the Love of our Lord Jesus
Through the love of Jesus Christ
Writer(s): LITTLE PORTION (1399)
Contributed by Isaiah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.