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.
Creed I
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maker of the heavens and the earth
And in Jesus Christ His only Son
Our Lord, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Was born of the virgin Mary
And Who suffered under Pontius Pilate
And descended into hell
And descended into hell
And descended into hell
On the third day He rose up again
On the third day He rose up
On the third day He rose up again
On the third day
On the third day He rose up again
On the third day He rose up
On the third day He rose up again
On the third day He rose up again
On the third day He rose up
On the third day He rose up again
And He ascended
And He ascended
Ascended to heaven
Ascended to heaven
Ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God
The Father the Almighty
The Almighty
And He shall come again
And He shall come again
To bring the kingdom
To bring the kingdom
To bring the kingdom
At the right hand of God which He shall come again
He come again
We believe in the Holy Spirit
In the Holy Catholic Church
The communion of saints
The forgiveness of sins
And the life without it
In the rising of, the rising of the kingdom
In the rising of, the rising of our Lord
The communion of saints
The forgiveness of sins
And the life without it
The opening lines of “Creed I” by John Michael Talbot speak to our belief and faith in God, the almighty father and creator of the heavens and earth. The song then touches on the fundamental tenets of Christianity, including the birth of Jesus Christ by way of a virgin birth, his suffering and ultimate crucifixion on the cross at the hands of Pontius Pilate, and his subsequent descent into hell. After spending time in hell, Jesus rose from the grave and ascended into heaven to take his place at the right hand of his father. These events set the stage for the promise that one day Jesus will return to earth again to establish his kingdom.
The song goes on to speak to the importance of the holy spirit, the Catholic Church, and the communion of saints. It also touches on the necessity of forgiveness of sins and the gift of everlasting life.
“Creed I” is a powerful affirmation of Christian faith, featuring beautifully crafted lyrics that recount the most significant events in the bible. The song is a declaration that Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior, and that our belief in him is the cornerstone of our faith.
Line by Line Meaning
We believe in God The Almighty, The Father
We have faith in the all-powerful and supreme divine being, the Father of all creation
Maker of the heavens and the earth
The one who brought into existence the universe and everything within it
And in Jesus Christ His only Son
We also believe in Jesus Christ, the sole offspring of God the Father
Our Lord, our Lord
Our ruler and ultimate authority over our lives
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Jesus was brought about through the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit
Was born of the virgin Mary
He was born of Mary, who had never before borne a child
And Who suffered under Pontius Pilate
Jesus underwent tremendous persecution during his lifetime, under the administration of Pontius Pilate
Was crucified and He died, and was buried
Jesus was executed cruelly by crucifixion, and his earthly body was laid to rest in a tomb
And descended into hell
Jesus' spirit descended to an intermediate state of the afterlife, before his resurrection
On the third day He rose up again
After three days, Jesus emerged from death, resurrected
On the third day
Three days after his death
And He ascended
Jesus was taken up into the heavens
Ascended to heaven
He ascended to paradise and the spiritual realm
And He shall come again
Jesus will reappear at some point in the future
To bring the kingdom
To usher in a new era of God's ideal reign
At the right hand of God which He shall come again
Jesus will appear at God's side when the time comes for his return
We believe in the Holy Spirit
We hold faith in the divine third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit
In the Holy Catholic Church
We cherish the universal community of all believers in Jesus Christ
The communion of saints
The unity and shared faith of all faithful believers, both living and dead
The forgiveness of sins
The absolution of wrongdoing through Christ's benevolent saving grace
And the life without it
And that grace is what allows us to have everlasting life
Writer(s): John Michael Talbot
Contributed by Katherine N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.