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.
Holy Darkness
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
As we await you, O God of silence,
we embrace your holy night.
I have taught your soul to grieve.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
there I will plant my seed.
you have stood before the grave.
Though my love can seem
like a raging storm,
this is the love that saves.
when I raised up the mountains?
Can you guide the morning star?
Does the hawk take flight
when you give command?
I will give you wealth untold.
When the silence stills your spirit,
will my riches fill your soul.
and the bride awaits her groom,
so we wait to hear your footsteps
as we rest beneath your moon.
The opening lines of John Michael Talbot's song "Holy Darkness" call to mind the paradoxical nature of the Christian faith, particularly in the way that it often seems to embrace contradictions. Holy darkness can be understood as both the absence of light or understanding, and as a mysterious, transcendent presence that is beyond human comprehension. The idea of heaven's answer being hidden from our sight suggests that there are aspects of the divine that are beyond our ability to perceive, no matter how hard we may try.
The second verse of the song seems to speak to the idea of suffering and how it can be a source of growth and transformation. The idea of God teaching our souls to grieve suggests that there is a purpose to the hardships we experience in life, and that through them we can come to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the divine. The image of a seed being planted in the barren soil of loneliness echoes the Christian concept of spiritual rebirth, and suggests that even in the midst of our darkest moments, there is potential for growth and new life.
The final verse of "Holy Darkness" seems to speak to the idea of waiting and of the anticipation that comes with faith. The bride awaiting her groom is a common image in Christian literature, and symbolizes the longing that believers often feel for a deeper connection with God. The moon is a symbol of mystery and hiddenness, and its presence in the final lines of the song reinforces the idea that there is much about the divine that we cannot fully understand or comprehend.
Line by Line Meaning
Holy darkness, blessed night,
We revere and praise the darkness of night, as it brings blessings and gifts bestowed from heaven.
heaven's answer hidden from our sight.
We cannot see the divine providence, which is hidden and remains a mystery to us mortals on Earth.
As we await you, O God of silence,
We wait in a state of tranquility and calmness for God, who is often silent, inscrutable, and incomprehensible to us.
we embrace your holy night.
We cherish and embrace the sacred darkness of the night, which allows us to seek refuge, meditate, pray, and contemplate divine mysteries.
I have taught your soul to grieve.
I have instilled in your soul the capacity for sorrow, pain, and mourning, which is a necessary part of the human experience and leads to spiritual growth.
In the barren soil of your loneliness,
In the desolate and empty landscape of your solitude and isolation, I will sow the seed of hope, faith, and love.
there I will plant my seed.
There, in the midst of your despair and emptiness, I will plant the seed of divine grace, which will grow and flourish in your life.
you have stood before the grave.
You have confronted death, loss, and mortality, which are powerful reminders of human vulnerability and impermanence.
Though my love can seem like a raging storm,
Even though my love might appear turbulent, chaotic, and fierce, it is ultimately a force of healing, restoration, and salvation.
this is the love that saves.
This is the love that redeems, liberates, and rescues us from sin, death, and despair.
when I raised up the mountains?
When I created the majestic and awe-inspiring mountains, which testify to my power, majesty, and glory.
Can you guide the morning star?
Can you control or comprehend the movements of the celestial bodies, such as the bright and shining star of the morning?
Does the hawk take flight when you give command?
Do you have the power to command or direct the natural world, such as the swift and graceful flight of a hawk?
I will give you wealth untold.
I will bestow upon you an abundance of riches, treasures, and blessings that surpass any material or earthly wealth.
When the silence stills your spirit,
When the hush and calm of silence permeate your soul, and you become detached from the noise and distractions of the world.
will my riches fill your soul.
Then my boundless riches, wisdom, and love will flood and satisfy your deepest longings and desires.
and the bride awaits her groom,
As the bride eagerly hopes and anticipates the arrival of her beloved groom, with great joy and longing.
so we wait to hear your footsteps
So we yearn and long to hear your majestic and divine footsteps, which bring light, love, and salvation to the world.
as we rest beneath your moon.
As we find rest, peace, and comfort in the gentle and soothing light of the moon, which reminds us of your benevolent and watchful presence.
Contributed by Austin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.