John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic singer… Read Full Bio ↴John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic singer-songwriter-guitarist who is founder of a monastic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity

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.

Ode of the Bridegroom
John Michael Talbot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen my daughters
Listen my bride
You are found to be lowly
You are found without pride
And the King seeks the beauty
Of the lowly and the poor
You have knealt down to worship
So obtain your reward

You will enter in glory
In a robe spun with gold
And embroidered in heaven
Your grace is foretold
And behind you are virgins
Shall carry your train
As you enter the kingdom
To be wed to the King
So listen my daughters
Listen my bride
You are found to be lowly
You are found without pride
So your name will be blessed
To the end of all time

And the nations will pray you
As the King's gentle bride

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ode of the Bridegroom" by John Michael Talbot address a bride preparing to wed the king. The song begins with a call to listen and hear the message being conveyed. The daughters and the bride are praised for their humility and lack of pride, characteristics that the king values. They have given themselves in worship to the king and are promised a reward for their devotion. This reward is entrance into glory and being adorned in a robe of gold, embroidered in heaven, and then being wed to the king.

The verse praises the bride further by stating that she will be followed by virgins carrying her train. This moment is set to be one of immense importance as the bride enters the kingdom to be wed to the king. The repetition of the call to listen reinforces the importance of the message being conveyed. Finally, the song assures the bride that her name will be blessed forever, and the nations will pray for her as the King's gentle bride.

The lyrics of "Ode of the Bridegroom" carry a sense of solemnity and reverence that is fitting for the occasion of a royal wedding. The song is rich in symbolism, with various elements conveying the message of the importance of humility and devotion to the higher power. The imagery of the robe spun with gold and embroidered in heaven is particularly striking, conveying the sense of something precious and beyond earthly value.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen my daughters
Pay close attention, my beloved daughters

Listen my bride
Give heed, my cherished bride

You are found to be lowly
You are discovered to be humble

You are found without pride
You are without conceit or arrogance

And the King seeks the beauty
The King desires the loveliness

Of the lowly and the poor
Of those who are unpretentious and impoverished

You have knealt down to worship
You have bent your knees in worship

So obtain your reward
Now receive your due reward

You will enter in glory
You will enter into glorious splendor

In a robe spun with gold
Adorned in a robe woven with precious metal

And embroidered in heaven
With heavenly embroidery