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.

Psalm 121
John Michael Talbot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My help comes from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth

I lift up my eyes to the mountains
From where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
Who made heaven and earth

May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers
Israel′s guard

The Lord is your guard and your shade
At your right side he stands
By day the sun shall not smite you
Nor the moon in the night

The Lord will guard you from evil
He will guard your soul
The Lord will guard your going and coming
Both now and for ever

Glory to the Father
And to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning
Is now

And will be forever
Amen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Michael Talbot's song Psalm 121 express a deep and abiding faith in the Lord's protective and supportive power. The psalmist begins by acknowledging that their help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, proclaiming his sovereignty over all things. The psalmist then lifts their eyes to the mountains, searching for where their help may come from, before acknowledging that their help will come from the Lord alone. This reveals a recognition that the Lord is the only source of true and lasting help, and that any human effort or assistance will ultimately fall short.

The psalmist goes on to ask that the Lord never allow them to stumble, highlighting their trust in his ability to protect and guide them. The psalmist is reassured that the Lord never sleeps, but remains constantly vigilant as Israel's guard. The Lord is then described as a protective shade, standing always at the psalmist's right hand, shielding them from the harmful effects of the sun and the moon. The psalm concludes with a declaration of the Lord's all-encompassing protection over the psalmist's soul, their coming and going, both now and forever.

Line by Line Meaning

My help comes from the Lord
I rely on the help of the Lord

Who made heaven and earth
The Lord created the heavens and the earth

I lift up my eyes to the mountains
I look to the mountains for help

From where shall come my help?
I wonder where my help will come from

My help shall come from the Lord
My help will come from the Lord

May he never allow you to stumble!
May the Lord never let you fall!

Let him sleep not, your guard
May your guard not sleep

No, he sleeps not nor slumbers
Your guard never sleeps

Israel′s guard
The Lord is guarding Israel

The Lord is your guard and your shade
The Lord protects and shelters you

At your right side he stands
The Lord is by your side