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 45 Part 2
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go out and welcome him
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words
Forget your own people and your father′s house
So will the king desire your beauty
He is your lord, pay homage to him
The richest of the people shall seek your favor
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor
Her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold
She is led to the king with her maiden companions
They are escorted amid gladness and joy
They pass within the palace of the king
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers
You will make them princes over all the earth
May this song make your name for ever remembered
May the peoples praise you from age to age
Glory to the Father
And to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning
Is now
And will be for ever
Amen
In John Michael Talbot's song Psalm 45 Part 2, the lyrics are a call to the bride to prepare for the coming of the bridegroom. The bride is urged to forget her past and embrace her new life as the wife of the King. She is reminded that the King desires her beauty and that she is to honor and pay homage to him. The bride is also assured that the people of Tyre will come to seek her favor and that she is clothed with splendor and adorned with pearls set in gold as she is led to the King. The song concludes with a blessing for the bride and a call to give glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The lyrics of this song are inspired by Psalm 45 in the Bible, which is a celebration of the wedding of a king. The psalm is considered to be a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah and is used in the liturgy of many Christian denominations as a hymn or a chant. John Michael Talbot's version of the psalm is set to a simple, but beautiful melody that is both uplifting and contemplative.
Line by Line Meaning
The bridegroom is here
Jesus, the bridegroom of the Church, is present in this moment
Go out and welcome him
Let us receive Him with open hearts and joyful spirits
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words
Hear this wisdom, my dear child, and apply it to your life
Forget your own people and your father's house
Let go of the worldly attachments and desires that hold you back
So will the king desire your beauty
By surrendering yourself to Jesus, you become truly beautiful in His eyes
He is your lord, pay homage to him
Jesus is your ruler, worship and honor Him above all else
And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts
The nations will come to offer tribute and honor to Christ
The richest of the people shall seek your favor
The most powerful and influential people in the world will come to seek Christ's favor
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor
The Church, the bride of Christ, is adorned with glory and beauty
Her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold
The Church is adorned with priceless jewels and treasures
She is led to the king with her maiden companions
The Church is led by the Holy Spirit, along with fellow believers, to Christ
They are escorted amid gladness and joy
The Church is accompanied by joy and happiness as she draws near to Christ
They pass within the palace of the king
The people of God enter into the presence of the Almighty God with awe and reverence
Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers
The Church will bear spiritual children who will take on the commission of the previous generation
You will make them princes over all the earth
These spiritual children will be empowered by God to rule as the Church spreads to all corners of the world
May this song make your name for ever remembered
May this psalm honor and glorify God and make His name remembered for all time
May the peoples praise you from age to age
May all nations come to give praise and honor to the Lord from generation to generation
Glory to the Father
All glory and honor is due to God the Father
And to the Son
And to His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior
And to the Holy Spirit
And to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Guide of the Church
As it was in the beginning
As it was in the beginning of creation
Is now
Is happening now, in this present moment
And will be for ever
And will continue for all eternity
Amen
So be it
Writer(s): John Michael Talbot
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.