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.
St. Theresa's Prayer
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
With compassion on this world
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good
Yours are the hands,
With which He blesses all the world
Yours are the feet
Yours are the eyes
You are His body
Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
With compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth
But yours
The lyrics of John Michael Talbot's St. Theresa's Prayer serve as a reminder that each and every one of us has an important role to play in the world. The song begins by stating that Christ has no body now but ours. This means that although Christ is not physically present on earth, we are his representatives. Our hands and feet are the ones that will carry out his work and spread his message of love and compassion. Our eyes are the ones that will seek out those in need and see the world through his eyes.
The song is a call to action for listeners to be the embodiment of Christ on earth. Verse two reinforces this message, stating that our hands are the ones with which he blesses the world, and our feet are the ones with which he walks to do good. We must take it upon ourselves to use our bodies as vessels for his love, and to make a positive impact on the world in his name. The final line of the song, "Christ has no body now on earth but yours," drives the point home once more. It is our responsibility and privilege to continue Christ's work here on earth, and to be the embodiment of his message of love and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Christ has no body now but yours
Jesus is no longer physically present on Earth, but His followers are His body to carry out His work
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
You are the only physical aspect of Christ's presence on Earth
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
Your perspective and perception are what Christ uses to observe and analyze the state of the world and its inhabitants
With compassion on this world
Christ views the world with mercy, empathy, and kindness through your eyes
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good
You are the means by which Christ can take action in the world
Yours are the hands,
The work that your hands do is the work of Christ
With which He blesses all the world
The actions that you take and the intentions behind them are meant to create a positive impact on the world
Yours are the feet,
Your actions and movements are the means by which Christ can continue His work on Earth
You are His body
Christ is dependent on believers to be the physical manifestation of His work, and you are a part of that living embodiment
Christ has no body now on earth
The physical presence of Christ is absent on Earth
But yours
Believers are tasked with continuing the work of Christ and being His embodiment on Earth
Writer(s): John Michael Talbot
Contributed by Emily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Baxter
there are no words to express how much I love this.
Tina Rodriguez
I LOVE THIS SONG 😢❤️🔥❤️
🎄
Susan Townsend
I don’t usually like “contemporary” Christian music but ten I hear something like this and I want to hear more. So beautiful, so deeply inspiring. Thank you, JMT AA and St. Teresa.
Brent Stockman
Love this man! Peaceful meditative encouragement and stress releasing music....
mia2kl
So beautiful! 💕🙏
Sarita Wimmer Robbins
What a beautiful song!!!
Therese Griffin
I hear you, Lord through the song of Michael and words of Theresa of Avila.
Bobbie Shockley
Lovely
Iris Adams
Amen here I am Lord to be with you show me Lord what you want me to do 🙏🕯️🙏
Onna Enga
Thank you