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John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic singer-guitarist who is founder of a monastic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity.^[1]

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 joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as "The Talbot Bros." 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 formed 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.

Talbot's title is General Minister and Spiritual Father. For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.^[2][3]

The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the library and many common areas were destroyed.^[4]

Discography

With Mason Proffit

* double album reissue of Wanted and Movin' Toward Happiness

Solo

Collections

• 1980 Beginnings
• 1989 Master Collection V1 - The Quiet Side
• 1995 Collection
• 1995 The Talbot Brothers Collection
• 2008 The Troubadour Years

Bibliography

Books

• The Music of Creation: Foundations of a Christian Life — (Tarcher/Putnam) (1999) ISBN 1-58542-037-9
• Changes: A Spiritual Journal — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-00-4
• Blessings: Reflections On The Beatitudes — (Crossroads Publishing) ISBN 0-8245-1077-1
• Come To The Quiet: The Principles Of Christian Meditation — (J.P. Tarcher) ISBN 1-58542-144-8
• The Fire Of God — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-01-2
• Hermitage: A Place Of Prayer & Spiritual Renewal — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-57921-040-6
• The Joy Of Music Ministry (Resurrection Press) ISBN 1-878718-63-0
• Lessons Of St. Francis: Bring Simplicity & Spirituality Into Your Daily Life — (Plume Books) ISBN 0-452-27834-1
• The Lover And The Beloved: A Way Of Franciscan Prayer — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-04-7
• Meditations From Solitude: A Mystical Theology From The Christian East — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-05-5
• Reflections On The Gospels, Vol. 1: Daily Devotions For Radical Christian Living — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-02-0
• Reflections On The Gospels, Vol. 2: Daily Devotions For Radical Christian Living — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 1-883803-03-9
• Reflections On The Gospels, VOL. 3: A Passion For God — (Servant Publications) ISBN 0-89283-705-5
• Simplicity (with Dan O'Neill) — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 0-89283-635-0
• The Way Of The Mystics: Ancient Wisdom For Today (with Steve Rabey) — (Jossey-Bass)ISBN 0-7879-7572-9

Information sources

• Troubadour for the Lord: The Story of John Michael Talbot by Dan O'Neill — (Crossroad Publishing) (1983) ISBN 0-8245-0567-0
• Signatures: The Story Of John Michael Talbot by Dan O'Neill — (Troubadour For The Lord) (2004) ISBN 1-883803-10-1 (revised version of his earlier biography "Troubadour for the Lord")

References

1. ^ Simplicity (with Dan O'Neill) — (Troubadour For The Lord) ISBN 0-89283-635-0
2. ^ Signatures: The Story Of John Michael Talbot by Dan O'Neill — (Troubadour For The Lord) (2004) ISBN 1-883803-10-1
3. ^ Mercy Corps - Search Results
4. ^ "John Michael Talbot's Monastery Destroyed by Fire". Catholic Online. 3 May 2008. http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=4735. Retrieved 5 September 2009.  

External links

• Talbot's official website
• Little Portion Community cebsite
• Review: Monk Rock at The-Trades.com