I went to see John Michael Talbot yesterday (Monday night - April 4th) at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Fairfax, California, with my friend Bob Merwin, and a new friend, Joe. The church next door, St. David's Anglican Church, sponsored the "ministry." As a young, "born-again" Christian, I heard him often, as many of my close friends loved his music, especially my good friend, Greg McMillan. My wife, Lori, tells me she remembers listening to him before he became a Christian when was a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band he formed with his talented brother Terry. To make a long story short, John Michael is now the General Minister and Spiritual Father (a self-named title) of a monastic community, "The Brothers and Sisters of Christ," at Little Portion Hermitage, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the only community in North America to receive canonical status from the Catholic Church, with celibates, singles, married couples, and families, who take evangelical councils of chastity, poverty and obedience - appropriate to their circumstances.
On this night, John Michael Talbot spoke more than played music. From listening to his music in the past, and partly based on what I heard about his
monastic tendencies, I half-expected a contemplative tone explicating spiritual truths, if he spoke at all. My expectations were magnified when I saw his present appearance, since his pictures from when I listened to him were of a younger man without a long white beard, which, with his monk garments, and long hair, made him look a bit like an early church father - especially when he announced he would talk about a Walk Through the Liturgy, though I was interested in the topic. I was pleasantly surprised by a lively speaker who spoke in contemporary language and tones, engaged the audience, loved to speak in humorous tones (sometimes with just a look), all while urging Catholics and non-Catholics alike to find a renewal in Christ, especially in the Catholic liturgy, but anywhere and everywhere as well, as he quickly changed his tone to solemnity and reverence.When he intervened with music, it was truly heavenly. He is a highly
skilled acoustic guitar player, and I can't think of hearing anyone who played it as well as I heard him play.What I found best was his explanation of the traditions of Catholicism, not only of the Mass, but especially of entering into church, and every step following that, as part of an encounter with the Lord.
Perhaps one of the highlights was seeing several old friends there I had not seen for a while.
