Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, October 12, 2000
the Diocese
The Southern Cross, Page 7
An exclusive interview with John Michael Talbot
John Michael Talbot
O n October 4, the feast of Saint
Francis of Assisi, Father
Douglas K. Clark, editor of The
Southern Cross, spoke with John
Michael Talbot, the best-selling
Catholic recording artist in the coun
try, in anticipation of his upcoming
concert at Saint James Church,
Savannah, November 6.
Southern Cross: You’ve been to
Savannah before, for a concert at
Sacred Heart Church. What do you
recall from that visit.
Talbot: I recall a small church and
a most gracious congregation that
was a joy to pray with. I recall it as
a lovely concert.
Southern Cross: What does the
title of your latest CD, Simple Heart,
mean? What is the recording about?
Talbot: It contains psalms from the
Office of Readings, a prayer of Saint
Teresa of Avila, another of Charles
de Foucauld and a famous prayer to
Holy Spirit. The Office of Readings
takes us to the darkest place in our
walk of faith and shines God’s light
on them. The Office is prayed as a
vigil in the middle of the night. It
offers a stark confrontation of light
and darkness. People today feel
overwhelmed by the forces of mod
em society. Like the Office of
Readings, Simple Heart is intended
to shine a light of hope into situation
world would call hopeless.
I just returned from a retreat with
Father Frank Pavone, of Priests for
Life. Many pro-life people have
resigned themselves to the lack of
sympathy on the part of the
American people for the pro-life
movement. But the word we re
ceived on this retreat was a word of
hope, of going deeper into the “Gos
pel of Life,” to bring the good news
to those who are our enemies, to
respect the lives of all, even of abor
tionists.
Southern Cross: Are you still a
Third Order Franciscan?
Talbot: I’m no longer active in the
Third Order, which I joined 18 years
ago. My own community, the
Brothers and Sisters of Charity,
takes precedence. We have about 37
members in Arkansas and another
500 nationwide.
The life and example of Saint
Francis had a powerful influence on
me. I was brought up a Methodist.
My brother Terry and I formed a
band, Mason Proffit, that achieved
some success. But it all seemed so
empty. I went on a spiritual journey,
exploring everything from Native
American religion, through Bud
dhism, to Biblical Christianity. I saw
in Saint Francis and those like him
an affirmation by the Church that a
simple life, committed to prayer and
evangelism and work with the poor,
are possible within the Catholic
faith. These values are not supported
in as overt and intentional manner
by other Christian communities. I
came to the Catholic Church through
the example of Saint Francis.
The support of the Church to this
radical living of the Gospel is attrac
tive to me. There’s always a boat for
those who want to go out to sea.
At first, I was sort of a hermit, but
then a community grew up around
me. In Little Rock, with the support
of Bishop Andrew J. McDonald, the
community gained canonical status
and has grown ever since.
Southern Cross: What can those
who attend your concert at Saint
James expect to hear?
Talbot: The concert will not be just
me; my older brother and Barry
McGuire will be with me. My brother
Terry was in Mason Proffit with me.
Barry McGuire was in New Christie
Minstrels and sang “Eve of
Destruction.” McGuire was involved
in the grass roots of the Jesus move
ment. They open for me. Neither is
Catholic, but both find warm
responses from Catholic audiences.
They’re up-tempo and funny, but can
be serious. After the light opening, I
come on, and get very deeply into
prayer. It’s a very balanced evening.
Light-hearted experience of the joys
of our faith, plus deep meditation.
Southern Cross: Are you going to
sing many songs from Simple Heart
in Savannah?
Talbot: Yes, I plan to sing “God
Alone” (the prayer of Saint Teresa),
“Simple Heart” and “Breathe on
Me” (the prayer to the Holy Spirit),
and perhaps “Abandon Myself’ (the
prayer of Charles de Foucauld). I
vary the program according to the
audience’s reactions.
Saint James Parish, Savannah, will present
John Michael Talbot
in concert on November 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Cost is $ 15.00 per person.
For more information, call Jeanie Bandy at 912-355-1523.
Local Franciscans celebrate “Transitus” of Saint Francis
The story of the passing of Saint Francis of Assisi was retold recently with the celebration of the Transitus, at Saint
Boniface Church in Springfield. Father Herbert Wellmeier, pastor of Saint Anne Parish, Richmond Hill, read the words
of Saint Francis during the narration of the last hours of the saint as he approached “Sister Death.” Left: Three
Missionary Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Elizabeth Mannion, Sister Noreen Dennehy and Sister
Georgette Cunniff, renewed their vows at the conclusion of the ceremony. Right: Brother Robert Sokolowski, SM, Mary
O’Brien and Sister Pat Brown, SSMN, join in the ceremony. Franciscans world wide traditionally celebrate the Transitus,
concluding with the final prayer of Saint Francis, who died on October 3, 1226, as he was being carried over the Umbrian
hills to his “little chapel” of the Portiuncula, below Assisi.
Photos by Jonas N. Jordan