February 2003

Ever feel like Job? If anything can go wrong then it does. I have had one of those moments already this year. Between my cars and the furnace breaking down, the dentist and then everyone in the family getting that nasty virus that has been going around, it has sometimes been hard to praise God during this time of trial.  Another war is on the horizon, the economy still hasn't recovered--and have you seen those gas prices?  The number of people I know who have cancer is unbelievable. The words of Jesus from the cross echo in my brain: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  We know that Job kept praising God even in his misery, and Christ was delivered into His Father’s arms and rose on the third day. We do not know what God’s plans are, but we must not turn our back on Him. We each have a cross. Offer up your suffering toward Heaven. It really does work!

It is during times of trial that we must pray. If it is said those that sing pray twice, then Michael John Poirier's Holy Hour (For The Questioning Soul) will double the value of your prayers. This is a CD that highlights Poirier's ability to take the human experience and give voice to it in beautiful music. Everyone has moments of doubt, of longing, of questioning faith. This recording contains songs of lament, of the soul calling out to God seeking help and courage, of the human spirit grappling with the magnitude of God. Many of the songs here could be sung during Adoration.  Poirier asks God to take control of his life in songs like “Take These Questions" ("Please take away the arrogance and lead me back to you…”), “Lead Us To The River,” and “Why Can’t I See You.”  God’s answers are in the beautiful “Dream Of A Soul.” ( “Courage, courage, you’re not alone; take my hand… I’ll lead your home..” ), “I Alone,” and “Believe in Me” (“These trials you endure, they’re a cure in your soul- if you will let them”). Poirier does an awesome version of the classic hymn “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. His sweet vocals and the accompanying piano give reverence to the power of God. Poirier’s Holy Hour will help listeners find comfort in hearing they are not alone on their pilgrimage.

Paul Harrigan's CD Thank You 2 is a compilation of songs that come from the heart of a man who has experienced the suffering and loss of being separated from God as well as the healing and peace that God offers us through the sacraments of His Church.  This is heard in “His Body, His Blood,” an excellent song about Jesus offering his whole self to us not only in His death on the cross but at every Mass in the Eucharist. It has a catchy beat and a wonderful message.  Knowing that God is there for us is what the song “Hear My Prayer” is all about. Songs like “Thank You, “ “Praise The Lord“ and “Living Water,“ also offer praise to God.  “My prayer is that these songs will lead you to the peace only Christ can give,” Harrigan says.  “This album is a prayer of peace and thanksgiving to God for His reaching down to me and lifting me out of darkness and pain."

Mark Hargrave took the popular poem about when we think we are walking alone in times of trouble, but in reality the Father is carrying us, and turned it into a song. Footprints In The Sand is the title of Hargrave’s new CD. Hargrave says, “We realize many times after going through some major trials in our lives that the Lord was always by our side. He reminds us in Isaiah 49:15 that He will never forget or leave us.”  Hargrave echoes this in the song “Embraced.”  It is soft, sweet song  saying we should never resist calling on Him in our times of loneliness or need. “Trust In The Lord” tells us that if we are faithful in trusting Him, He will reveal His plan and His direction for our lives. “In the Stillness” continues that thought in that we must enter into silence in order for God to speak to us. It is all about timing, as Hargrave tells us in “Wait Upon The Lord.”  The song says it is through Jesus that we can do all things, provided we wait on His timing and not our own. Hargrave also offers delightful new versions of classic prayers, “The Song Of Francis” and “The Lord’s Prayer” done in his own style. Mark Hargrave‘s Footprints In The Sand is a wonderful collection of songs that will let you know you are not alone in the journey of life.

There are some CDs that you love to listen to every now and again, and then you get one that you can play over and over and it just gets better. I just found one!  Tony Martinez's Carry The Light is one that will lift you with its Latin rhythms, joyous lyrics and dynamic harmonies. Martinez sings lead vocals, but is joined by family, friends and the Choir of Little Angels on the recording's ten selections. Well-known artists add to the project; they include three-time Grammy Award winning sound engineer Marius Perron, drummer Mike Kennedy and fiddler Bobby Flores.The harmonies are fantastic in “True Love,” a song with great beats and a message about a soul who finds Jesus, his life’s true love. A slower Latin blues flavor takes over in “He Gives,” which tells us that God gives us all that we need if we only trust in Him. The Backstreet Boys or N’Sync have nothing on Martinez as he harmonies on “Lamb Of God,” his version of the Mass hymn. “The Gate” is another song with a great blend of vocals and lyrics stating that believing in Jesus is the way to get into Heaven.  The gem of this CD is “Carry The Light.”  It is almost a rock/gospel sounding song that states we must carry the light and let it shine to a world that is blind. The gospel sound picks up at the end as the voices of an African American sounding choir take the lead and then meld into a small children’s choir to finish out the song. "Carry The Light" fades into the next song as Martinez's daughter is heard running over to her father asking, “Daddy, what is the light?” Martinez then belts out: “Jesus is the light of the world.” “The Light Of The World” has a salsa/latin  feel and will get you on fire for Jesus.

  Now And Then by AL   features Al (vocals), Patrick Reale (guitars and synth) Paul Millard (sax and flute), Ric Eastman (drums), Nunzio Mondia (piano and organ) and Tom Thorpe, Tammy Thorpe, Father Jordan Perry and the St. Norbert College Youth Choir. It is a truly Catholic CD dedicated  “..to our Boss and His most holy Mum” (a bit of Aussie humor.)  The songs are all older hymns that are musically reworked to a jazzy, light-rock flavor and include, “I’ll Sing A Hymn To Mary,” “We Stand  For God" (a ska version), “Firmly I Believe and Truly,”  ”Sweet Sacrament Divine,” and much more. I really enjoyed Al’s version of “How Great Thou Art.” It was always one of my favorite old hymns and it's nice to hear it redone here. It will be the “Amazing Grace Trilogy” that will be the one song that everyone must hear.  It is the classic spiritual song done three different ways. One is spoken by Fr. Jordan Perry, then the group does an acapella version. Finally they do an awesome jazz instrumental version, truly a masterpiece, which makes Al’s Now And Then a CD to own. ”Through many danger’s toils and snares I have already come; ‘Tis Grace has brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home…”