World Youth Day 2002 is almost here! Not only will it be a great time for those who attend the events in Toronto, but for those who follow it on TV, radio or internet (By the way, stay tuned to Catholicmusicnetwork.com for the latest on concert info at World Youth Day). The world will feel the blessings of all the prayers offered up during that time. God knows that we need a spiritual uplifting now.

I can’t help but to think back nine years ago to the summer of 1993, when I was in Denver, Colorado, watching World Youth Day. A singer that I had heard of only by watching her on a TV program called “Closer Walk,” was to sing (I had no idea she was a pop singer over in Europe.) As she sang to the Holy Father and to the crowd a feeling came over me. It was like having my own private version of Pentecost. The song she sang was “We Are One Body,” and the singer was Dana. After the song was over, the crowd went wild. She went and knelt before the Pope, and he raised her up and hugged her.  The song “We Are One Body“ became a traditional song at the youth gatherings I have attended since. With World Youth Day 2002 a few weeks away, CatholicMusicNetwork.com is highlighting the work of the artist who has been such an important figure in Catholic music. (Plus we just want to show off that we have recently acquired much of her work).

One of Dana's first Catholic albums, after the many as a pop star, was No Greater Love.  It includes the first Catholic song that Dana and her husband Damien wrote together, “Praise the Lord.”   While writing for this LP in 1979, they were inspired by the Holy Father’s visit to Ireland.  Dana wrote a song based on Pope John Paul II’s motto "Totus Tuus…Totally Yours,”  which in December of that year, hit the charts in Ireland and made its way to the number one spot.  The single won a silver disc for 25,000 sales.  Also, while writing for No Greater Love, Dana was pregnant with their first child. Words came naturally for the song "Little Baby:"

Inspired by Sister Bridge McKenna and the late Father Harold Cohen, Dana wrote the song “Lady of Knock,” about Our Blessed Mother’s appearance in Ireland . Many of the songs on No Greater Love were used on the TV program, “A Closer Walk” with Fr. Cohen.

Another milestone album for Dana was Say Yes. The title track was also the name of her popular EWTN series. This was another song that took the world by storm and many would sing along with it during the opening, since this show was filmed before a live studio audience. Other songs include “Let Me Live,” a gorgeous pro-life song, while “Nothin’ in My Pocket” reminds us that we need to see Jesus in the poor and needy. “There Is No Rock” is another song with an incredibly catchy chorus: “There is no rock, like my God.”  Let’s face it, the gem of this album is the now classic Catholic anthem, “We Are One Body.”  Dana has said that one of the biggest joys in her career was at World Youth Day ‘93, leading 120,000 young people in singing this song to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.  Her performance was fed LIVE by satellite to millions in the United States and around the world and will be forever remembered. Say Yes is a must have for every Catholic.

The EWTN series, “Say Yes,” was so popular that Mother Angelica asked Dana to make a new series. It was fitting that Dana was in the studio at that time working on a new CD called Humble Myself.  Many of the songs were taken from that CD and used for the series called, “We Are One Body”. What made the show so enjoyable was the music video style that was used for many of the songs. It was almost an MTV type of an approach. “Humble Myself” is considered by many critics to be Dana’s best album. The song “Harmony,” for example, was recorded with many different voices of young people from Northern Ireland.  It is a song of peace and love for one another. “One Love One Lifetime” won awards with its music video of a young couple finding out that they are having a baby. Dana put some soul into this album with the tune “One True Love.” It's almost a gospel sounding song about Jesus being the true love of your life. Gretchen Harris joins Dana on “This Is My Body,” a true pro-life song.  The cute pop song called “My Little Toes” could be Dana’s entry into the world of children music, with a deeper message of life. The title track “Humble Myself” is about Dana’s life as she sings about being a servant of God. 

Lastly we offer a CD that many listen to everyday. Dana’s The Rosary has been played for me on many a car ride.  Fr. Kevin Scallon, C.M., leads us in prayer and meditation and Dana, in her song, captures the very essence of how to pray the Rosary.  She sings, “Help us to know your Son, Jesus true God and true man.”  We walk hand in hand with Mary who shows us the way to Jesus. This is a beautiful CD and comes highly recommend.