April 2001

Last year the Holy Father canonized St. Faustina and proclaimed that Divine Mercy Sunday is an official day in the Catholic Church. Not familiar with the Divine Mercy prayers, or would just love to say or sing them to a CD? Try Donna Cori Gibson's Divine Mercy Prayers. Donna is often called the "Celine Dion" or "Twila Paris" of Catholic music. Recently she was featured on EWTN's "Life on the Rock". Her voice is beautiful and will fill you with the Holy Spirit as she sings the Chaplet Of Divine Mercy in "The Sung Chaplet". The music is not overpowering to a point of distraction and helps you to concentrate on the prayers given to St. Faustina by our Lord Himself.  All this CD was taken from prayers from St. Faustina's Diary. You can learn prayers like "Jesus, You are Mercy" and "A 3 O'clock Prayer". A nice CD for Catholics to have in their collection.

Another Donna who has a devotion to Divine Mercy is Donna Lee. Her new CD Whispers From Heaven has a song called "The Kingdom Of God"-- "...wash away my sin, lead me to the Light...Let your Mercy cover me."   Donna Lee's ministry not only focuses on Divine Mercy, but on the Eucharist and Reconciliation. She also has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother, whom she says played a big part in her conversion back to the Catholic Church. You can see the Blessed Mother inspired her when you hear Donna sing the title cut, "Whispers from Heaven," a hauntingly beautiful poem written by a nun and set to music by Lee. It tells the story of an aborted child speaking tenderly from Heaven to her mother. Lee writes that many have already been moved by this song, including mothers who have experienced miscarriages. Her "R&B" song on the CD "Gotta Do My Best" will get your toes tappin' with a full blown gospel choir and lyrics, "...Gotta trust in His Mercy and your soul will be alright." "Unfailing Love"  is another great song and is a remake from Donna Lee's earlier CD, Immaculate Heart, O Sacred Heart, which we offer here at Catholic Music Network. 

Jesus' Mercy touched James Milanesa in many ways. A native of Southern California, Milanesa's faith was tested by a trauma when he was involved in an accident, which led to an addiction to pain killers and alcohol. "I was a pin cushion for demons," he said. "But Jesus has taken my horrible sin and turned it into love for Him and the result is a ministry in song."

Along The Way is James Milanesa's CD and it is filled with the joy of life in the Lord.  "Heaven On Earth "is a brilliant song about reconciliation and knowing that God's work starts here with you and me. The soft rock vocals of James and the "Yes/Wakeman" synth blend together. Another jewel is "Love Has Changed Me," a pop tune that helps tell his story. What do you expect from a guy who toured India and  was lucky enough to sing to Mother Teresa? "While she held my hand, I sang for Mother Teresa in front of over 1,500 nuns," remembers James. "Then, she anointed my feet with oil, kissed me on the forehead, and said that God was calling me forth to minister to the poor in spirit of the world. It was amazing." One of the songs that will stir your soul, "Say A Prayer," sounds like David Bowie (while he was doing the Cat People soundtrack). Haunting with lyrics,"There's a path to follow, a path that's been designed that cannot be denied." James took that path.