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[ The Hikers ] [ Angel Unaware ] [ Angel Song ]
[ Fragrance Of A Soul ] [ One Night At Dinner ]
 [ Saint Philomena ] [ Your Letters ]

The Hikers

When I was still a teenager I had a dream one night that left me troubled - now it is starting to make more sense. In this dream some friends and I went on a mountain hike and reached the top just as the sun was rising. We watched in awe as light filled the valley below when suddenly the moon went hurtling out of orbit. I turned around and said, "Wait! Do you know what this means?" but my friends just stared at me in fear until I began to sing a song of praise to God.

One by one the others joined in until soon we were belting out this song at the top of our lungs. We watched the natural elements erupt into chaos but the area right around us was perfectly calm. We were calm. There was no fear. Somehow we knew God was our shelter. We don't need the moon to go out of orbit to see that peace is in a state of crisis.

So join me in a song of praise to God - or better yet - make up one of your own. Homemade praise songs are the best kind. Discover an oasis of peace in the midst of chaos. Its free. God is a shelter stronger than anything on this earth and this shelter becomes more real as we pray. Sing praise to God and let fear melt into peace.

©1996 Michael John Poirier
All Rights Reserved
Published by PrayerSongs Publishing Company, L.L.C.
3825 North Willo Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
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Angel Unaware

A simple little story about a not so simple man named Jack Adams. A strong man... rough around the edges... silent, Jack was a deep thinker. He did not tell me this story, it would not be like him to talk about himself, I heard it after he passed away a few years back... so even though the dialogue won't be exact, the story is true.

Once, while staying at a Motel during a business trip, Jack knelt down by his bed to pray before retiring for the night. This ritual was almost second nature to Jack. He probably did not think much about it beyond that... until the next morning when there was a knock on his door. A woman stood there and said, "You don't know me but I want to thank you for praying."

I'm sure Jack must have had a curious expression on his face, but the woman continued, "You see, last night I was so depressed I had decided to commit suicide. I was on my way to carry this out when I passed your room and glanced in your window to see you kneeling by your bed praying. Seeing you pray that way touched me and made me want to pray too and, as you can see, I did not go through with my plan. I feel better today and just wanted to say 'thank you'."

You may not have had the chance to meet Jack Adams, but you may have heard his son, Dominican Friar John Adams, on Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Auto Harp and singing back up on tapes like "Ocean of Mercy", "Stone by Stone", and "For Life".

©1996 Michael John Poirier
All Rights Reserved
Published by PrayerSongs Publishing Company, L.L.C.
3825 North Willo Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
Click Here For Reprint Permission Request

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Angel Song

I must have been around four years old when my family traveled from Wichita Falls, Texas, to San Antonio, Texas, for Christmas. Our large family traveled in two cars and for this trip I was by the window in the back seat of the car Mama was driving. I remember leaning my head against the car window singing my favorite Christmas carol, "O Come All Ye Faithful", as we drove through the night.

First I watched the stars and the big dark shadows of the trees moving slowly past the window but soon I became aware of many voices singing along with me. When I stopped- they stopped; when I sang - they sang. It sounded to me like a hundred men and women singing as many harmonies. Of course at the age of four I could not articulate such a description; I just knew it sounded awesome. Overwhelmed, I leaned forward and said, "Mama, whenever I sing it sounds like angels are singing with me and when I stop - they stop. Its like they're following me!" I suppose she thought this might be scaring me so she said, "Don't worry Michael, it's just the hum of the car. Try to go to sleep."

But I wasn't scared in the least, in fact, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. So I leaned my head against the window and began singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" again and sure enough those voices started singing with me again as I drifted off to sleep. I still sing in the car and to this day I find myself listening for those beautiful voices but have not heard anything close to what I heard that night. Someone told me I was probably hearing angels singing with me because I was still too young to know I couldn't hear them! Wish I could be that young again.

©1996 Michael John Poirier
All Rights Reserved
Published by PrayerSongs Publishing Company, L.L.C.
3825 North Willo Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
Click Here For Reprint Permission Request

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Fragrance of a Soul

Making my way into the dark chapel, I found a seat in the very back corner. I focused on the single candle that flickered in the sanctuary while my eyes adjusted to the darkness. In my prayer time I like to imagine a conversation with God or with one of the saints and on this particular evening it turned out to be a little talk with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I imagined her saying something like this: "Michael, stop trying to change those you love. The conversion of a soul is a most beautiful thing and must never be hurried or forced. When you try to manipulate the conversion of another it is as if you were trying to paint the leaves of autumn - and the result is much the same! One leaf changing color triggers a chemical reaction in the leaves around it so you will see color sweeping through an entire grove of trees. In the same way a soul in the process of conversion exudes a fragrance that can awaken a desire for change in other souls. So you see there is no need for anxiety or pressure. Simply be about your own conversion. As you change, the fragrance of your conversion serves to awaken others - not your desire to control. You be the first 'leaf' to change."

Right about that time someone came into the chapel and turned on the lights. What I saw next made me think twice about this 'imaginary' conversation with Mary. On the book rest, directly in front of me, someone had left a single leaf - but more than that, it was an Autumn leaf of brilliant orange and red.

©1996 Michael John Poirier
All Rights Reserved
Published by PrayerSongs Publishing Company, L.L.C.
3825 North Willo Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
Click Here For Reprint Permission Request

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One Night at Dinner

At a restaurant in town, Mary and I joined some friends for an evening meal. A priest named Fr. Luke joined us as well and after we ordered, he told a story I will never forget. At first I was politely listening while keeping an eye on the salsa and chips, but shortly I forgot the chips, the salsa, and the restaurant. I forgot to close my mouth as he took us back in time to witness a miracle on a hillside in Italy. I will try and reconstruct the story as best I can in Fr. Luke's own words.

"Hitler's army had invaded Italy but now they were being forced to retreat by the allied forces. I was only a sophomore in high school. That's why a British general asked two school buddies and me to cross the lines and spy on the German troops as they pulled out of central Italy. He felt we would be ignored since we were still so young.

As we made our way up a hill in the moonlight we heard a low moan and soon found ourselves face to face with a German soldier who had been mortally wounded. He was so young! He stared at us and we stared back - unsure of what to do next. This soldier was in a great deal of pain and had a very bitter expression on his face. I wondered 'How can we comfort him?' We needed to have a common language.

None of us could speak German but I remembered that many Germans had learned their prayers in Latin so I began praying the 'Our Father' in Latin. When we got to the words: 'Forgive us our trespasses, the soldier began to pray along with us and a most beautiful thing began to happen. We could see the bitterness leaving his face. So, there we were; three Italian schoolboys and a German soldier praying the 'Our Father' together... and when we got to the words: 'Deliver us from evil', the soldier died with a peaceful smile on his face. We just needed to find a common language... "

©1996 Michael John Poirier
All Rights Reserved
Published by PrayerSongs Publishing Company, L.L.C.
3825 North Willo Road
Schiller Park, IL 60176
Click Here For Reprint Permission Request

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Your Letters

".. a blessing for everyone that hears it. There's no doubt that the Holy Spirit is working.... Personally, whenever I am going through rough times I can hear the words 'Strength for the Journey' running through my mind, then I realize Jesus is with me and will give me the strength that I need."

J. Faire
Shelton, Washington 

".... listening.... always inspires me to pray. (The) songs speak to me and bring me closer to Jesus."

S. Hebert,
Springfield, Oregon

"...our Lord brought me his quiet this morning through your music."

M. Rotella
West New York, New Jersey

"Your songs remind me how simple life truly is, and how complicated I can make it seem."

J. Demers
Benicia, California

"... through (these) prayer songs, I'm constantly reminded to allow God to be the center of my life. It brings me closer to the only real solution; Jesus. Every time I listen, God reveals something new to me. Your work is such a treasure for this troubled world. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!..."

D. Santos
Fountain Hills, Arizona