"I dreamed a dream"

Over 26 million people have now viewed the youtube video of Susan Boyle singing "I Dreamed a Dream" on the show "Britain's Got Talent.  Catholic News Service reports: 

The audience snickered and the judges of "Britain's Got Talent" either rolled their eyes or allowed their blank expressions to betray their bemused skepticism as the awkward-looking middle-aged woman told them she wanted to be as famous as the popular British actress and singer Elaine Paige.

Then Susan Boyle began to sing, and they were spellbound and shocked by the beauty of her voice and rose to their feet in applause.

But Father Basil Clark, who watched the show on television at his home in Broxburn, Scotland, was not surprised.

He has seen the situation unfold many times before, having regularly accompanied Boyle, 47, on the annual Legion of Mary pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Knock, Ireland.

"When I watched the judges' faces it reminded me of what I was like when I first saw Susan singing -- absolutely blown away by the quality of the singing and by that fantastic voice," said Father Clark, dean of West Lothian, the district that covers Boyle's home village of Blackburn.

For the rest of the story, click on the link above.  For the video click here.

UPDATE:  James Martin, S.J. writes (click here for the full post) on America's blog:

The way we see Susan Boyle is very nearly the way God sees us: worthwhile, special, talented, unique, beautiful.  The world generally looks askance at people like Susan Boyle, if it sees them at all.  Without classic good looks, without work, without a spouse, living in a small town, people like Susan Boyle may not seem particularly "important."  But God sees the real person, and understands the value of each individual's gifts: rich or poor, young or old, single or married, matron or movie star, lucky or unlucky in life.  God knows us.  And loves us.  

"Everybody is somebody" said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan at his installation Mass in New York City yesterday.  That's another reason why the judges smile and the audience explodes in applause. 

Because they recognized a basic truth planted deep within them by God: Susan Boyle is somebody. 

Everybody is somebody.