The music of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, has a new addition to its award winning list – a Christmas album that includes 24 beloved classics in six languages.
CNA/EWTN is reporting on the new album, entitled, Caroling at Ephesus, which was recorded in September, and recently released. While most of the album’s 24 songs are in English, there are two in Latin, and one each in German, French, Polish and Spanish.
“Along with a little help from my mother, who is Polish by birth, there are enough speakers here of each language now to guide us through the pronunciation,”, said Mother Cecilia, prioress of the convent. “While Latin is easy (we chant in Latin everyday) the others certainly added a challenge to the recording, as we have not ventured into recording any other language before.”
She added: “This is one season in which there is such an abundance of music, the only difficulty was in choosing which songs to include on this album. We decided to use many on the lighter side – pieces we would sing around the fire during one of the twelve days of Christmas. They are still sacred in nature, no ‘Frosty the Snowman’ or anything, but include beautiful carols from around the world.”
The songs include What Child Is This, Good King Wenceslaus, Ukrainian Bell Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Holy Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful.
In addition, the album features an original track: a Christmas poem written by G.K. Chesterton, Carol of the Christ Child, which was set to music by the nuns themselves.
Even though the community practices limited enclosure, their music talent has brought them international renown. They were named Billboard’s Best-Selling Classical Traditional Artist several years in a row and their albums have topped Billboard’s Top Traditional Classical Albums.
Their new album is bound to do the same and the sisters plan to use the proceeds to build a new priory church for their rapidly-growing community.
“The chapel we have been using for the last several years has served us well. But unfortunately, it is not growing with us,” Mother Cecilia explained. “Five years ago, there were 18 Sisters, and with the addition of four more postulants on December 5th, our number will reach 31, with at least two more young women slated to join by next fall. Very soon, there will be neither room for Sister nor guests, who are coming with more and more frequency to our monastery.”
The community is attracting vocations from as far away as Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.
But a new priory is not the most important goal of this new project.
“Our greatest hope is that these songs will truly ‘lift up our hearts’ to the Infant King so that we will always be mindful of His humility and mercy.”
Click here to order a copy of their new album.
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