Singing Nuns All Over the Place!

Following the Billboard-breaking success last year of the album of Advent music by the Benedictine nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles (love that name!), the very smart folks at Montfort Music arranged not only for another Billboard-topping album with the Benedictines, but for yet another community to add to their roster of singing nuns. The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist  just released "Mater Eucharistiae," which is currently at a very impressive #13 on Amazon's music chart.

Billboard breaker!

Current hit

Newest arrival

Meanwhile, back "home" in Boston, another album of singing nuns has just been recorded, though the mixing (of the various voices and instruments) has yet to be done. The sisters in the Daughters of St Paul Choir concluded this summer's recording project on Saturday:

Who's missing from the picture? That's right. Yours truly.

Featuring very different styles of music than the above three albums, this yet-to-be-named album (think more inspirational pop than Gregorian chant) focuses especially on songs of encouragement and hope. It will be a good album to offer people who are undergoing extreme suffering or sorrow, even if they have no particular religious faith, or are somewhat alienated from the Church. I was able to record one song on this album, a duet with Sister Julia; leaving for Italy meant leaving this particular project behind: a real sacrifice for me! Look for this release sometime next year.

Fittingly, the recording project was closed with an Hour of Adoration held in the studio itself, with the Divine Master enthroned on the grand piano.

I think this picture sums up the attraction of the current "singing nuns" phenomenon: the voices you hear on all these albums are lifted up in prayer even as the microphones pick them up. There is no separation between the "ora" and "labora" here. The singing itself is an expression of prayer, making the album a kind of portal to prayer, especially for people who have forgotten how to do it. And really, even people alienated from organized religion can find comfort in hearing the voices that are lifted up in prayer for them.