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Advent at Ephesus

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By on Articles from Our Contributors, Contests

Today, we’re offering a one-day contest — your chance to win the wonderful new CD “Advent at Ephesus” – the 16-track CD from the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles. I know you’ll love it! After reading about this new musical gift, be sure to enter to win the one CD we’re giving away by leaving a comment below. Enter before midnight Pacific time tonight, Monday, November 18th.

Advent at Ephesus Advance Orders Soaring

CD from DeMontfort Music/Decca in top 10 on Amazon, No. 13 at Barnes & Noble

Advent at Ephesus

Atlanta, Nov 5, 2012 – Online buyers are flocking to Amazon and Barnes & Noble to preorder ADVENT AT EPHESUS, the 16-track CD from the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Available Nov. 20 and the first release from DeMontfort Music (with worldwide distribution by Decca Records), ADVENT AT EPHESUS is No. 10 on Amazon’s Classical Music list and No. 13 on Barnes & Nobel’s overall Top 100.

The CD includes hymns the sisters enjoy singing during Advent at the end of Mass; polyphony; traditional chants; and the original work Adjuvabit Eam. Early reviews and the flurry of advance orders suggest it could be one of the surprise hits of the year.

“We are thrilled and humbled by the early orders,” said DeMontfort Music Co-Founder Monica Fitzgibbons. “It’s exciting to see such wonderful response to news of our label’s first release. Knowing that the pre-orders will need to be on par with the top industry releases, we still have a long way to go to reach our goals of most-pre-ordered leading up to November 20. To accomplish these goals will mean wider distribution for The Benedictines of Mary, ADVENT AT EPHESUS, and will show the industry that there is a demand for the true and the beautiful in art. That said, it is simply glorious to be able to tell Mother Cecilia and the other sisters in Missouri that already their work is, indeed, advancing His Kingdom.”

The contemplative sisters don’t set foot beyond their Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus, situated in Northwest Missouri’s rolling farmland. They live an austere yet joyful life set apart from the world.

Video Link

De Montfort enlisted Grammy&Reg; and Oscar&Reg; winning producer Glenn Rosenstein, who traveled to America’s heartland; set up a mobile recording studio on the 260-acre property the sisters call home; and captured all of ADVENT AT EPHESUS in only three days. Rosenstein, who has worked with a host of international stars and whose projects have generated sales well in excess of 250 million units (with artists from U2 to New York Philharmonic) calls this one of his 10 all-time-favorite recordings.

The album is engineered and co-mixed by David Schober (Handel’sMessiah, John Rutter, Cambridge Singers, Royal Philharmonic and countless other great works).

ADVENT AT EPHESUS represents a rare approach – one that focuses on music celebrating the quiet, introspective anticipation of the Nativity that is the foundation of the Advent season. Here is the full track list for the album:

1. Come Thou Redeemer of the Earth
2. Angelus ad Virginem
3. Regnantem Sempiterna
4. Gabriel’s Message
5. Creator Alme Siderum
6. Hayl, Mary
7. Rorate Caeli
8. Praeparate Corda Vestra
9. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
10. Benedixisti Domime
11. Maria Walks Amid the Thorn
12. Alma Redemptoris Mater
13. Adjuvabit Eam*
14. O Come Divine Messiah
15. Vox Clara
16. Like the Dawning
* Original composition

About the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

De Montfort Music is a division of AimHigherMedia – both founded by music-industry veterans Kevin and Monica Fitzgibbons. Its special mission is to sign, develop, produce and bring to market the very best in Sacred Music. The label is an ambassador to the world of the true and the beautiful. The Benedictines of Mary are signed to De Montfort Music, which is distributed worldwide through Decca/Universal.

Contest: To enter to win, leave a comment below by midnight pacific time on Monday, November 19th, 2012. One winner will be randomly selected to win this beautiful CD. 

Update: Congratulations to Deanna, our winner, who has been notified by email. Thanks to all who entered! LMH

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About Author

Lisa M. Hendey is the founder and editor of CatholicMom.com and the bestselling author of the Chime Travelers children's fiction series, The Grace of Yes, The Handbook for Catholic Moms and A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. As a board member and frequent host on KNXT Catholic Television, Lisa has produced and hosted multiple programs and has appeared on EWTN and CatholicTV. Hendey hosted “Catholic Moments” on Radio Maria and is the technology contributor for EWTN’s SonRise Morning Show. Lisa's articles have appeared in Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, and Our Sunday Visitor. Hendey travels internationally giving workshops on faith, family, and Catholic technology and communications topics. She was selected as an Elizabeth Egan Journalism Fellow, attended the Vatican Bloggers Meeting, the “Bishops and Bloggers” meeting and has written internationally on the work of Catholic Relief Services and Unbound. Hendey lives with her family in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Visit Lisa at www.LisaHendey.com for information on her speaking schedule or to invite her to visit your group, parish or organization.

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74 Comments

  5. Marie on

    What a wonderful new CD to add to your Christmas collection! If I’m not the lucky winner, I will probably order a copy as a musical Christmas gift for our family.

    Reply
  6. hatrick316 on

    I hope I win this. Advent music is hard to come by. And to all those who don’t win, I hope you go out and buy it anyway! I know I will.

    Reply
  9. Diane Vint on

    Sounds like it would be a wonderful addition to our Christmas listening. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest!

    Reply
  13. Gwen Devereux on

    What a praise to the Lord this signing is! The music lifts out hearts right up to heaven to be with the Lord. It makes me feel as if the angels themselves are singing. Thank you for sharing not only your singing, but also the short video of your way of life. May your CD and its promotion bring convert many hearts to the Lord, and inspire others to answer God’s call to vocations.

    Reply
  14. Sarah Reinhard on

    Yeah, I know, I can’t win. But this is SOOOO on my radar! I heard samples of it on iPadre and LOVED IT! I have their Christmas at Ephesus album and it’s so wonderful.

    Reply
  19. elaine degrandis on

    This sounds like a wonderfully spiritual way to celebrate Advent!!
    God Bless you and whoever wins !! Have a Wonderfilled Advent!!!

    Take Care,
    Elaine

    Reply
  30. Rita Halbrook on

    I would love to give this to my daughter in law for her birthday soon. Our son has brought chant back to our Masses at Holy Family in Granite City, IL and I think this would be such a meaningful gift for her. She could listen to it in their van as she hauls our 4 grandsons everywhere! Thank you so much for offering this!!! : )

    Reply
  39. Wende on

    I would love to win this CD of beautiful music! If not though, I will certainly buy one! What a wonderful Christmas gift idea!

    Reply
  45. Lynn on

    I came home from the hustle bustle evening commute/quick trip into the store to get hot bread to go with our ham and bean soup for dinner. We walked in and pulled rain boots off and helped the children out of their cold, wet slickers. Changed clothes. Got the kids started on homework. Lit some candles on the table. Sliced the bread. Put out the butter and milk glasses.

    Then I decided to sit down during the last 15 minutes of cooking time for the soup. I checked e-mail. Then decided to peruse Catholic Pinterest . Saw this giveaway. Played the clip of music from the sisters. The kids looked up from books and papers and just listened. Inside everything within me quieted and filled. A very special peace came to us for our evening dinner hour.

    In other words, I definitely want to win this beautiful CD!

    Reply
  48. Maria Newboles on

    I am a 2nd grade teacher at a catholic school. I love the peace and tranquility that the music brings…especially the chanting of the sisters…great source to add to your advent intentions…

    Reply
  51. Lori Persich on

    It would be a Blessing to win this CD to share with my family and my ACTS Sisters this Advent season. Thank you for this chance to win a copy 🙂

    Reply
  54. Amy Foret on

    God works in mysterious ways! After hearing an interview last week with Monica Fitzgibbons, who as you mentioned above co-produced Advent at Ephesus, I have been thinking a lot about buying it. I just logged on to your website for some other Advent ideas, and here is your post about the CD! I think I need to purchase it!

    But first, I have to tell you that it was a great interview. It was Sirius XM Radio, The Catholic Channel. I was very impressed by Monica — she clearly is living out her faith in a very real way. I missed the first minutes of the interview, but I gathered that she and her husband used to live in California and worked at DreamWorks, and possibly other Hollywood studios. They felt led to leave Hollywood, rather than get caught up in the trappings of that life. They moved to Arizona, and have been very moved by the servant leadership of their bishop there. They have since started De Montfort Music, which focuses on sacred music. It sounds as though they are really living out a calling — using their gifts in such a meaningful way. I was very inspired. Monica was clearly so impressed by the The Benedictines of Mary, and if you watch the video you posted above, you can see why — what a pure and beautiful life they lead. How wonderful for them to be able to share their musical gifts with all of us. The music is so peaceful and contemplative, it is perfect for Advent as we wait and pray and think about that wonderful mystery of Jesus being born into the world.

    For anyone interested in buying the CD, please consider buying directly from their website, http://www.benedictinesofmary.org. Monica mentioned in the interview that a more substantial amount of the proceeds will flow to the sisters, and they are using the funds to complete their permanent monastery.

    One more plug — I just discovered The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM, Channel 129, about a year ago. I highly recommend checking it out. Great programming!

    Reply
  55. MaryAnn Toney on

    Their voices are beautiful and what a wonderful way to live out their lives! Thank you for the opportunity to win this beautiful music!

    Reply
  58. Tracey Kruger on

    I think that it is so important to celebrate Advent, to take the time to prepare, before jumping into everything Christmas. This music so beautifully lends itself to this time of reflection.

    Reply
  59. Theresa Crow on

    I would love to add this to my Advent preparations. If I was to win this I would use this CD for our Advent Evening of Reflection for our parish catechists that we will have on Thursday, November 29. The sisters music would be a lovely addition to our preparation for Advent 2012.

    Reply
  61. Dari on

    God bless these sisters and DeMontfort Music. This CD can help all of us keep Advent from getting lost in the mad dash to Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  64. Sue Wright on

    I would love to win this. It is very difficult to find Advent music. Thanks for this chance and I would use it in our family Advent prayer time.

    Reply
  68. Maria on

    Leaving a comment! I was just thinking about buying this, maybe I still will :] The samples I listened to were great! Kids were mostly appreciative as well

    Reply
  69. Maria on

    Can’t tell if this took the first time, had an error on the mobile version about a password and so I’m sending one more.. My apologies if it’s a second!

    Reply
  72. Sr. Marie Pappas, C.R. on

    I was exploring your website in preparation for today’s radio program on Pathways of Learning when I discovered this offer for the CD Advent at Ephesus. Of course, we’ll talk about this contest today although I must say, the thought crossed my mind that the fewer people who see this, the better chance I have to win. I’ll resist the temptation and leave the matter in God’s hands. Of course, I’d love to win the CD but I’d also love for someone else to enjoy it!
    Listen to Lisa Hendey on Pathways of Learning on the Catholic Channel, SiriusXM 129 on Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m and Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m.

    Reply

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