“Secrets” of the Singing Dominican Sisters

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Keep reading — giveaway info for the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist’s new CD Mater Eucharistiae follows!

The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Here was the plan.

Last Tuesday morning I was scheduled to interview Sister Maria Suso with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist via Skype and add another interview to our growing “Take 5“ video series. You may recognize the sisters from their multiple interviews on The Oprah Winfrey show or maybe even from The American Bible Challenge hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. Locally, our Des Moines readers might make the connection that Miss Laura Downey, now Sister Mary Esther, recently made her solemn profession of vows with the Dominican Sisters of Mary.

At any rate, the Sisters released their debut music album, Mater Eucharistiae, last Tuesday, and my hope was to publish the interview with Sister Maria Suso the same day as the album’s release.

Here’s what happened.

Well, I did interview Sister Maria Suso via Skype, and she was quite delightful. Yes, delightful, I say! I asked her five questions and her response for each was concise, informative, engaging, and entertaining — truly the makings of a terrific Take 5. However, the Internet connection was not robust enough to handle the video call so the picture and at times the sound quality were very distorted. In good conscience, I simply cannot upload the video or the audio here.

Drats!

Poor Internet connection gets the "raspberry" from me!

A poor Internet connection gets the “raspberry” from me!

So now what?

Onward Christian Soldiers! Rather than a video interview, I’ll simply leave you with five quick takeaways about the album.

Takeaway 1: The album’s title, Mater Eucharistiae, means Mother of the Eucharist. This is a reflection not only of the religious community’s name but gets to the heart of the Dominican spirituality. They give themselves entirely to Mary so she can shape them to become perfect disciples of Jesus Christ — to give their “total yes” to the Lord just like Mary did. There are fifteen songs on the album; all are reflective of this Dominican spirituality and can be tied back to Mary and the Eucharist. Three of the songs are original compositions written by two of the order’s sisters.

Takeaway 2: The Dominican Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) ends the CD. Quite fitting because every night after Compline (evening prayer), the sisters end with a Marian procession, including singing the Salve Regina. This is one of the oldest traditions in the Dominican Order, dating back to the first generations of Dominican friars in 1221. In fact, the Church’s practice of singing the Salve (or some other Marian antiphon) after Compline grew out of this early Dominican practice.

Takeaway 3: The unity of the sisters’ voices on this album is breathtakingly beautiful. The album’s conductor and director provided technical vocal assistance, of course, but there’s also something bigger at play here. The sisters’ oneness of sound is very reflective and analogous to life as a Dominican. They live an intense life of community and charity and do everything together — pray, eat, recreate, work — and their life really becomes a school of charity. The unity of voice flows from the unity established by living in community. (I’m thinking there’s a message there for us living in our domestic churches, too, huh?)

Takeaway 4: The music leads with beauty. Listeners will be drawn upward, toward God, and the album becomes an evangelistic tool because of this element. As you “walk” through the album with the Sisters, you will feel like you’ve walked with them in prayer in their chapel in Ann Arbor, Michigan where the album was recorded.

Takeaway 5: With their numbers growing — 110 sisters currently, 20 women entering the convent at the end of August, and more than three times as many invitations to send sisters to schools and dioceses worldwide as there are sisters — the Dominicans are raising funds to build a priory in Austin, Texas, to house 100 women. CD royalties go toward this building campaign.

So, what do you say? Let’s help get that priory built! For purchasing info, head over here.

GIVEAWAY!

Good news! I have two, yes T-W-O, CDs to giveaway. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below. One entry per person, please. Entries accepted through midnight central time on Sunday, August 25, 2013.

29 Comments

  2. Rebecca Gjostein

    These sisters teach at my parish school. They are awesome. I hope I can get a CD. I know it is beautiful.

    Reply

  6. Is this the same group that did the Advent CD? I bought that for myself and my mother-in-law; I can’t speak for her, but I LOVED it. I had it playing throughout Advent while I met with my students. :) The Dominicans serve our student parish (where we attend) at the U of A. I love their evangelistic nature.

    Reply

  9. Pam Flansbaum

    Lisa, thanks so much for the great article. I noticed the album is also on iTunes. Do the Sisters receive more of the proceeds if we purchase from DeMontfort music?

    Reply

  11. olgamarie

    God bless nuns,like.the Pope said.recently.they are important like Mary,they help open heaven..When we pray for.holy priests lets not forget to pray.for holy nuns .Enter me in the cd giveaway please

    Reply

  12. alena

    I keep seeing information about this CD coming across my path…guess I’d better take the hint and check it out! :)

    Reply

  14. karen paidl

    I would love to win this cd to listen to with my family and friends. Thank you Sisters for your work! May God Bless you all!

    Reply

  16. Its so wonderful to see such amazing growth in these orders that remain faithful to the Magisterium. Many prayers for these women and their work, as well as for all men and women whom God is calling to serve.

    Reply

  17. linda Fulmer

    I would love to win this CD. I am new to the Catholic Faith, will begin the RCIA education this Sept. I have been reading and absorbing all I can get my hands on. Just hope I am worthy. I have so much to learn.

    Reply

  20. Cathy

    I have been following this album’s development since the video was released. I haven’t been able to buy it yet due to expenses from surgery AND repair to the sewer line to the house this summer (hoping there won’t be a third major expense this year) but I have been so happy to see the press it has received. I think, like the CD Chant that came out so many years ago, that this album will showcase the beauty of Catholic music and the religious life.

    Reply

  22. oneview

    Bought the CD on pre-order and it’s awesome, has been keeping me calm and peaceful all week at work. But, I would love to win a free one to give to a friend!

    Reply

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