The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, are a Benedictine order of nuns founded by Sr Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster OSB, in Gower, Missouri.[1][2] The nuns are also recording artists, and their first two albums of recorded chants and hymns reached number one on the classical traditional Billboard charts. They were thereafter named Billboard's Classical Traditional artists of the year in 2013, the first order of nuns to win an award in the history of Billboard.[3]
Their album sales have been used to improve the monastery and pay off the abbey's debt. The community also attends Mass in the extraordinary form (Traditional Latin Mass) and prays the 1962 MonasticBreviary.[4][5]
Wilhelmina had found her traditional tastes incompatible with the Oblates' changing ethos, and decided to start her own community. Her new group of sisters were originally called the Oblates of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and began following a monastic horarium defined in the Rule of Saint Benedict, and chanting the Divine Office in Latin according to the 1962 Breviarium Monasticum.[6] Wilhelmina's body was found to be incorruptible in 2023, and have since been moved to a glass box in the church where a steady stream of pilgims have continued to visit.[7]
Benedictine Vows
Upon his arrival in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph in 2005, Bishop Robert Finn said that vocations to the priesthood and religious life would be seen as a "super-priority" for his diocese.[8] In March 2006, Finn invited the order to his diocese. The nuns relocated to Gower, Missouri and were established as a public association of the faithful with the new name "Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles".[6][5] In September 2018, its priory was raised to abbey and their new Abbey Church was consecrated by Bishop Robert Finn. Mother Cecilia was the first abbess to receive the Abbatial Blessing according to the traditional Pontificale in the United States.[9]
RecordingsEdit
The nuns sing together daily, typically for five hours per day, as part of their daily life of prayer.[10] The group have released a number of recordings of their songs. Their debut recording Advent At Ephesus, released at the end of 2012, reached number 2 on Billboard's Classical Traditional Music Chart and number 14 on the Classical Music Overall Chart.[11] They were named Billboard's Classical Traditional Artist 2012 and 2013, the first order of nuns to win an award in the history of Billboard magazine.[12]
Both their first two albums of their recorded chants and hymns reached number 1 on the classical traditional Billboard charts in 2013.[13] As of 9 August 2013, the group's second album Angels and Saints at Ephesus reached the number 1 position on the Billboard traditional classical albums chart for 13 weeks,[14] a record duration on that chart since 2006.[15] As of July 2013, the album also reached number 3 on Billboard's Bestselling Internet Album Chart, number 7 on its Contemporary Christian and Christian Gospel charts, and number 127 on the "Billboard 200" weekly ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States.[11] The album has sold 49,000 copies in the United States as of February 2015.[16]
Album sales have been used to improve the monastery and pay off the abbey's debt. The music was arranged by the abbess Mother Cecilia as of 2014.[17]
Angels and Saints at Ephesus, De Montfort Music/Decca Records, released 7 May 2013
Lent at Ephesus, De Montfort Music/Decca Records/Universal Music Classics, released 11 February 2014
Easter at Ephesus, De Montfort Music/Decca Records/Universal Music Classics, released 3 March 2015
Adoration at Ephesus, self-published, released 26 April 2016
Caroling at Ephesus, self-published, released 1 November 2016
The Hearts of Jesus, Mary & Joseph at Ephesus, self-published, released 1 May 2018
Christ the King at Ephesus, self-published, released 26 October 2021
Tenebrae at Ephesus, self-published, released 08 April 2022[18]
The Holy Trinity at Ephesus, self-published, released 11 November 2022
ReferencesEdit
^"Sister Mary Wilhelmina". The Catholic Key. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
^"A Glimpse at Life in 6 Traditional Religious Communities". NCR. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
^"Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles make Billboard Chart history". Religion News Service. 2013-12-10. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
^Bunderson, Carl (2018-05-03). "Benedictine nuns' new album an offering to Saint Joseph". Catholic News Agency.
^ abcGraves, Jim (2017-02-18). "The rich treasure of the monastic life". The Catholic World Report. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
^ ab"About Ephesus". Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
^Graham, Ruth; Currid, Katie (2023-09-09). "A Miracle in Missouri? The Nun Who Put Her Abbey on the Map". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
^"Vocations to Priesthood and Consecrated Life: a Super-Priority". Our Lady of Lourdes Vocation Conference. 2012-07-14. Archived from the original on 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
^"This Is The House Of The Lord, Firmly Established". Catholic Key. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
^Jurgensen, John (June 14, 2013). "The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles: Hear the 22 Singing Nuns Who Beat Out 'Fifty Shades of Grey'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
^ ab"Angels and Saints at Ephesus tops Billboard classical music chart". Christian Today. 2013-07-11.
benedictines, mary, queen, apostles, benedictine, order, nuns, founded, mary, wilhelmina, lancaster, gower, missouri, nuns, also, recording, artists, their, first, albums, recorded, chants, hymns, reached, number, classical, traditional, billboard, charts, the. The Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles are a Benedictine order of nuns founded by Sr Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster OSB in Gower Missouri 1 2 The nuns are also recording artists and their first two albums of recorded chants and hymns reached number one on the classical traditional Billboard charts They were thereafter named Billboard s Classical Traditional artists of the year in 2013 the first order of nuns to win an award in the history of Billboard 3 Benedictines of Mary Queen of ApostlesAbbreviationOSBFormationc AD 1995 28 years ago 1995 FounderMother Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster OSBTypeCatholic religious orderHeadquartersGower Missouri United States of AmericaWebsitebenedictinesofmary wbr orgTheir album sales have been used to improve the monastery and pay off the abbey s debt The community also attends Mass in the extraordinary form Traditional Latin Mass and prays the 1962 Monastic Breviary 4 5 Contents 1 History 2 Recordings 3 Discography 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit nbsp A Rorate Mass at the AbbeyThe community was established in 1995 as a small order of Benedictine nuns under the auspices of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter who are based in Scranton Pennsylvania 5 They were founded by Sr Mary Wilhelmina Lancaster OSB an African American nun formerly part of the Oblate Sisters of Providence founded by Mother Mary Lange in 1829 as the first ever Black religious order in America Wilhelmina had found her traditional tastes incompatible with the Oblates changing ethos and decided to start her own community Her new group of sisters were originally called the Oblates of Mary Queen of Apostles and began following a monastic horarium defined in the Rule of Saint Benedict and chanting the Divine Office in Latin according to the 1962 Breviarium Monasticum 6 Wilhelmina s body was found to be incorruptible in 2023 and have since been moved to a glass box in the church where a steady stream of pilgims have continued to visit 7 nbsp Benedictine VowsUpon his arrival in the Diocese of Kansas City Saint Joseph in 2005 Bishop Robert Finn said that vocations to the priesthood and religious life would be seen as a super priority for his diocese 8 In March 2006 Finn invited the order to his diocese The nuns relocated to Gower Missouri and were established as a public association of the faithful with the new name Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles 6 5 In September 2018 its priory was raised to abbey and their new Abbey Church was consecrated by Bishop Robert Finn Mother Cecilia was the first abbess to receive the Abbatial Blessing according to the traditional Pontificale in the United States 9 Recordings EditThe nuns sing together daily typically for five hours per day as part of their daily life of prayer 10 The group have released a number of recordings of their songs Their debut recording Advent At Ephesus released at the end of 2012 reached number 2 on Billboard s Classical Traditional Music Chart and number 14 on the Classical Music Overall Chart 11 They were named Billboard s Classical Traditional Artist 2012 and 2013 the first order of nuns to win an award in the history of Billboard magazine 12 Both their first two albums of their recorded chants and hymns reached number 1 on the classical traditional Billboard charts in 2013 13 As of 9 August 2013 the group s second album Angels and Saints at Ephesus reached the number 1 position on the Billboard traditional classical albums chart for 13 weeks 14 a record duration on that chart since 2006 15 As of July 2013 the album also reached number 3 on Billboard s Bestselling Internet Album Chart number 7 on its Contemporary Christian and Christian Gospel charts and number 127 on the Billboard 200 weekly ranking of the 200 highest selling music albums and EPs in the United States 11 The album has sold 49 000 copies in the United States as of February 2015 16 Album sales have been used to improve the monastery and pay off the abbey s debt The music was arranged by the abbess Mother Cecilia as of 2014 17 Discography EditAdvent at Ephesus De Montfort Music Decca Records released 20 November 2012 Angels and Saints at Ephesus De Montfort Music Decca Records released 7 May 2013 Lent at Ephesus De Montfort Music Decca Records Universal Music Classics released 11 February 2014 Easter at Ephesus De Montfort Music Decca Records Universal Music Classics released 3 March 2015 Adoration at Ephesus self published released 26 April 2016 Caroling at Ephesus self published released 1 November 2016 The Hearts of Jesus Mary amp Joseph at Ephesus self published released 1 May 2018 Christ the King at Ephesus self published released 26 October 2021 Tenebrae at Ephesus self published released 08 April 2022 18 The Holy Trinity at Ephesus self published released 11 November 2022References Edit Sister Mary Wilhelmina The Catholic Key 2019 06 06 Retrieved 2021 07 22 A Glimpse at Life in 6 Traditional Religious Communities NCR 18 October 2017 Retrieved 2021 07 22 Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles make Billboard Chart history Religion News Service 2013 12 10 Retrieved 2021 07 22 Bunderson Carl 2018 05 03 Benedictine nuns new album an offering to Saint Joseph Catholic News Agency a b c Graves Jim 2017 02 18 The rich treasure of the monastic life The Catholic World Report Retrieved 2019 05 22 a b About Ephesus Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles Retrieved 2013 08 09 Graham Ruth Currid Katie 2023 09 09 A Miracle in Missouri The Nun Who Put Her Abbey on the Map The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 09 10 Vocations to Priesthood and Consecrated Life a Super Priority Our Lady of Lourdes Vocation Conference 2012 07 14 Archived from the original on 2013 08 09 Retrieved 2013 08 09 This Is The House Of The Lord Firmly Established Catholic Key 14 September 2018 Retrieved 25 September 2018 Jurgensen John June 14 2013 The Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles Hear the 22 Singing Nuns Who Beat Out Fifty Shades of Grey The Wall Street Journal Retrieved February 11 2014 a b Angels and Saints at Ephesus tops Billboard classical music chart Christian Today 2013 07 11 Chart topping Nuns Releasing Lent Album Eternal Word Television Network Retrieved 2014 01 16 Jurgensen John June 13 2013 The Nuns at the Top of the Charts Wall Street Journal subscription required Traditional Classical Albums Billboard 2013 08 17 Archived from the original on 2016 08 17 Retrieved 2013 08 09 Nuns CD has 3 month run as top classical album Catholic World News August 9 2013 Upcoming Releases Hits Daily Double HITS Digital Ventures Archived from the original on February 28 2015 Montagne Renee February 11 2014 Monastic Life At The Top Of The Charts NPR Retrieved February 11 2014 Tenebrae at Ephesus Amazon External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles amp oldid 1174824516, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
