Cistercian Chant 1098 (CD)

From St. Joseph's Abbey
CISTERCIAN CHANT 1098 (CD)
Gregorian Chants Celebrating
the 900th Anniversary
of the Order of Citeaux

As their contribution to the Ninth Centenary celebration of their Order, The Monastic Schola of Monks & Nuns in the USA, a group with members from eleven monasteries belonging to both Observances, worked and sang together from November 2 to 9, 1997, at Saint Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. The result is this CD of Cistercian Chant, comprising selections from the Mass and Divine Office for the Solemnity of the Founders of Citeaux.

The chant recordings were made on November 7, 1997 in the Chapterhouse of Saint Joseph's Abbey under the direction of Br. Emmanuel Morinelli, OCSO.

The Organ Improvisations were recorded in November of 1997 with the selections performed on the Zimmer Organ in the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, South Carolina by Dom Francis Kline, Abbot.

24 selections
Long-playing: 71:51

The singing of this group is exemplary. . . an easy choice for anyone interested in chant.
-- Fanfare Magazine

The American All-Star team of Cistercian Choirs. Their work is beautiful, inspiring and prayerful.
-- Catholic Heritage

MONASTERIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS RECORDING
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery (nuns) Crozet, VA
Assumption Abbey (monks) Ava, MO
St. Benedict's Abbey (monks) Snowmass, CO
Abbey of Our Lady of Dallas (monks) Irving, TX
Abbey of the Genesee (monks) Piffard, NY
St. Joseph's Abbey (monks) Spencer, MA
Mount Saint Mary's Abbey (nuns) Wrentham, MA.
Our Lady of Mississippi Abbey (nuns) Dubuque, IA
Santa Rita Abbey (nuns) Sonoita, AZ
Abbey of Our Lady of Spring Bank (monks) Sparta, WI
Valley of Our Lady Monastery (nuns) Prairie du Sac, WI

Monastery Info:

St. Joseph's Abbey: Spencer, Massachusetts

St. Joseph's Abbey is a monastery of the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.), popularly known as the "Trappists", located in Spencer, Massachusetts.

The Abbey was founded in 1950 by Belgian and French Trappist monks from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Valley in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, which had burned to the ground. In the rustic hills of central New England, they established a new home in which to follow an age-old contemplative way of life.

The monastery became known internationally as the origin of the Centering Prayer movement, whose leading proponents were monks at the monastery: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington and Fr. Thomas Keating.

Work has always been greatly esteemed in the Cistercian tradition, since it gives the monks the opportunity to follow in Christ' footsteps and share in His Divine work of creation and restoration. The monks produce products whose sale provides for their livelihood and for the care of the poor. Since the 1950s, they have produced Trappist Preserves, their popular line of jams and jellies. Since 1949, The Holy Rood Guild has created beautiful, finely-tailored liturgical vestments to enhance the dignity of the Sacred Liturgy.