Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (DeMontfort Music)

In 2013, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist released their debut album Mater Eucharistiae, which was a smash hit! 2014 saw them release their sophomore album The Rosary, and for a few years, I thought that was all they were going to release...NOPE! A few weeks ago their third album, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring was released. This gave people about a month to pick up this Christmas album. Like other albums released from DeMontfort Music, the album is a mixture of hymns and chants, as well as English and Latin selections. Included on this album are the following:

1. Christmas Proclamation
2. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
3. Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying
4. Sleep, Little Jesus
5. Carol of the Bells
6. Emmanuel
7. Snowflakes
8. Away in a Manger
9. Angels We Have Heard on High
10. Adeste Fideles
11. Joy to the World
12. Gaudete
13. Of the Father's Love Begotten
14. Madonna's Lullaby
15. Gabriel's Message
16. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

It's said in the music business that you haven't made it until you put out a Christmas album. Well, I guess we can say that these sisters have officially made it! There are many Christmas albums that flood the market every year that completely miss the point of Christmas, so it was refreshing to see this holy album be released that focuses on the real reason for the season. On this album, you will see a lot of familiar titles, which is always refreshing because you can sing along. However, I also loved that there were titles on this album that I was unfamiliar with, as it helped broaden my catalog of great Christmas songs. Listening to this album in my car has been a relaxing endeavor, as it has helped me focus on Jesus with my commute to and from work. Unfortunately, I have to put this album away until December when Advent officially starts, because it is currently Ordinary Time and you should appreciate the season you are in. However, when December 3rd gets here, this album is going back into my car CD player and will be on loop through the beginning of next year. Pick up this album and a second one for a friend. You won't be sorry.

The Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations and Music (DeMontfort Music)

Today, I am pleased to share with you another Catholic CD review. This one is entitled The Rosary: Mysteries, Meditations and Music. You might remember them from my review of their album Mater Eucharistiae, or you might remember them from their appearance on the The American Bible Challenge, where they came in second place in Season 2, but were voted fan favorites! Or perhaps, this is your first time hearing about them. No matter how familiar you are or are not with these sisters, if you love the Rosary, you'll want a copy of this CD.

The album is divided into nine tracks. The first six tracks are a spoken Rosary, with background music/singing that you will recognize from their first album Mater Eucharistiae. The three bonus tracks are "Let Nothing Disturb You," "In Dulci Jubilo," and "Bride of Christ."  My only gripe about the album is that each set of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous) are only one track. Therefore, you have to pray the whole five decades through. There is no praying just a decade without fast forwarding. I would have preferred one mystery per track. The Rosary itself is a Scriptural Rosary with each mystery preceded by a Scripture passage and a prayer for a specific virtue that corresponds to the mystery, i.e., Charity at The Visitation (the Second Joyful Mystery).

Because of their first album, I was expecting a little more music or perhaps a sung Rosary. What we got was not that, but it is a welcome addition to my CD library and will be to yours as well. The voices are clear and easily understood, and the background music is a nice touch that is just the right volume without being a distraction. I always struggle to stay focused on the Rosary, especially when trying to pray it in the car or on the go. With this, I know the struggle will still be there, but I at least have a guiding voice to keep me on track and focused on the divine.

This CD was provided to me for free by Carmel Communications in exchange for an honest review. If you found this review helpful, please click here and hit Yes!

de Montfort Music: Mater Eucharistiae

If you're a Catholic music-lover, then surely you know about the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. They have two beautiful albums - Advent at Ephesus and Angels and Saints at Ephesus. The latter has been at the top of the charts in the classical album section for over thirteen weeks. I missed out on the debut of both albums, but I vowed if they released another one, I would get in on the ground floor. Well, they don't have a new album (yet), but the same label, de Montfort Music, de Montfort Music, has an album by The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist entitled Mater Eucharistiae.

Before I review the CD, I'd like to provide some background on the sisters. The Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and were founded in 1997 with only four sisters. In those short sixteen years, they have increased to 110 sisters, which is remarkable! You might recognize the name of this order if you watched the American Bible Challenge game show and saw Sister Peter Joseph, Sister Maria Suso, and Sister Evangeline finish in second place on the most recent season. The purpose of this album, and the focus of the sisters' lives, is to draw people closer to Jesus through Mary, and they certainly succeeded in that goal.

The album itself is composed of fifteen songs and is just under 45 minutes long. The music is a mixture of English and Latin and it incorporates some instrumental and a capella pieces. You will recognize some of the music, such as Salve Regina or Pange Lingua. However, there is also an original one entitled "I Am in Thy Hands, O Mary." I first listened to this album at work and it transformed my whole day and made it more Christ-centered. I try now to listen to at least some of the album once a day, and in different places like home or the car. Doing this helps remind me that every aspect of our lives should be prayer and worship of God. It also helps transform my car or job-site into a mini-place of worship. I am truly grateful, not only for the 5-star CD that these sisters produced but more importantly for the example of their lives.

If you would like to see a behind the scenes look at the making of this album, check out the video below. As always, if you found this review helpful, click this link and hit Yes.