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Music Recommendation: Light for the World

Byjosephhouse

Music is a shortcut to the soul—and a new album from one of the oldest communities of religious women offers a reminder of that.

The Poor Clares are contemplative nuns who belong to the Franciscan family. Their founder was St. Clare of Assisi, who lived from 1194 to 1253.

A group of these nuns in England, the Poor Clares of Arundel, have recorded an album of heavenly music entitled Light for the World.

Light for the World combines Gregorian chant with subtle and relaxing music. The production strikes a balance between old and new, which will help to introduce the chants to modern listeners. Playing the album will create an oasis of peace and calm in your day. It will reacquaint you with the healing power of beautiful sounds and uplifting words.

The album features traditional hymns such as “Ubi Caritas” and “Veni Creator Spiritus.” Of special interest are new songs based on the writings of St. Clare and St. Francis, which have been set to music by composers James Morgan and Juliette Pochin.

Released by Decca Records in October of 2020, Light for the World is available from music retailers and online streaming services. It was a No. 1 best-seller in the Classical Music Charts. We highly recommend it.

Here is a trailer for the album from YouTube:

Here is the website for the Poor Clares of Arundel: https://www.poorclaresarundel.org

It’s a good idea to support local businesses. Here is a site to help you find an independent record store: https://recordstoreday.com/Stores

The Poor Clares recording ancient music for modern times.

For many years (1977-2011), we operated Joseph House by the Sea, a book and gift store in Ocean City, Maryland. Our founder, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, believed it was important “to have a place in the marketplace where people can come to get spiritual direction and guidance in their reading.” In that spirit, we continue to offer recommendations for worthwhile items.