When you hear “Billboard No. 1 hit,” your mind probably conjures up images of Hollywood’s latest crooners.  

However, a young monastic order of religious sisters challenged this stereotype when their album was No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Traditional Classical Music chart for four straight weeks.  

The success of “Advent at Ephesus” (De Montfort/Decca) from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles shows that Catholic music can make an impact on the secular world.  

The album, which features songs like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and Angelus Ad Virginem, also ranked No. 9 on the Contemporary Christian chart and was within the top 200 on Billboard’s mainstream chart of all categories. 

“We hope everyone will purchase this beautiful masterpiece, a labor of love given to the world by The Benedictines of Mary, which goes to help the sisters in their many needs as a growing contemplative community,” said Monica Fitzgibbons, co-founder of De Montfort Music, the sisters’ record label.  

To listen to clips of the sisters’ music, visit benedictinesofmary.org