Benedictine monks top Andrea Bocelli on the best-selling album charts

You are listening to one of the 33 songs from the album "Benedicta.â? Those voices belong to the Benedictine monks of Norcia, and they are singing sweet words and pious prayers to the Virgin Mary.  The album begins like this.  Those are bells from their monastery. When they stop ringing, the monks intone responses and hymns in the grand tradition of Gregorian chant.  They provide for many of their community's needs with profits from sales.  "Benedictaâ? made it onto iTunes's Top 40, debuted as number two in the Classical Music category on the Billboard charts, and ranked number one on Amazon. Few are surprised by a debut album of Gregorian chant topping even Bocelli in the charts. After all, Gregorian chant has a centuries-long head start.  RMR/JPB PR -SV Up: LOA #arte