Cloistered French nuns are record label’s new sales hope 與世隔絕的法國修女成唱片公司最新銷售希望

 ◎俞智敏
A group of Benedictine nuns who live in complete seclusion in the South of France are set to become divas of pop after signing a deal with Universal Music, the leading record company behind Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse.
一群住在法國南部、完全與世隔絕的本篤會修女即將成為流行音樂女伶，因為她們已和環球音樂公司簽下合約，女神卡卡與艾美懷絲等歌星都是這家重要唱片公司的旗下藝人。
After a worldwide search for the finest exponents of the art of the Gregorian chant, the Nuns of the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de L’Annonciation have signed a deal with Universal’s Decca Records label. The enclosed order still communicates with outsiders through a grille to avoid intrusion into a life of religious devotion. As a result, the nuns in the abbey will have to photograph their own album cover, as well as provide the footage for their television advertisements.
在全球各地尋訪葛利果聖歌的最佳代言人後，「聖母領報修道院」的修女們終於和環球公司旗下的迪卡唱片簽約。這個隱居教團至今仍只能透過護柵與外人溝通，以免其虔誠的宗教生活受到侵擾。因此修道院的修女們必須自行拍攝唱片封面，還得自行提供電視廣告的影片。
The order, based near Avignon, dates back to the 6th century and follows a strict tradition of living behind closed doors once novice nuns have taken their vows. Sisters then remain inside the convent until death.
這所修道院位於亞維農附近，成立於西元六世紀，初學修女一旦發願後就必須遵守嚴格的遁世傳統。修女們將在院內終老一生。
"We never sought this, it came looking for us," said the Rev Mother Abbess. "At first we were worried it would affect our cloistered life, so we asked St Joseph in prayer. Our prayers were answered and we thought that this album would be a good thing if it touches people’s lives and helps them find peace."
「我們從未主動尋求，而是它找上了我們，」修道院長表示。「一開始我們擔心此事可能會影響我們遠離塵世的生活，所以我們向聖約瑟禱告。結果我們的禱告獲得了回應，我們認為假如這張專輯能夠打動人們的生命、幫助他們找到平靜，那就是件好事。」
新聞辭典
cloister： 動詞，指與世隔絕，或用迴廊環繞，如She is a scientist who cloisters herself in a laboratory.（她是個在實驗室裡與外界隔絕的科學家。）或cloistered gardens（有迴廊環繞的花園）。作名詞用時即指（修道院或大學的）迴廊、也可指修道院、或指修道院內的生活。
exponent：名詞，指（原理、學說等的）闡述者、說明者，或倡導者、代表者、典型，如Jacqueline du Pre’ was a leading exponent of cello-playing.（杜普蕾是大提琴演奏的主要代表人物。）
footage： 名詞，原指以英尺表示的長度，如estimated the square footage of new office space.（估計新辦公室空間的面積），亦可指（以英尺計算的）影片長度，再引申為指影片，尤指有關某特殊事件的影片，如news footage of the royal wedding（王室婚禮的新聞影片）。