February 18, 2009

Actor Liam Neeson narrates Way of the Cross CD

Work features prayers, music of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Film star Liam Neeson is the featured narrator on a special CD production for Lent, “Praying the Way of the Cross.” The CD will be available for Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Neeson reads the introduction, written by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, and the 14 Stations of the Cross. The 14 stations and prayers are taken from the classic text, “The Way of the Cross According to the Method of St. Alphonsus Liguori,” the great 18th century Italian saint, doctor of the Church and founder of the Redemptorists. This text is used by Catholics around the world to retrace the footsteps of Jesus Christ on Good Friday.

“I had heard about the Redemptorists and their missionary work in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil and in the slums of Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria,” Neeson said.  “I was moved to help because the Redemptorists are living the Gospel message in some of the poorest parts of the world, offering hope to families who have been forgotten or abandoned.”

Whether it is his Academy Award nominated role of Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s highly acclaimed “Schindler’s List” (1993), or his award-winning portrayal of legendary Irish Republican hero, “Michael Collins” (1996), Neeson continues to display an acting range matched by few. 

Currently, Neeson is shooting “After Life” opposite Christina Ricci. Last year, he completed production on Pierre Morel’s “Taken,” which was released in the United States last week.  Neeson recently finished shooting Richard Eyre’s “The Other Man,” and he is currently filming “Five Minutes of Heaven” for BBC Northern Ireland.

Last May Neeson appeared in Disney’s box office success “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” where he reprised his role as the voice of the lion, Aslan, in the sequel to the 2005 hit “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

“Praying the Way of the Cross” is the third CD produced for the Redemptorists of the Denver Province by Ray and Theresa Herrmann, co-founders of Little Lamb Music. In 2007 and 2008, respectively, they produced “Praying the Rosary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori” and “Praying the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori.” The saint’s music is produced, arranged and performed on all three CDs by the Herrmanns and other musicians and vocalists from some of the world’s finest orchestras and choral groups. Ray and Theresa started Little Lamb Music in 2006 with their first release, “Little Lamb Lullabies.” Little Lamb Music is dedicated to providing families with high-quality Catholic music.

Herrmann is a Grammy-award winning musician and one of the world’s finest session players and instrumentalists. He has spent the last 20 years playing with and arranging music for some of the biggest names in American music, including: Diana Ross, Chicago, Bob Dylan, Santana, LeeAnn Rimes, Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Herbie Hancock. Herrmann is also in the house band on the hit television show, “American Idol.”

“I was deeply moved by Liam’s reading of the words of St. Alphonsus,” Hermann said. “It was so beautifully done.  And I feel very proud to be a part of this production, one that celebrates Good Friday with the voice of one of the world’s greatest actors with the sacred hymns and prayers of this great saint of the Church.”

These are the first CDs produced in the United States to feature the music of St. Alphonsus.