Sister Cristina rocks! That’s the consensus among the millions of fans all over the world who fell in love with the singing Ursuline sister when she won Italy’s televised talent competition “The Voice” in June.
Her rousing performances (in full habit without makeup or other adornment) of cover songs “What a Feeling” from Flashdance and Alicia Keys’ “No One,” stole the show and led to a record deal with Universal Music.
Today, in advance of her debut album to be released next month Sister Cristina Scuccia stuns the world with her first single (and music video) in which she sings controversial pop star Madonna’s hit “Like a Virgin.”
In an interview with Avvenire, Sister Cristina explained why she sang this particular song:
“I chose it. With no intention to provoke or scandalize. Reading the text, without being influenced by previous interpretations, you discover that it is a song about the power of love to renew people. To rescue them from their past. And this is the way that I wanted to interpret it. For this reason we have transformed this song from the pop-dance piece which it was, into a romantic ballad, a bit like the ones by Amos Lee. Something more similar to a lay prayer than to a pop piece.”
While she told Avvenire she sometimes regrets participating in the talent show because of the “morbid curiosity of the media” she sees it as an opportunity for evangelization.
“I am 26. I am young. But I know I have a big responsibility. I have to give witness and I am happy to do it. Because I am excited to have met Christ and I would like everybody else to do the same,” she said.
Sister Cristina, a member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Family in Milan, renewed her temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on July 29.