August 13, 2008 10:14

Cistercian monks offer help to Amy Winehouse

'Faith might be the answer for her' say musical monks

Photo Gallery: Amy Winehouse
Photo: Danny North

A 72-strong group of singing monks have invited Amy Winehouse to join them in a bid to help sort out her personal difficulties.

Based in Vienna, the Cistercian Monks Of Stift Heiligenkreuz recently scored a Number One album of Gregorian chants in Austria.

Like Winehouse, they are signed to Universal Records.

The Daily Telegraph reports that a record company representative gave them a copy of Winehouse's 2006 album 'Back To Black' - but it didn't go down too well.

"For ten minutes I liked it," said Brother Johannes Paul Chavanne. "But when I read the lyrics I thought it was sad. I would like to invite her here - I feel sympathetic to people like her. She could stay a week or two and discuss the big questions of life - faith might be an answer for her."

Despite singing songs from the seventh century, the monks were keen to show they've embraced modern living.

"Johannes, 25, is is a thoroughly modern monk, and has a computer and internet in his cell," they explained.