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The St. Blaise Schola Cantorum was founded in 2003 to provide sacred music for the Latin Mass at St. Agnes Mission Church in Fresno. The schola's first Mass was on Christmas Day, 2003. Since then, the schola has assisted at Masses roughly twice per month. The schola has had as many as five members at a time, but there is no limit on how many men may chant at once.
Gregorian chant is the musical heritage of the Catholic Church. It has its roots in the earliest days of Christianity, but it was St. Gregory the Great who codified chant into the system of notation we still use today.
The assistance of a schola enables a priest to offer a high Mass rather than a low Mass. In a low Mass, all text is read, though there may be hymns before and after Mass, during the Offertory, and during Communion. In a high Mass, however, the schola will chant the text of the Introit, Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, and Communion. The schola - along with the choir (if there is one) and the faithful - will also chant the ordinaries of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.
Every valid Mass has infinite intrinsic merit. But a high Mass with a schola gives greater glory to God and provides a magnificent, prayerful experience for listeners.
Schola members must be male Catholics in good standing with the Church. The reason for the gender requirement is that schola members actually assume a liturgical office when they chant at Mass, and according to the laws of the Church, women may not hold offices.
The St. Blaise Schola Cantorum rehearses at least once per week, usually on Thursday nights. Rehearsals last about two hours. The demands of the liturgical calendar sometimes require extra rehearsals. Being a schola member also requires a significant commitment of personal practice time, so it is not a commitment one can make half-heartedly. But the spiritual rewards are many.
Would you like to chant with the schola? Musical experience is helpful, but by no means necessary. The schola director can teach you the rudiments of chant and train you in proper vocal technique. More important - in fact, essential - is a love of the Mass and an earnest desire to strengthen your faith through chanted prayer.
For more information about joining the schola, email Keven Smith, schola director, at:
chant */at/* uvfresno */dot/* org