. After keeping notes from the RCIA class that I attended years ago, I decided to write up a review of the class with a 130-question quiz.
Catholic Exam Answers:
1. Who are the three persons of the Most Holy Trinity?
A.) The Father
B.) The Son
C.) The Holy Spirit
2. What languages was the Old Testament written in?
The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, with portions in Aramaic and some deuterocanonical books or portions in Greek.
3. What language was the New Testament written in?
The New Testament has come down to us principally in Koine Greek. According to the ancient tradition of the Church, however, St. Matthew first composed his Gospel in the language of the Hebrews, generally understood as Hebrew or Aramaic, before the Greek form was produced.
4. Name the 12 fruits of the Holy Ghost.
A.) Charity
B.) Joy
C.) Peace
D.) Patience
E.) Benignity
F.) Goodness
G.) Longanimity
H.) Mildness
I.) Faith
J.) Modesty
K.) Continency
L.) Chastity
5. Name the seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
A.) Wisdom
B.) Understanding
C.) Counsel
D.) Fortitude
E.) Knowledge
F.) Piety
G.) Fear of the Lord
6. What is the difference between Mortal and Venial sin?
For a sin to be mortal, there must be grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent of the will. Venial sin involves lesser matter, or lacks full knowledge or full consent in grave matter. Venial sin wounds our friendship with God but does not destroy sanctifying grace in the soul.
7. Recite the Our Father.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
8. Recite the Hail Mary.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
9. What are Christ's two natures?
A.) Human
B.) Divine
These two natures are united without confusion in the one Divine Person of Jesus Christ.
10. What is Original Sin?
Original Sin is the deprivation of original holiness and sanctifying grace inherited by all descendants of Adam as a consequence of his first sin. It is contracted, not personally committed by us; it is a state in which we are born, rather than a personal sinful act of our own.
11. How can it be washed away?
Baptism
12. In the Old Testament, name events that symbolized Baptism and the freeing of God's people.
Moses leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea is a type of Baptism and deliverance from slavery to sin. Noah and his family being saved through the waters of the Great Flood is another type of Baptism.
13. Name the Precepts of the Church.
1.) To hear Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
2.) To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
3.) To confess our sins at least once a year.
4.) To receive Holy Communion during Easter time.
5.) To contribute to the support of the Church according to our means.
6.) To observe the Church's laws concerning marriage.
14. What is the name given to the first 5 books of the Old Testament?
The Pentateuch
15. How did St. Paul convert to the Faith?
Saul fiercely persecuted the Christians, believing that he was defending the true religion. On the road to Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly shone around him and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" Our Lord told him to enter Damascus, where he would be told what to do. Saul was blind for three days and neither ate nor drank. The Lord then sent a disciple named Ananias, through whom Saul recovered his sight and was baptized. Saul, who became the great Apostle St. Paul, then began preaching Jesus Christ.
16. Who were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
They were the great Patriarchs of the Old Testament, from whom the people of Israel descended and through whom God's covenant promises were handed on.
17. Who was Joseph in the Book of Genesis?
Joseph was a son of Jacob. His jealous brothers sold him to merchants who took him into Egypt, where he was sold into slavery. Through God's Providence, Joseph eventually rose to great authority in Egypt and later saved his family during a famine.
18. What is the difference between the Ascension and the Assumption?
Ascension - Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, body and soul, by His own divine power, forty days after His Resurrection.
Assumption - The Blessed Virgin Mary, at the completion of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into Heaven by the power of God.
19. On what day after His death did Christ rise?
Christ rose on the third day after His death. In the Jewish manner of inclusive counting, even part of a day was counted as a day: Good Friday was the first day, Holy Saturday the second, and Easter Sunday the third.
20. How many days after the Resurrection did Christ ascend into Heaven?
40 days
21. How many days after the Ascension did the Holy Ghost descend upon the Apostles?
10 days
22. What is this day called?
Pentecost
23. In Genesis there were two special trees in the Garden of Eden. Name and describe both.
The Tree of Life - Its fruit was associated with continued bodily life.
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil - The tree from which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat; their disobedience constituted the Fall.
24. How many books are in the Protestant Old Testament? How many additional books are in the Catholic Old Testament?
The Protestant Old Testament contains 39 books. The Catholic Old Testament contains 46 books: seven additional books, along with additional portions of Esther and Daniel.
25. What city was Christ born in?
Bethlehem
26. In what city did He die?
Jerusalem
27. What does the name Peter mean?
Peter means "rock." Our Lord gave Simon the Aramaic name Kepha (Cephas), meaning rock; the corresponding Greek name is Petros.
28. To what country did St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary take the Infant Jesus to escape King Herod?
Egypt
29. In what city in Galilee did Jesus live for most of His earthly life?
Nazareth
30. Name the seven Sacraments.
1.) Baptism
2.) Confirmation
3.) Holy Eucharist
4.) Penance (Confession)
5.) Extreme Unction
6.) Holy Orders
7.) Matrimony
31. What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, when the people spread branches before Him and acclaimed Him as King.
32. What is Good Friday?
Good Friday commemorates the Passion, trial before Pontius Pilate, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is one of the Church's most solemn days of mourning and penance and traditionally a day of fasting and abstinence.
33. What is the name of the hill where Christ was crucified?
Calvary, also called Golgotha, outside Jerusalem.
34. In what town did Jesus Christ perform His first public miracle?
Cana of Galilee, where He changed water into wine at the wedding feast.
35. From what building did Christ drive out the moneychangers?
The Temple
36. From what mount did Christ ascend into Heaven?
The Mount of Olives (Mount Olivet).
37. What was the name of the river in which Jesus Christ was baptized?
The Jordan River
38. Who baptized Jesus Christ?
St. John the Baptist
39. What is the purpose of a Guardian Angel?
Our Guardian Angel is appointed by God to guard, guide, and assist us, especially in attaining our eternal salvation, and to protect us spiritually and, according to God's Providence, bodily as well.
40. Can someone become an angel after death? Can a human soul become a saint?
A.) No. Angels and human beings are distinct kinds of creatures.
B.) Yes. Every human soul admitted to Heaven is, in the broad sense, a saint.
41. What are angels?
Angels are pure spirits created by God, endowed with intellect and will. They serve God as His ministers and messengers.
42. What are devils?
Devils are fallen angels who rebelled against God and seek to lead souls away from Him and into sin and eternal perdition.
43. What does it mean when the body of a deceased person is called incorrupt?
An incorrupt body is one that remains preserved from the ordinary process of decomposition without an adequate natural or artificial explanation.
44. Was Jesus Christ forced to die?
No. Our Lord freely offered His life for our salvation. "No man taketh it away from Me: but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:18).
45. Did Christ have to die for our salvation?
Not by absolute necessity, since Almighty God could have redeemed mankind in another manner. Nevertheless, God freely chose the Passion and Death of Christ as the supremely fitting means of our redemption; given that divine plan, Christ's Passion and Death were necessary for its fulfillment.
46. Who delivered Christ to the Romans?
The chief priests and Jewish authorities brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate and delivered Him to the Roman governor.
47. The chief priests declared to Pontius Pilate, "We have no king but __________."
Caesar.
48. What 3 gifts did the 3 wise men bring?
A.) Gold
B.) Frankincense
C.) Myrrh
49. What feast is celebrated on January 6 and commemorates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the coming of the Wise Men?
The Epiphany of Our Lord
50. Who is the greatest of all the saints?
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of All Saints.
51. Name one of the most widely loved saints of modern times.
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, commonly called "the Little Flower."
52. What is a prayer or devotion traditionally made over nine successive days called?
A novena
53. On what day did Christ die?
Good Friday
54. On what day did Christ rise from the dead?
Easter Sunday
55. Name the seven Capital Sins.
1.) Pride
2.) Covetousness (Avarice)
3.) Lust
4.) Anger
5.) Gluttony
6.) Envy
7.) Sloth
56. Name the Ten Commandments.
1.) I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.
2.) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3.) Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
4.) Honor thy father and thy mother.
5.) Thou shalt not kill.
6.) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7.) Thou shalt not steal.
8.) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9.) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10.) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.
57. To whom did God give the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai?
Moses
58. What sea did God divide through Moses so that the Israelites could pass through?
The Red Sea
59. True or False: St. Peter walked on water?
True
60. How could St. Peter walk on water?
At Christ's command and by His power. When Peter's faith faltered and he became afraid, he began to sink until Our Lord saved him.
61. True or False: St. Paul was one of the original Twelve Apostles?
False. St. Paul was called later by Christ and became the great Apostle to the Gentiles.
62. Name the Twelve Apostles originally chosen by Christ.
1.) Simon Peter
2.) Andrew
3.) James the Greater, son of Zebedee
4.) John
5.) Philip
6.) Bartholomew
7.) Thomas
8.) Matthew
9.) James the Less, son of Alphaeus
10.) Thaddeus (Jude)
11.) Simon the Zealot
12.) Judas Iscariot
63. Which disciple betrayed Christ?
Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ to the chief priests and those who came to arrest Him. The Jewish authorities subsequently delivered Christ to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
64. Under what Roman governor was Christ crucified?
Pontius Pilate
65. Where was Jesus Christ arrested?
The Garden of Gethsemane
66. True or False: Money can become a false god.
True. Wealth becomes an idol when it is loved or pursued in a way that displaces the love and service owed to God.
67. What are the four Gospels?
1.) The Gospel according to St. Matthew
2.) The Gospel according to St. Mark
3.) The Gospel according to St. Luke
4.) The Gospel according to St. John
68. When did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
At the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, when He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood and commanded the Apostles to "do this" in commemoration of Him.
69. What did the arrival of the Wise Men symbolize?
The Epiphany manifests Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. The coming of the Wise Men from the nations foreshadowed the calling and conversion of the Gentile world to Christ.
70. Recite the Glory Be.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
71. Who was St. Francis of Assisi?
St. Francis of Assisi was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor and one of the great saints of the Church. Renowned for his radical poverty, penance, love of Christ Crucified, and care for God's creation, he received the stigmata about two years before his death in 1226.
72. What are the two great commandments by which Christ summarized God's Law?
1.) Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.
2.) Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Christ also gave His disciples the New Commandment: "Love one another, as I have loved you."
73. What does the word "testament" mean in the biblical sense?
Covenant
74. Why are there four Gospels instead of one?
God inspired four Evangelists to give complementary and harmonious testimony concerning the life, teaching, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel emphasizes particular aspects of His Person and mission while teaching the same saving truth.
75. Name an Old Testament king who prefigured Christ the King.
King David
76. Name at least two Old Testament prophets.
Examples include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elijah, and Elisha.
77. What is a martyr, and why are martyrs symbolized with palms in Catholic art?
A martyr is one who willingly suffers death rather than deny Christ or the Catholic Faith, dying because of hatred of the Faith or of a Christian virtue connected with the Faith. In Catholic art, martyrs are commonly depicted carrying palm branches, which symbolize their victory through martyrdom.
78. What does it take to be a Saint?
In the broad sense, a saint is anyone who is in Heaven. There are undoubtedly countless saints who were never formally canonized by the Church. Formal canonization, however, is the Church's solemn declaration that a particular person is in Heaven and is to be publicly venerated by the Universal Church.
Traditionally, a candidate's life, writings, orthodoxy, heroic virtue or martyrdom, and alleged miracles underwent an extremely rigorous investigation. The process was adversarial by design, with the Promoter of the Faith, popularly called the "Devil's Advocate," charged with raising serious objections against the cause.
Under the traditional process, two miracles were ordinarily required for beatification and two additional miracles after beatification for canonization, though the precise requirements could vary according to the nature and evidence of the cause. These miracles were subjected to extensive medical, theological, and canonical scrutiny. The modern process has substantially reduced the ordinary number of miracles required.
The simplest distinction is this: God makes a person a saint by admitting the soul to Heaven; the Church canonizes certain saints by formally investigating and declaring their sanctity for the public veneration of the faithful.
79. Canonization is the term for what?
Canonization is the solemn judgment and decree of the Pope by which a person is declared a saint and his or her public veneration is prescribed for the Universal Church.
80. By the end of what century had all the books of the New Testament been written?
By the end of the first century A.D.
81. Jesus promised that His Church would be guided by whom?
The Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth.
82. Are tattoos always forbidden to Catholics?
No. Leviticus 19:28 prohibited certain markings under the Old Law, but that passage does not by itself establish an absolute prohibition binding Christians against every tattoo. Tattoos can nevertheless be sinful because of their content, intention, immodesty, scandal, superstition, or unreasonable harm to the body.
83. Are contraception, in vitro fertilization, and artificial insemination sinful?
Yes. Contraception deliberately frustrates the procreative meaning of the marital act, while in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination replace the marital act as the proper means by which human life is conceived. Catholic moral teaching therefore rejects these practices.
84. For how many days did the waters of the Great Flood prevail upon the earth?
150 days. Genesis also tells us that the rain fell for forty days and forty nights.
85. Did Noah first send out a raven or a dove from the Ark?
A raven
86. What did God tell Noah the rainbow signified?
The rainbow was the sign of God's covenant that never again would a flood destroy all flesh upon the earth.
87. Where did Noah's Ark come to rest?
On the mountains of Ararat.
88. How many people were saved in Noah's Ark during the Flood?
Eight: Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives.
89. Name the three Theological Virtues.
1.) Faith
2.) Hope
3.) Charity
90. Who replaced Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles?
St. Matthias
91. Name the four Cardinal Virtues.
1.) Prudence
2.) Justice
3.) Fortitude
4.) Temperance
92. Who wrote most of the Epistles of the New Testament?
St. Paul
93. Are there ancient writings called the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel or Protoevangelium of James? Were they ever part of the Bible?
Yes, such ancient apocryphal writings exist. No, they were never part of the Church's canon of inspired Sacred Scripture.
94. What are the seven Corporal Works of Mercy?
1.) Feed the hungry.
2.) Give drink to the thirsty.
3.) Clothe the naked.
4.) Shelter the homeless.
5.) Visit the sick.
6.) Visit the imprisoned.
7.) Bury the dead.
95. Who are the four Major Prophets?
1.) Isaiah
2.) Jeremiah
3.) Ezekiel
4.) Daniel
96. What three practices does Our Lord emphasize in Matthew 6 as foundations of Christian penance, especially during Lent?
1.) Prayer
2.) Fasting
3.) Almsgiving
Our Lord teaches that these works should be done for God rather than for human praise (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18).
97. What was the separation between the Eastern and Western Churches commonly associated with the year 1054 called?
The Great Schism, or East-West Schism. The year 1054 is conventionally associated with the exchange of excommunications involving Cardinal Humbert, acting as a papal legate, and Patriarch Michael Cerularius and his supporters. The separation itself developed over a longer period of time.
98. What is the traditional promise associated with the Brown Scapular?
The traditional promise is: "Whosoever dies clothed in this shall not suffer eternal fire." This must not be understood superstitiously or as a magical guarantee of salvation. Wearing the Brown Scapular is a sign of devotion and consecration to Our Lady and should accompany a sincere Catholic life and perseverance in God's grace.
99. What are the two principal parts of the Traditional Latin Mass?
1.) The Mass of the Catechumens (often called the Liturgy of the Word in modern terminology).
2.) The Mass of the Faithful (often called the Liturgy of the Eucharist in modern terminology).
100. Recite the Nicene Creed.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made; consubstantial with the Father; by Whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven: He sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead: of Whose kingdom there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who, together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified: Who spoke by the prophets. And one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the world to come. Amen.
101. Why do we genuflect?
We genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament as an exterior act of adoration acknowledging Our Lord Jesus Christ truly present in the Holy Eucharist. Traditionally, the right knee is placed upon the ground when genuflecting to the Blessed Sacrament. A left-knee genuflection has historically been used as an act of homage toward certain human dignitaries, including the Pope, but this is not the same act of divine adoration.
102. Why do we make the Sign of the Cross upon entering the church? Name two reasons.
1.) It reminds us of our Baptism, especially when made with holy water.
2.) It is a profession of faith in the Most Holy Trinity and in Christ's saving Cross.
103. What is the greatest Commandment?
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.
104. What is the movement toward the unity of Christians commonly called?
Ecumenism. Catholics must never pursue unity by watering down or compromising the Faith. True Christian unity can only be found in the one Church founded by Jesus Christ: the Catholic Church. Therefore, authentic efforts for unity must ultimately seek the conversion and incorporation of non-Catholics into the Catholic Church.
105. Who was the first person recorded in the Gospels as seeing Christ after the Resurrection?
St. Mary Magdalene. Catholic tradition has also commonly and piously held that Our Lord appeared first to His Blessed Mother, although Sacred Scripture does not record such an apparition.
106. What is the beginning of wisdom?
The fear of the Lord.
107. What is the difference between tradition and Sacred Tradition?
Lowercase "tradition" generally refers to customs, practices, or disciplines handed down by men and capable in many cases of change. Sacred Tradition, with a capital T, is the divinely revealed teaching entrusted by Christ and the Holy Ghost to the Apostles and handed down in the Church alongside Sacred Scripture.
108. What personal friend of Our Lord did Jesus raise from the dead?
Lazarus of Bethany
109. What is the Mass? How is it both a sacrifice and a sacred banquet?
The Holy Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of the New Law in which the same Jesus Christ Who offered Himself once in a bloody manner upon Calvary is offered in an unbloody manner through the ministry of the priest. The Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacrifice of the Cross are one and the same Sacrifice because the Priest and Victim are the same; only the manner of offering is different. Through the Mass, the fruits of Christ's Sacrifice on Calvary are applied to souls.
The separate consecration of the bread and wine sacramentally signifies the separation of Christ's Body and Blood in His Death. Holy Communion is also a sacred banquet in which the faithful worthily receive the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the Mass is first and essentially a sacrifice.
110. When do we traditionally genuflect on both knees in church?
A double genuflection is traditionally made before the Blessed Sacrament when It is solemnly exposed, such as in a monstrance during Eucharistic Adoration or Benediction, and before the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose.
111. Name two occasions when a profound bow is traditionally made in church.
1.) During the Confiteor, when one bows profoundly while confessing one's sins.
2.) When reverencing an altar at which the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved; the altar and altar cross are reverenced by a profound bow rather than a genuflection.
112. What is the purpose of Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday begins Lent and calls us to penance, conversion, humility, and remembrance of death. The blessed ashes remind us that we are dust and shall return to dust, while directing us to repent and prepare for the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
113. What is the seal of the Sacrament of Penance?
The sacramental seal absolutely forbids a priest from revealing a penitent's sins or using knowledge acquired in Confession in any way that would betray the penitent. A direct violation of the seal incurs the Church's gravest canonical penalties, including excommunication reserved to the Holy See.
114. Who was the first Christian martyr, and why was he killed?
St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ before the Jewish authorities and rebuked their resistance to God's grace. After testifying that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, he was cast out of the city and stoned to death.
115. In whose tomb was Christ buried?
Joseph of Arimathea
116. What words from Genesis 3:19 are traditionally said when ashes are imposed on Ash Wednesday?
"Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return."
117. Describe the principal days of Holy Week and their meaning.
A.) Palm Sunday - Commemorates Our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and begins Holy Week.
B.) Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday - Christ teaches in Jerusalem as His Passion draws near.
C.) Spy Wednesday - Traditionally recalls Judas Iscariot's agreement to betray Our Lord.
D.) Holy Thursday - Commemorates the Last Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood, and Our Lord's agony and betrayal.
E.) Good Friday - Commemorates Our Lord's Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial.
F.) Holy Saturday - Christ's Body lies in the tomb while the Church mourns and awaits the joy of the Resurrection.
118. What does the word "Gospel" mean?
"Gospel" means "good news" or "glad tidings," especially the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
119. What do the initials INRI above Christ's head stand for?
Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum - "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
120. What are the four Marks of the Church?
1.) One
2.) Holy
3.) Catholic
4.) Apostolic
121. What are the Four Last Things?
1.) Death
2.) Judgment
3.) Heaven
4.) Hell
122. What is the difference between the Visitation and the Annunciation?
A.) The Visitation was when the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin St. Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist.
B.) The Annunciation was when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that, by the power of the Holy Ghost, she would conceive and become the Mother of God.
123. What is the Transfiguration, where did it occur, and what does it mean?
The Transfiguration was the miraculous manifestation of Christ's divine glory before Sts. Peter, James, and John. Catholic tradition identifies the place as Mount Tabor, although Sacred Scripture itself does not name the mountain. The Transfiguration strengthened the Apostles' faith and prepared them for the scandal of Christ's coming Passion.
124. What did early Christians mean by the term "mysteries"?
Early Christians used the term "mysteries" for the sacred realities of the Faith, particularly the Sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist. Certain sacred teachings and rites were intentionally withheld from the uninitiated, a practice later called the disciplina arcani.
125. What is the Magisterium?
The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, exercised by the Pope and the bishops united with him in faithfully guarding, explaining, and handing on the deposit of Faith.
126. What is the last Holy Communion a person receives before death called?
Viaticum
127. In what vessel does a priest ordinarily carry Holy Communion to the sick?
A pyx
128. What is the cloth placed over a funeral coffin called?
A pall
129. Which Pope solemnly defined the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950?
Pope Pius XII solemnly defined the Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on November 1, 1950, in Munificentissimus Deus.
130. Which Roman emperor is chiefly associated with granting legal toleration to Christianity in A.D. 313?
Emperor Constantine the Great, together with Licinius, issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, granting religious toleration to Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
The Holy Father appointed Archbishop Terrence Thomas Prendergast S.J. of Halifax, Canada, as metropolitan archbishop of Ottawa (area 5,818, population 859,000, Catholics 410,635, priests 239, permanent deacons 67, religious 867), Canada. He succeeds Archbishop Marcel Andre J. Gervais, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese, the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
