National Society for
Volunteer Catechists
A Service of CATECHIST Magazine Log In Join
« Back to search
What's Your Catholic IQ? January 2010
by Joe Paprocki
Use this self-quiz as a fun review of what you know about your Catholic faith. Share it with your students and their families. Circle the letter next to the word or phrase that correctly completes each statement. Then check your answers with the answer key at the bottom of the quiz.

1. Medals, relics, blessings, and rosaries are examples of
a) incrementals  b) indulgences  c) sacramentals  d) monumentals

2. Gregorian chant takes its name from which pope?
a) Gregorian I  b) Gregorian II  c) Gregory I  d) Gregory XVI

3. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is celebrated on
a) January 1  b) January 15  c) February 2  d) August 15

4. The Eastern Orthodox greeting Christos anesti means
a) Christ forever!  b) Christ is Lord!  c) Christ has died!  d) Christ is risen!

5. When a bishop is assigned to assist the diocesan bishop with the pastoral needs of a diocese, this assisting bishop is referred to as an ___ bishop.
a) extraordinary  b) incardinated  c) auxiliary  d) antiquated

6. This first American-born saint died on January 4, 1821.
a) Kateri Tekakwitha  b) Elizabeth Ann Seton  c) John Neumann  d) Augustus Tolton

7. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
a) miserere nobis  b) et cum Spiritu tuo  c) sanctus, sanctus, sanctus  d) Kyrie eleison

8. Which of the following is not directly associated with the role of a bishop?
a) miter  b) crosier  c) aspergillum  d) pectoral cross

9. The book that contains the Scripture readings proclaimed at Mass is called the
a) Sacramentary  b) Lectionary  c) Ossuary  d) Roman Missal

10. The correct title for a lay person who assists the priest with the distribution of Holy Communion is
a) Auxiliary Minister of Communion  b) Eucharistic Minister  c) Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion  d) Acolyte

11. The Year of the Priest that we are currently celebrating marks the 150th anniversary of the passing into eternal life of this saintly priest.
a) John Bosco  b) John Vianney  c) John Gotti  d) John DeLaSalle

12. “Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler, Christ Jesus, Lord and ___.”
a) Redeemer  b) Almighty  c) Messiah   d) Savior

13. What feast is generally celebrated on the Sunday after January 6 in the United States?
a) Epiphany  b) Presentation  c) Annunciation  d) Baptism of the Lord

14. “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the ___ of Christ.”
a) Cross  b) promises  c) salvation  d) Paschal mystery

15. The following is not an example of a transgression against the Seventh Commandment:
a) paying unjust wages  b) business fraud  c) perjury  d) tax evasion

16. Marriage (Matrimony) and ___ are known as Sacraments at the Service of Communion.
a) Anointing of the Sick  b) Confirmation  c) Baptism  d) Holy Orders

17. This word refers to humankind’s inclination to sin:
a) consubstantiation  b) contumaciousness  c) concupiscence  d) cornucopia

18. This priest and Doctor of the Church wrote a famous work called the Summa Theologica
a) Thomas More  b) Thomas Becket  c) Thomas Aquinas  d) Thomas the Tank Engine

19. How many books in the Bible contain the name John in the book’s title?
a) 7  b) 5  c) 3  d) 6

20. Which of the following geographical locations is not mentioned in Matthew’s story of the magi?
a) Capernaum  b) Bethlehem  c) Judea  d) Jerusalem 


1. c) Sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church that prepare us to receive the fruits of the sacraments (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1677).
2. c) During his pontificate (590-604), Gregory I, also known as Gregory the Great, encouraged the simplification of music to encourage greater participation at Mass.
3. a) The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, coincides with the octave-day of Christmas as well as the beginning of the new year on January 1. 
4. d) The Eastern Orthodox greeting of Christos anesti (Christ is risen!) is responded to with Alithos anesti (Indeed, he is risen!).
5. c) Canon Law n. 403.1 states that “when the pastoral needs of a diocese suggest it, one or more auxiliary bishops are to be appointed at the request of the diocesan bishop.”
6. b) Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, canonized in 1975, founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph in 1809.
7. a) Agnus Dei is the Lamb of God in Latin. The first two verses of the Agnus Dei end with the words miserere nobis, which means “have mercy on us.” 
8. c) Bishops are associated with a miter (ceremonial hat), crosier (staff), and pectoral cross (large cross worn around the neck, suspended by a cord or chain). The aspergillum is an implement used to sprinkle holy water.
9. b) The Lectionary is arranged according to three cycles: A (Matthew), B (Mark), and C (Luke). John’s Gospel is drawn from throughout each year and heavily in cycle B. We are currently in cycle C.  
10. c) Bishops, priests, and deacons are considered the Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. If a sufficient number of Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion is not available, the priest may call upon Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to assist.
11. b) Saint John Vianney (1786-1859), also known as the Curé of Ars, emphasized the benefits of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, often hearing confessions for hours on end.
12. a) These words form the refrain of the song “To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King,” a song of praise based on a traditional Latin chant.
13. d) The Baptism of the Lord is traditionally seen as one part of a three-part “epiphany” of Jesus: the coming of the magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana.
14. b) This line is from the Hail, Holy Queen (Salve Regina) prayer and is also recited as part of the Angelus, a prayer traditionally prayed three times a day (6:00 a.m., noon, 6:00 p.m.), that recalls the Annunciation.
15. c) Perjury, or lying under oath, is a transgression against the Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 
16. d) Marriage and Holy Orders are known as the Sacraments at the Service of Communion because they serve to build up the Body of Christ.  
17. c) Concupiscence, referring to our tendency to sin, comes from the Latin word concupiscere, which means “to desire ardently.”
18. c) The Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas on January 28.
19. b) The name John is included in the titles of five books of the Bible: the Gospel of John, the three Letters of John (1 John, 2 John, and 3 John) and the Revelation to John.
20. a) The story of the magi (Matthew 2:1-12) does not mention Capernaum, which served as Jesus’ home base during his Galilean ministry.

Joe Paprocki, D.Min., is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of many books including A Well-Built Faith, The Catechist’s Toolbox, The Bible Blueprint, Living the Mass (Loyola Press) and Bringing Catechesis and Liturgy Together (Twenty-Third Publications). Joe writes from Evergreen Park, Illinois, where he lives with his wife and serves as an eighth-grade catechist (which he blogs about at 
