Holy Cross Catholic Church

A Basic Catholic Quiz

General:

1.     What is the Paschal Mystery? (suffering, death and resurrection of Christ – the mystery that death gives life)

2.     What major event happened in 70 AD? (Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, this has major impact on separation of Christianity from Judaism and is important to understand the scriptures based on their date of writing)

3.     Where are Jesus and Mary buried? (trick question, they are in heaven)

4.     Who was Saint Monica? (mother of St. Augustine)

5.     What did God call St. Francis to re-build? (the church)

Scripture

1.     What is the Pentateuch? (first 5 books of the Bible)

2.     What is the Jewish Memorial that prefigures the Mass? (Passover)

3.     Where is the “Sermon on the Mount” found? (Matthew, Chapters 5-7)

4.     What are the two major themes in Mark’s gospel? Which passage connects them? (Who is Jesus? – the promised Messiah, answered by Peter immediately after the story of the healing of the blind man, then How is Jesus the Messiah? – through his suffering and death and resurrection)

Sacraments

1.     What are the Sacraments of Initiation? (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)

2.     Who may be a godparent/padrino for Baptism? (Fully initiated Catholic, age 16 or over, living their faith)

3.     What are the Sacraments of Vocation? (Marriage, Holy Orders)

4.     What are the Sacraments of Healing?  (Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick)

Liturgy

1.     How many cycles are there for Sunday readings from Scripture? (Three, one for each of the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke)

2.     What is the “Breaking of the Bread?” (Fraction Rite at Mass when the large host is broken for distribution.  Also, the first name for the Mass.)

3.     What are the names of the two books used during Mass at the altar and the ambo? (Sacramentary [prayer book] and Lectionary [Scriptures for Masses])

4.     Which of these two will change next year? (The Sacramentary will become the Roman Missal, translated into English from the 3^rd Edition of the Roman Missal, published by Pope John Paul II)

Moral Life

1.     Is cremation allowed by the Catholic Church? (Yes, but it is encouraged that the cremation take place after the funeral Mass.)

2.     Does the church encourage a “Living Will?” (Yes, but Catholics should know clearly the church’s teachings on end of life issues.)

3.     Who is the “preferential option” for? (The poor)

4.     What is “stewardship?” (A way of life of service to God in gratitude for God’s many gifts.)

Also

1.     Do you have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at home? (Yes or No)

2.     Do you have a “bookmark” on your browser for any of the following:

a.     Archden.org; holycrossthornton.com;  Vatican.va  (other relgious) (Yes or No)

3.     What is the name of our Auxiliary Bishop? (Bishop James Conley)

Rev 09/17/10

Ten Things to Do in Preparing for Death

This list is from the homily on November 14^th.  Please prayerfully consider and share with others to come up with those last two items.  Item #8 has already been suggested by several persons following Masses this past weekend.

1.  Know you are going to heaven.  If in doubt, either change some behavior that is separating you from the love of God or let go of past sins and allow God to forgive you.

2.  Count your blessings.  Be filled with gratitude such that you wake each day with excitement for this gift of God which is before you.  Thank God with each breath of life.  Even thank God for the challenges and sufferings of life that allow us to grow and draw closer to God’s love and mercy.

3.  Reconcile with others.  It does take two to reconcile, but you always have the ability of forgive and forget.  Let the perspective of the shortness of life on earth give you understanding of what is truly important.

4.  Spend time with God.  This is what Jesus did.  Prayer is an important part of this preparation time.  Jesus also spent time with friends.

5.  Help others, not random acts of kindness, but kindness as a way of life.

6.  Laugh often.  Especially, laugh at yourself for your mistakes and failures.  You are only human and mistakes is what we probably do best.

7.  Work on a living will.  Share with others your thoughts and feelings about death and serious illness.  Gather a support community around yourself and share openly so that the loneliness of serious illness and approaching death is abrogated.

8.  Choose to love others, ALL others!

9.  ??

10.  ??