White Stone Journal

Catholic Doctrine Survey

 

From the NCD^†, Chapter V

^{† National Catechetical Directory, “Sharing the Light of Faith”, from the United States Catholic Conference}

^{Copyright 1998 William E. Rushman http://www.primenet.com/~rshmnw This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it}

 

This is not a test, but a survey of your knowledge of basic Catholic teachings.  There is no score and it is not corrected.  If you are unsure of the answer, please put something, and then share your questions with your teacher, sponsor, spiritual director, or pastor.  Another suggestion is to look in the new “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

 

Part I

Choose the answer you think is most correct, although more than one of the answers may be correct.

1.   The Trinity is

      A)  A mystery.

      B)  Three persons in one God.

      C)  Our three Gods.

      D)  Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

 

2.   God is

      A)  all-good.

      B)  just and merciful.

      C)  infinitely wise.

      D)  perfect.            

      E)   All of the above.

 

3.   The universe was

      A)  always here.

      B)  made from cosmic dust.

      C)  created by God out of nothing.

      D)  created and destroyed over and over again.

 

4.   Why were we made?

      A)  So God would have worshipers.

      B)  So we could be glorified in Jesus Christ.

      C)  To know, love and serve God.

      D)  God was lonely.

 

5.   Generally, we come to know God through

      A)  human reasoning.

      B)  visions and ecstatic prayer.

      C)  through created things and people.

      D)  A & C.

 

6.   Our final goal must be

      A)  Heaven and the vision of God.

      B)  Faith in God.

      C)  Union with God.

      D)  To be rewarded for our good acts.

      E)   Other.

 

7.   Jesus became human

      A)  through Mary.

      B)  in appearance only.

      C)  just like everyone else.

      D)  once, but isn’t now.

 

8.   Jesus is

      A)  dead.

      B)  a great moral teacher.

      C)  the only means of salvation.

      D)  a man like us in all things.

 

9.   Jesus came to

      A)  judge us.

      B)  teach us.

      C)  save us.

      D)  save the good people only.

 

10. Jesus will

      A)  come again to judge us.

      B)  wait for us in Heaven.

      C)  punish our enemies.

      D)  come again to take us to Heaven.

 

11. Jesus is

      A)  both fully human and fully God.

      B)  a man who became God.

      C)  God, not a man at all.

      D)  only human, not God.

 

12. We

      A)  can’t be like Jesus.

      B)  are supposed to be “little Christs.”

      C)  must learn the words of Jesus.

      D)  are to live as Jesus lived.

 

13. The Holy Spirit

      A)  continues the work of Jesus in the world.

      B)  keeps us from getting sick.

      C)  saves us.

      D)  comes to us in Confirmation.

 

14. The Church is

      A)  us.

      B)  perfect.

      C)  a priestly people.

      D)  a holy building.

 

15. The Pope

      A)  cannot be wrong.

      B)  cannot be wrong when he defines a doctrine of faith or morals.

      C)  must only be obeyed when speaking ex cathedra.

      D)  is the reincarnation of Peter.

 

16. Catholics must obey

      A)  the teachings they believe in.

      B)  all teachings of the bishops in faith and morals.

      C)  any order of a Catholic priest.

      D)  the Church, as long as it isn’t too hard.

 

17. It is better

      A)  to be a priest than married.

      B)  to be a bishop than a priest.

      C)  to be single than married.

      D)  to be married than single.

      E)   none of the above.

 

18. The Catholic Church

      A)  is the only truly Christian Church.

      B)  is a Christian denomination.

      C)  can be enlightened by insights of other Christian churches.

      D)  None of the above.

 

19. The Sacraments are

      A)  signs instituted by Jesus.

      B)  our way to Heaven.

      C)  only used by good people.

 

20. Original sin

      A)  comes from Adam and Eve.

      B)  describes our fallen condition.

      C)  is the first sin we commit.

      D)  is removed at First Communion.

 

21. Mortal (grave) sin

      A)  means committed by humans.

      B)  cannot be forgiven.

      C)  radically disrupts our relationship with the Father.

      D)  is acceptable in some cases.

 

22. Venial sins

      A)  don’t count as “real” sins.

      B)  do not require going to Confession.

      C)  radically disrupt our relationship with the Father.

      D)  are acceptable in some cases.

 

23. Missing Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass

      A)  is acceptable during vacation.

      B)  is made up by going during the week.

      C)  is a grave sin, unless sick or otherwise unable to attend.

      D)  is acceptable for many reasons.

 

24. Sex outside of marriage is

      A)  always a grave sin.

      B)  acceptable if the couple is engaged or otherwise commited to marriage.

      C)  acceptible for men but not for women.

      D)  always a venial (lesser) sin.

 

25. Abortion is

      A)  always a grave sin.

      B)  acceptable in cases of rape and incest.

      C)  permitted to save the mental health of the woman.

      D)  acceptable if not illegal.

 

26. The most serious sin is

      A)  adultery.

      B)  theft.

      C)  hatred.

      D)  pride.

      E)   none of the above.

 

27. Holy days of obligation

      A)  are good days to go to Mass.

      B)  are to be treated like the Sunday Mass obligation.

      C)  are not required.

 

28. Days of fasting and abstinence (no meat)

      A)  must be observed.

      B)  always require Mass participation.

      C)  are optional.

      D)  must be observed unless you are really hungry.

 

29. Mary

      A)  is equal to Jesus.

      B)  is the Holy Spirit.

      C)  is one of the persons of the Trinity.

      D)  is second only to Jesus in the Church.

 

30. The Immaculate Conception

      A)  means Mary gave birth to Jesus without “knowing man.”

      B)  refers to Jesus being born without original sin.

      C)  means Mary was preserved from original sin from her conception.

      D)  is an optional belief.

 

31. When Jesus comes again,

      A)  he will judge each person according to their life in the body.

      B)  everyone will go to Heaven.

      C)  he will be crucified again.

      D)  Hell will be destroyed.

 

 

32. Holy Communion is

      A)  a symbol of Jesus’ body.

      B)  literally the Body and Blood of Jesus.

      C)  like the Body and Blood of Jesus.

      D)  optional.