Good and Evil and Sin From My Childhood Faith Quiz

Answer: Catechism

Catechism at the level of five year olds was a summary of the Roman Catholic Faith's teachings and beliefs put in the simplest terms. As we grew older, the texts grew progressively more sophisticated, but for five year old children, those lessons incorporated a form of rote learning, backed up by suitable short stories and lessons told to us by the gentle little nuns. These Catechism lessons, after a suitable prayer, went something like this:

Sister: "Who made the world?"
Children in unison and usually on top note: "God made the world!"
Sister: "Who made the fish and the birds and the animals?"
Children: "God made the fish and the birds and the animals!"

(And so on)

Answer: Holy Orders

The Catholic faith taught that we were given seven sacraments by Jesus - ones we should honour if different events were our lot in life as we grew older. These were clarified by the church's ecumenical councils throughout the centuries that flew by. They all come with various rituals that act as a visible reminder of God's presence among us. Discussed further on in full in this quiz, these are:

1. Baptism: Carried out shortly after birth.
2. Confirmation: Becoming a fully aware member of the church's congregation and all that entails. This is conferred on a child when he or she reaches the age of reason around the age of seven.
3. Holy Communion: Taking the symbolic representation of the body and blood of Jesus in the form of a small round piece of flattened bread.
4. Confession (now called Penance and Reconciliation): Making one's First Confession was another major step along the road of life for Catholics. This occurred when one confessed his or her sins in the privacy of the confessional box to a weary but understanding priest, after which a suitable penance was handed out - usually some form of prayer for children.
5. Extreme Unction: Now called the Anointing of the Sick, or the Last Rites, this involves a priest given blessing in the name of the Lord for those who are very close to death, OR give one the strength to recover. It is believed that ritual, if death occurs, carries a faithful Catholic safely into the arms of Christ and eternal life. For those who are aware, it can be extremely reassuring and comforting. Sometimes it can cure as well.
6. Holy Orders: Conferred upon a man, who, after intense study in the seminary, is about to take the final step to become a priest. It now includes a bishop, presbyter or deacon as well.
7. Holy Matrimony: This is the blessed ritual by which a young couple are married in the sight of God, in order to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving marriage blessed with children. Perhaps it's the happiest sacrament of all. "Whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder".

Answer: Washing away original sin

Baptism is carried out within a week or so after birth for a healthy Catholic infant. This holy ceremony is also carried out for older converts to the faith. Catholics look upon this ceremony as one of admission into the church and the family of God. Many churches use full immersion under water for their ceremonies of Baptism, but for a Catholic child, the holy oils placed on its head and the ritual of the pouring of water on same, represent that immersion. Because Catholics believed that Baptism was necessary for salvation, and that it washed away original sin, inherited from Adam and Eve, it was considered important to have the infant baptised quite soon after birth, so that the child, should it unexpectedly pass away, would die in Christ.

Answer: Strengthening of the Holy Spirit

Confirmation in the Catholic faith is considered to be the second sacrament of initiation into the church and the family of God. It is believed that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are strengthened by this ritual. This was a very big thing for a young Catholic, and, temporarily at least, all mischief was put aside for the great and solemn occasion on that day. Today Confirmation is given to children who have reached the Age of Reason - about seven years old.

When I was a child, however, this Sacrament was given when a couple of years older than that. Churches were packed for all these significant milestones.

Answer: Holy Communion

During Holy Communion today in the Catholic faith, members of the congregation are each given the Host (a small round piece of bread that they believe is transformed into the body of Christ as part of the ceremony - usually referred to as the Eucharist) and a sip of wine (consumed as the blood of Christ).

This re-enacts that part of the Last Supper in which Jesus handed around bread and said to his apostles, "Take ye: this is my body". Following this he handed around the cup from which they all drank, during which He said "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many".

This is found recorded in Mark, Chapter 14 in the King James Bible. When I was a child, only the priest, on our behalf, re-enacted sipping from the cup of wine which represented the blood of Jesus.

The congregation received the Host only.

Answer: Confession

Making one's First Confession was another major step along the road of life for Catholics. This occurred when one confessed his or her sins in the privacy of the confessional box to a weary but understanding priest, after which the Act of Contrition was recited, the priest forgave one on behalf of Jesus, and a suitable penance was handed out.

This was usually some form of prayer for children, and perhaps something more serious for adults. It was customary to go to Confession on the available day closest to Sunday, so that one entered the church on the Sabbath as free from sin as possible. Confession could be a very cathartic experience.

It is considered the first of the two Sacraments of healing, and today is more commonly known as Reconciliation.

Answer: Dying or very ill

Now called the Anointing of the Sick or the Last Rites, Extreme Unction is the second Sacrament of healing. Those who are dying or very ill are anointed with special oils that have been blessed for this particular purpose. It also grants absolution of any sins the dying person may have committed during his or her life.

This of course is dependent on whether the dying person has expressed sorrow and regret for those sins. If communion is given at this time as well, it is known as Viaticum. That is Latin for "provisons for a journey". For those who are aware, it can be extremely reassuring and comforting. Sometimes it can cure as well. I had Extreme Unction given to me as a child, but don't remember too much about it except I felt vaguely uneasy, and just wanted to close my eyes and sleep.

Answer: Sounding board

This sounding board, which is usually beautifully decorated - especially in the older churches - was built for the purpose of helping project the speaker's voice out over the congregation at a time when microphones hadn't been invented. It's quite impressive what a difference it can make. Always raised higher than the floor in the main part of the church, to increase audibility and visibility for the congregation, the pulpit is the spot where the priest delivers his weekly sermons to his flock, warning them of the dangers of sin and evil at times, or, at other times, delivering his more positive messages of the love and sacrifice of Christ.

Answer: Holy Matrimony

Always a lovely ceremony, the marriage ceremony in the Catholic faith is not just about getting hitched. Christ is very much incorporated into the service, with reminders that the couple's duty as faithful Catholics is the help and support of one another, to help build up their church, to honour the Lord in all they do, and, if blessed with children, to bring those children up, by love and example, into following the teachings and beliefs of the Church.

Answer: The Rosary

The design of a Catholic's rosary beads represented the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus, and with the addition, of a small attached cross, his crucifixion. The beads are set out so that several sets of ten Hail Marys are recited each time, as one works through the Rosary. Each decade (a set) begins with the Lord's Prayer, then the Hail Marys, and then conclude with the Glory Be. The Rosary concludes with two other prayers, with the last of these usually said alone by the head of the family (usually the father). As much of the history of the life of Jesus and the wonder of God is incorporated into the recitation of the Rosary as possible. It begins with either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed, with a primary focus on God and Jesus. The entire Rosary is a visible and verbal reminder of the faith. The Nicene Creed is included below, as a conclusion to this quiz.

"We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Father, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten but not made, one in being with the Father,
Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will know no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and we look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.