Growing Up Catholic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Right hand

The Sign of the Cross is a devotional gesture where one traces a cross by touching the forehead, down to the breast and from shoulder to shoulder while saying, "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen". Some Christian churches use the left hand rather than the right, and some add touching the fingers to the centre of the chest at the end, while saying "Amen".

But that wasn't what Sister Mary Mary expected in the 1950s!

Answer: Stand

The 'word of the Lord' commands proper reverence. Fortunately, everyone gets to sit during the homily, or sermon.

Answer: 53

In total, there are 59 beads on a rosary. Most commonly, the five sets of ten beads called decades are used to focus one's thoughts on prayer. There are an extra three that may be used as an introductory step, before starting on the prayer cycle. Each decade is recited while contemplating a different mystery associated with the life of Christ. Traditionally, these came in three groups of five, called the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. Pope John Paul II later added the luminous mysteries. Most times a single set of mysteries is used, but occasionally several cycles may be prayed, going around the set of beads multiple times.

Answer: Stand

'Sanctus' is Latin for 'holy', and was usually followed by ringing bells. This prayer began the solemn part of the Mass called the Consecration, which is a re-enactment of the Last Supper. While there is some confusion about the exact movements, the official protocol dictates that one stands for the 'Sanctus', then kneels when the bells are rung.

Answer: Necklace

Traditional scapulars are worn around the neck and hang down in front and back. One of the most popular Catholic scapulars is the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The faithful who wear the scapular believe in the promise of Christ's mother Mary that, "Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire".

Answer: Christopher

In 1969, the Church reviewed all of the saints on its calendar to verify historical evidence that they existed and lived a life of holiness. While Christopher was one of the most popular saints, it was determined that he was mostly legend, and he was dropped from the universal calendar. Small, magnetized St. Christopher statues adorned millions of Catholic families' car dashboards.

Answer: 4

Advent is the four-week period before Christmas. Many Catholics use the four candles, three violet and one rose-colored, to focus their devotions and preparations for the coming of their Savior.

Some Advent wreaths include a fifth candle in the center -- a white Christ candle -- to be lit on Christmas Day.

Answer: Unbaptized babies

In Roman Catholic theology, limbo was traditionally taught as the possible immediate destination of those souls who, through no personal fault, were not admitted to heaven. Because this fate was not due to their own moral failings, they were also not damned to hell. Un-baptized babies were prime examples of candidates for limbo, supporting Catholic belief that newborns should be baptized as soon as practical.

Answer: Mass attendance

In addition to attending Mass, Catholics are supposed to refrain from servile work.

Answer: Wednesday

Ash Wednesday, which is the day after 'Mardi Gras' or 'Fat Tuesday', begins the forty-day period of Lent. The faithful spend this time in prayer and preparation for Easter Sunday. That's the only Wednesday on which Sister Mary Mary's class wasn't supposed to eat meat. (To qualify as a mortal sin, the consumption had to be an act of deliberate and knowing disobedience. If the action was unintentional or accidental, it would have been considered a venial sin.)

In 1951, "the U.S. bishops standardized regulations calling for complete abstinence from meat on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the vigils of Assumption and Christmas, and Holy Saturday morning for everyone over age seven. On the vigils of Pentecost and All Saints, meat could be taken at just one meal. Fast days, applying to everyone between 21 and 59, were the weekdays of Lent, Ember days, and the vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints, and Christmas. On these fast days only one full meal was allowed, with two other meatless meals permitted which together did not make up one full meal. Eating between meals was not permitted, with milk and fruit juice permitted. Health or ability to work exempted one." (The Catholic Encyclopedia)

In other words, we could have a hot dog for lunch any school day except Ash Wednesday or Friday, as long as that was the only meal of the day to include meat.