Do You Know These Basic Rules of the Catholic Church?

By: Pierre Roustan
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Do You Know These Basic Rules of the Catholic Church?
Image: Eddie Gerald/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

If you happen to be a Catholic, you might be surprised that even you don't know all the traditions and rules of the church. They're quite lengthy. Catholicism was, and has always been, about structure built by faith and for faith. It's crazy to think, though, that we might still not know how that whole house of cards got built. Who began it? What are all the rules? Do I know the rules? Am I bad person for not knowing the rules? Maybe, maybe not. But the fact is, even if you are a Catholic, you're not perfect, and that's okay.

But it's still curious to know just how much we, well, know! I mean, we had to have learned something in Catholic school. We went to all those Sundays, and we sat in class learning about Jesus, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Elijah, the Apostles and more-something had to stick. Do we know the Ten Commandments? Sure. What about the Seven Sacraments? Maybe. Let's face it: learning Catholicism is a natural next step after learning about faith. The good news is you have faith. And deep down, that's all that matters. Over time, though, you learn more and more about what it takes to be the very best Catholic you can be, and thankfully we have this quiz to guide you through all those steps. Give it a shot!

What is the first article of Catholic faith?
There's reading?
"I believe in the Catholic Church and the Pope."
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth."
"Issue number one."
How many standard prayers are there in the Catholic faith?
One
Five
Seven
Zero
What do you do in that "confession closet"?
It's a bathroom.
It's a place you can do the rosary in silence.
You confess your sins to the priest.
You hang you coat up in it.

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What are Sundays for?
Mass
Lent
Communion
Sleep
How often are you "required" to go to confession?
You have to go a minimum of once a month.
Once a year.
Every day.
Randomly.
How often can you receive Communion?
As many times as you want-which would be once a day if you so choose.
Just once a week
Only every Sunday
Only on Easter

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What is "Holy Communion"?
It's when you all get together and sing praises.
It's when you get baptized.
It's when you get circumcised.
It's when you receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
What is fasting?
Praying fast
Doing the rosary twice
Not eating
Giving Communion
What is "Ash Wednesday"?
The day when you spiritually become a Catholic Christian.
It is a holy day of prayer of penance and fasting for a day.
When this day comes, you observe the day when Christ becomes a full-grown man.
It's the day when you only drink wine as the blood of Christ.

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Can Catholic priests marry?
No
It depends
Sure!
Only once
What is tithing?
Supporting missionary work
You give 10% of your income to the church every Sunday.
Offering prayer to the homeless
You make a donation to a charity of your choice.
What is the "rosary"?
It's a necklace with a pendant on it, given to you by the church on the day of your Confirmation.
It's a type of vestment all deacons and priest wear during Ash Wednesday.
It's a cloth your child wears right after baptism.
It's a large necklace with beads on it, representing prayers you must recite to yourself in earnest.

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What is the first "Sacrament"?
Holy Orders
Reconciliation
Eucharist
Baptism
Which Sacrament is "Reconciliation"?
The second
The seventh
The fourth
The fifth
Which prayer do you recite on the large beads of the Rosary?
"Our Father"
"Hail Mary"
"Apostles' Creed"
"Glory Be"

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What is the second article of Catholicism?
"And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord."
"And in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior."
"Our Lord of Lords, Christ Jesus."
"Our one and only Jesus, our Christ and Savior."
What is the "Eucharist"?
When you get to play Euchre in church
It's when a youth leader of the Catholic church begins a group session.
When you take Communion every Mass on Sunday
When you die and go to Heaven
Which Sacrament allows you to become a priest for the Catholic Church?
Reconciliation
Baptism
Anointing of the Sick
Holy Orders

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What do you call a "female priest"?
Pastor
Reverend
Healer
Nun
Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary?
Jesus of Rome
Jesus of Bethlehem
Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus, son of Jehoshaphat
Which Sacrament is responsible for you "graduating" from Sunday school?
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage
Eucharist
Confirmation

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Do priests do anything for the sick or the terminally ill?
They pray on their own.
They encourage prayer during Mass.
They're usually invoked by the fifth Sacrament.
It's the first thing a priest does after taking on the seventh Sacrament.
Which Sacrament allows you to basically have sexual relations with the opposite gender?
None
Marriage
Holy Orders
Reconciliation
Can you recite the First Commandment?
"You will let the Hebrews go!"
"Back away, you demon."
"I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any strange gods before me."
"I am your savior, who brought you out of Egypt, and made you into a Holy Nation of priests."

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Which day is traditionally the "Sabbath Day"?
Good Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ash Wednesday
Which Commandment tells you to honor your parents?
The fourth
The sixth
The second
The ninth
Which Commandment are you breaking if you commit murder?
The eighth
The fifth
The tenth
The seventh

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What is "Good Friday"?
It's the day when Christ rose to Heaven.
It's the day immediately following Christmas Eve.
It's the day Jesus died on the cross.
It's the only day of the year that you can't eat pork.
Which Commandment forbids you from being jealous, greedy or envious of someone else's stuff?
The second
The sixth
The third
The tenth
What date is "Ash Wednesday" for 2019?
March 26th
April first
March fourth
March sixth

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No matter how you look at it, Robin Hood's violating just one Commandment. Which one?
Seventh
Sixth
Fifth
Fourth
What was the Apostle Peter's original name?
Joseph
Judas
Simon
Bob
What is a "pew"?
It's a pamphlet you're holding onto in the sanctuary.
It's where you often sit or kneel in the sanctuary among the rest of the congregation.
It's a necklace you wear during Ash Wednesday.
It's what the priest does to your baby immediately after baptism.

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What are the names of the gospel writers in the New Testament?
Matticus, Habakkuk, Isaiah and Elijah
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Matthias, Marcus, Lucas and Jonathan
Peter, Paul, David and Goliath
Who wrote the Book of Revelation in the Bible?
Noah
The Apostle Paul
The Apostle John
John the Baptist