The 2022 Catholic summer trivia quiz

3 mins read
trivia quiz

How well do you know your Scripture? What about symbols and the sacraments? In Our Sunday Visitor’s latest Catholic trivia quiz, test your knowledge on these topics, as well as theology, Black Catholic heroes and the popes. Take the quiz by yourself, or compete against friends or family to see who knows these Catholic facts better.

No matter how you score, remember: There is always more to learn about the Catholic faith.

Good luck, and happy trivia!

Michael R. Heinlein is editor of OSV’s Simply Catholic. He writes from Indiana.


Old Testament

Quiz1. In the Catholic Bible, the Old Testament is composed of this many books:
A. 37
B. 46
C. 58
D. 73

2. The Pentateuch is composed of this many books:
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

3. He is not one of Noah’s sons:
A. Ham
B. Shem
C. Melchizedek
D. Japeth

4. Which of these Old Testament books is not in Protestant Bibles:
A. Tobit
B. Judith
C. Both
D. Neither

5. Which major prophet wrote these words: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.”
A. Jeremiah
B. Isaiah
C. Daniel
D. Ezekiel


St. Paul

1. Paul’s conversion happened on the road to this city:
A. Jerusalem
B. Rome
C. Damascus
D. Ephesus

2. He was not one of Paul’s apostolic companions:
A. Barnabas
B. Silas
C. Timothy
D. Philip

3. To which of these communities did St. Paul write more than one epistle:
A. Romans
B. Corinthians
C. Ephesians
D. Colossians

4. To which of these persons did Paul not write an epistle:
A. Timothy
B. Barnabas
C. Titus
D. Philemon

5. Before his conversion, Paul was involved with the death of this first martyr:
A. Peter
B. Andrew
C. Matthias
D. Stephen


Theology

1. This saint is considered a patron for theologians:
A. St. Francis of Assisi
B. St. Ignatius of Loyola
C. St. Thomas Aquinas
D. St. Catherine of Siena

2. Ecclesiology is a field of theological study which focuses on:
A. Saints
B. Sacraments
C. Scripture
D. The Church

3. This field of theological study takes the Holy Spirit as its subject:
A. Paterology
B. Pneumatology
C. Soteriology
D. Eschatology

4. This theological discipline involves defending what the Church believes:
A. Catechesis
B. Ethics
C. Apologetics
D. Philosophy

5. He is regarded as the first systematic theologian:
A. St. Augustine
B. St. Clement
C. St. Irenaeus
D. St. Ambrose


Black Catholic heroes

1. Father Augustus Tolton spent the majority of his life in this state:
A. Illinois
B. Missouri
C. Ohio
D. Kentucky

2. Mother Mary Lange founded the first women’s religious congregation for Black women in this city:
A. New York
B. Charleston
C. Chicago
D. Baltimore

3. Pierre Toussaint earned a sizable salary from this profession, which he shared mostly with the poor:
A. Hairdresser
B. Nurse
C. Teacher
D. Tailor

4. This candidate for canonization founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans:
A. Julia Greeley
B. Mary Lange
C. Henriette Delille
D. Thea Bowman

5. Julia Greeley of Denver was committed to spreading this devotion:
A. Sacred Heart of Jesus
B. The Holy Rosary
C. The Brown Scapular
D. Divine Mercy


Gospels

reading1. Which are the synoptic Gospels (choose three):
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John

2. His Gospel alone records the miracle at the wedding in Cana:
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John

3. His is regarded as the earliest Gospel:
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John

4. His Gospel records the words of Mary’s Magnificat:
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John

5. His Gospel speaks of St. Joseph’s dreams:
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John


Sacred symbols

1. The “INRI” on a crucifix relates mostly to this New Testament figure:
A. Mary Magdalene
B. Joseph of Arimathea
C. Pontius Pilate
D. Barabbas

2. The lily is often used in depictions of this saint:
A. St. John the Baptist
B. St. Martha
C. St. Joseph
D. St. John the Apostle

3. The pelican is used as a symbol of this sacrament:
A. Baptism
B. Confirmation
C. Marriage
D. Eucharist

4. An eagle is the symbol associated with this evangelist:
A. Matthew
B. Mark
C. Luke
D. John

5. An anchor is often used to depict this virtue:
A. Faith
B. Hope
C. Fortitude
D. Prudence


Sacraments

1. Even a non-baptized person may celebrate this sacrament, in an emergency:
A. Anointing of the Sick
B. Baptism
C. Penance
D. Ordination

2. Deacons may preside over which of these sacraments:
A. Marriage
B. Eucharist
C. Ordination
D. Anointing of the Sick

3. For Eastern Rite Catholics, who ordinarily confers Confirmation:
A. Bishops
B. Priests
C. Deacons
D. Any of the above

4. Catholics are obliged to receive holy Communion at least once a year, during this liturgical season:
A. Advent
B. Christmas
C. Lent
D. Easter

5. One must be at least this old to be a Confirmation sponsor:
A. 12
B. 16
C. 18
D. 21


Pope-pourri

1. He is considered to be the second pope:
A. St. Peter
B. St. Linus
C. St. Cletus
D. St. Clement

2. He called the Council of Trent:
A. Clement VII
B. Paul III
C. Pius V
D. John XXIII

3. He was the first pope to fly on an airplane while in office:
A. Pius XI
B. Pius XII
C. John XXIII
D. Paul VI

4. This sitting president once gave Pope Paul VI a bust of himself as a gift:
A. John F. Kennedy
B. Lyndon B. Johnson
C. Richard M. Nixon
D. Gerald R. Ford

5. To be elected pope, one must be, at a minimum:
A. A male
B. A priest
C. A bishop
D. A cardinal


Answer keyClick image to enlarge

Michael R. Heinlein

Michael R. Heinlein is editor of OSV's Simply Catholic and author of "Glorifying Christ: The Life of Cardinal Francis E. George, O.M.I."