August 2020 Monthly Formation Quiz

Test your knowledge and learn more about the Catholic Faith...

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Peter Paul Rubens / Public domain

Are the sacraments valid if performed by a priest who is found guilty of mortal sin in a pastoral context, such as sexual abuse of a parishioners?

St. Augustine arguing with donatists. — https://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.com/2008/04/hasten-complete-conversion-of-our.html

"[T]he sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: 'by the very fact of the action's being performed'), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that 'the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God.' From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister. Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them" (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1128).

Donatism is defined by the Catholic Dictionary as "Originally a schism and then a heresy of the fourth and fifth centuries, claiming that the validity of the sacraments depends on the moral character of the minister; also that sinners cannot be members of the Church, nor can they be tolerated by the true Church if their sins are publicly known... The claims of the [Donatists] were condemned by Pope Miltiades (310-14), and by the Council of Arles (314)" (CatholicCulture.org).

Yes

In addition to being worldwide patron of parish priests, this saint's work as a confessor was his most remarkable accomplishment. He spent 11 to 16 hours daily reconciling people with God.

by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace

"His work as a confessor is [Saint] John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months this time was increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have endured this giving of self day after day" (FranciscanMedia.org/).

St. Alphonsus Liguori - Memorial on August 1st

St. John Vianney - Memorial on August 4th

St. Maximilian Kolbe - Memorial on August 14th

St. Bernard - Memorial on August 20th

On August 15th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Which of the following statements is the best answer?

"August 15 is the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. In the United States, it is a holy day of obligation (in years when it does not fall on a Monday)... The Assumption of Mary is the teaching that: The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory [Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus 44]... This teaching was infallibly defined by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950... This means that it is a dogma in the proper sense. It is thus a matter of faith that has been divinely revealed by God and that has been infallibly proposed by the Magisterium of the Church as such" (NCRegister.com)

Is a holy day of obligation

Commemorates the end of Mary's earthly life when she was taken up body and soul into Heaven

Has its roots in the earliest centuries of Christian belief and resonates from Sacred Scripture, although it cannot be found explicitly in the Bible

Taught infallibly as a dogma of the Church

All of the Above

None of the Above

What is an encyclical?

Encyclical of the Catholic Church — OSSERVATORE ROMANO | AFP

"Encyclicals are papal letters of a pastoral nature, used in their current form since 1740. These letters offer counsel and shed light on existing doctrine as part of the Holy Father's ordinary teaching authority. They do not belong formally to the deposit of revelation, and their teachings are not definitive unless specifically stated as such. Therefore, certain points of their teachings can often be changed" (Athenaeum of Ohio Library Resources)

Photo and more info: Aleteia.org, What Is an Encyclical in the Catholic Church/

A. A pastoral letter written by a bishop, cardinal, or a pope

B. Is sent to the whole world on political matters

C. Expresses a definitive teaching, or dogma, of the Church

D. Answers B and C

E. None of the Above

Name this Book of the Bible: Which Gospel is the shortest and was probably the first written account of the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The Gospel according to Mark is the "shortest of all New Testament gospels is likely the first to have been written, yet it often tells of Jesus’ ministry in more detail than either Matthew or Luke... Mark stresses Jesus’ message about the kingdom of God now breaking into human life as good news (Mk 1:14–15) and Jesus himself as the gospel of God (Mk 1:1; 8:35; 10:29). Jesus is the Son whom God has sent to rescue humanity by serving and by sacrificing his life (Mk 10:45)" (usccb.org/bible/mark/0).

The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Luke

The Gospel of John

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Thank you for taking our Faith Formation Quiz. We hope you learned something new to help you to grow in your faith and love of Our Lord and the Holy Catholic Church!

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Well done! We hope you apply your knowledge so that you are "ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope" (1 Peter 3:15)