116: Holy Week Quiz
A free quiz for Catholics about Holy Week, including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
What is the significance of Palm Sunday?
a) It is the day when Jesus rose from the dead
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b) It is the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem
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c) It is the day when Jesus was baptized
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d) It is the day when Jesus performed his first miracle
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Question explanation
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with people waving palm branches and laying them on the ground for him to ride over.
What is the Tenebrae service?
a) A service of great antiquity associated with the Adoration of the Cross
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b) A service that includes reading three sets of lessons followed by bidding prayers
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c) A service that involves the gradual extinguishing of candles in a triangular candlestick
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d) A service that commemorates the institution of the Blessed Sacrament
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Question explanation
The Tenebrae service is a liturgical celebration that takes place on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during Holy Week. The service involves the gradual extinguishing of candles in a triangular candlestick, symbolizing the darkness and sadness of Jesus' death.
What is the significance of Maundy Thursday?
a) It commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the stripping and washing of the altars
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b) It is a day of general Communion
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c) It is a liturgical celebration that involves the gradual extinguishing of candles
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d) It is a day when the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and a second Host is consecrated
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Question explanation
Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Blessed Sacrament, with a second Host being consecrated at Mass and consumed in the service of the Presanctified the next day. The day is also marked by the Washing of the Feet and the stripping and washing of the altars.
What is the meaning of the term "Pedilavium"?
A. Washing of the feet
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B. Washing of the head
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C. Washing of the hands
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Question explanation
Pedilavium means washing of the feet, and it was a ceremony that occurred in many churches on Holy Thursday.
What is the significance of Good Friday?
a) It is a day of general Communion
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b) It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
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c) It is a liturgical celebration that involves the gradual extinguishing of candles
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d) It is the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
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Question explanation
Good Friday is a day of solemn liturgical commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The service includes the reading of three sets of lessons followed by "bidding prayers", the Adoration of the Cross, and the Mass of the Presanctified, which is not a real sacrifice but only a Communion service. Good Friday was originally a day of general Communion in the early Middle Ages, but now only those in danger of death may receive it on that day.
What is the origin of the term "Good" in Good Friday?
A) It comes from the Latin word for preparation
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B) It is derived from the German phrase "Gute Freitag"
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C) It is from "God's Friday"
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D) The origin of the term is uncertain
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Question explanation
The article states that the origin of the term "Good" in Good Friday is unclear. While some suggest it comes from "God's Friday" or the German phrase "Gute Freitag," there is no clear evidence to support these theories. The term has been used for centuries to refer to the Friday on which the Church commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.
What is unique about the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday?
A) A Mass in which the Eucharist is consecrated
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B) A Mass in which the priest consumes the remaining consecrated host from the previous day's Mass
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C) A Mass in which the congregation receives the Eucharist from hosts that were consecrated on Holy Thursday
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D) A Mass in which the congregation participates in the veneration of the Cross
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Question explanation
The Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday is a unique liturgical celebration in which the Eucharist is not consecrated. Instead, the priest consumes the remaining consecrated host from the previous day's Mass. This is because, in the Catholic tradition, the Eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday, which is a day of fasting and abstinence. The Mass of the Presanctified is a solemn liturgy that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
What is the significance of the adoration of the Cross on Good Friday?
A) It is an act of absolute supreme worship (latreia) due to the Cross.
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B) It is an act of reverence (proskynesis) which has a relative character and is due to Jesus Christ who redeemed us.
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C) It is an act of worship to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
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D) It is a symbolic act of mourning and sadness for Jesus' death.
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Question explanation
The adoration of the Cross on Good Friday is not intended as an expression of absolute supreme worship (latreia), which is due to God alone. Rather, the essential note of the adoration is reverence (proskynesis) which has a relative character. The adoration is a way of venerating the Cross, which is the instrument of our redemption, and of honoring Jesus Christ who redeemed us through his death on the Cross.