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QUIZ ON THE
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC)
1. What does Pope Pius XI say about Catechism?
Pope Pius XI says, “Blessed be the Catechism! It is the King of Books!”
2. What does Pope Pius XII say about Catechism?
Pope Pius XII says, “It is the book of wisdom, the art of living well, the peace of the
soul, security in one’s trial. It teaches us how to please God.”
3. What is the meaning of catechism?
Catechism is a book containing the basic principles and experiences of Christianity. It
also means oral instruction that helps one to remember the rules and beliefs of one’s
religion.
4. Who is a catechist?
A catechist is one who does the work of catechesis.
5. What is catechesis?
Catechesis is the ministry of teaching faith in the Catholic Church.
6. What is the common abbreviation (short form) used for the Catechism of the Catholic
Church?
The common short form used for the Catechism of the Catholic Church is CCC.
7. What is the purpose of the CCC?
The purpose of the CCC is to present a clear synthesis of the essential and
fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards faith and morals, in the light of
the Second Vatican Council and the Church’s Tradition.
8. To whom is the CCC addressed primarily?
The CCC is addressed primarily to 1) the Bishops; 2) those who have the
responsibility of preparing catechism texts in different countries; 3) priests and 4)
catechists.
9. Which was the Catechism most widely used in the Church before the CCC?
The Catechism most widely used in the Church before the CCC was the Catechism of
the Council of Trent.
10. What are the other names of the Catechism of the Council of Trent?
The other names of the Catechism of the Council of Trent are the Roman Catechism;
the Catechism of Pius V, and the Catechism for the Parish Priests.
11. In which year was the Catechism of the Council of Trent prepared?
It was prepared in 1566 immediately after the Council of Trent.
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12. Which are the main parts of the Catechism of the Council of Trent?
The main parts of the Catechism of the Council of Trent are i) the Creed; ii) the
Sacraments; iii) the Commandments; iv) Prayer.
13. Mention the names of some popular catechisms that were used in the Church other than
the Catechism of the Council of Trent.
Some of the popular catechisms used in the Church were 1) Catechism of Peter
Canisius; 2) Catechism of Bellarmine; 3) Catechism of Pius X; 4) Catechism of
Cardinal Gasparri known also as the Catholic Catechism.
14. Who headed the Twelve-Member Commission appointed by Pope John Paul II to prepare
the CCC?
The twelve-member commission appointed by Pope John Paul II to prepare the CCC
was headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
15. Who was the member from India in the Commission set up to prepare the CCC?
Archbishop Henry D’Souza of Kolkata.
16. When did the Commission set up to prepare the CCC begin its work?
The commission set up to prepare the CCC began its work on 15 November 1986.
17. When was the drafting committee of the CCC appointed and who were its members?
The drafting committee of the CCC was appointed in 1987. It was made up of one
secretary, seven bishops and forty experts.
18. Which draft of the Catechism was sent out to the Bishops’ Conferences for their
observations and what was its name?
The fourth draft was sent out to the Bishops’ Conferences for their observations. Its
name was the Catechism for the Universal Church.
19. How many suggestions were received from around the world to improve the draft text?
About twenty-four thousand suggestions were received from around the world to
improve the draft text.
20. How many official drafts were prepared before the final text of the CCC?
Nine drafts were prepared before the final text of the CCC.
21. When was the CCC approved and which Pope approved it?
The CCC was approved on 25 June 1992 by Pope John Paul II.
22. When was the CCC promulgated by Pope John Paul II by an Apostolic Constitution?
The CCC was promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 11 October 1992.
23. How long did the preparation of the CCC take?
The preparation of the CCC took six years.
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24. What is the structure of the CCC?
The CCC is divided into four parts with each part having two sections.
25. Which are the four main parts of the CCC?
The four main parts of the CCC are 1) the Profession of Faith (Creed) 2) the
Celebration of the Christian Mystery (Sacraments); 3) Life in Christ (Morality) and 4)
Christian Prayer (Prayer).
26. Which are the principal sources of the CCC?
The principal sources of the CCC are the Sacred Scriptures, the Fathers of the
Church, the liturgy, and the Teaching Body of the Church, namely the Pope and the
bishops (Magisterium).
27. How many articles are there in the CCC?
There are 2865 articles in the CCC.
28. What does the first part of CCC deal with?
The first part of the CCC deals with revelation, faith and the Apostles’ Creed.
29. What does the second part of the CCC deal with?
The second part of the CCC deals with liturgy in general and the seven sacraments.
30. What does the third part of the CCC deal with?
The third part of the CCC deals with the final goal of human beings and the way to
reach it through God’s grace and God’s law especially the ten commandments.
31. What does the fourth part of the CCC deal with?
The fourth part of the CCC deals with the meaning and importance of prayer and an
explanation of the prayer ‘Our Father’ taught by Jesus.
32. What does revelation mean?
Revelation means that God opens himself, shows himself, and speaks to the world
voluntarily.
33. What is faith?
Faith is the power by which we assent to God, acknowledge his truth, and commit
ourselves personally to him.
34. How has God revealed himself fully?
God has revealed himself fully through Jesus Christ. Jesus has revealed all what we
need to know about God and all that is needed for our salvation. There is no more
public revelation after Jesus.
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35. What is meant by apostolic succession?
By apostolic succession is meant the unbroken series of bishops since the apostles.
As Jesus conferred his authority on his apostles, so it is passed on since then from
bishop to bishop through the imposition of hands and prayer.
36. What is inspiration?
Inspiration is God’s influence on the human writers of the Bible, so that God himself
should be regarded as the author of the Bible.
37. How many books are there in the Catholic Bible?
There are 73 books in the Catholic Bible, 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New
Testament.
38. Why do the four Gospels occupy a central place in the life of a Christian?
The Gospels occupy a central place in the life of a Christian because Christ Jesus is
the centre of the Gospels.
39. What is ecumenism?
Ecumenism refers to the efforts to bring about unity among Christians who are
divided.
40. What is a creed?
The word creed comes from the Latin word ‘credo’, which means ‘I believe.’ Creed
is the name given to the various formulas of the Church’s profession of faith.
41. Which are the creeds which occupy a special place in the life of the Church?
The creeds which occupy a special place in the life of the Church are the Apostles’
Creed and the Nicene Creed.
42. Why is one creed called the Apostles’ Creed?
One creed is called the Apostles' Creed because it has come down to us from
apostolic times, and contains a summary of the principal truths taught by the
Apostles.
43. What is the Nicene Creed?
The Nicene Creed is the Creed originally formulated at the Council of Nicaea in
A.D. 325. It was apparently lost and was reformulated at the Council of
Constantinople in A.D. 381.
44. How many articles are there in the Apostles’ Creed?
There are twelve articles in the Apostles’ Creed.
45. Which is the first article of the Apostles’ Creed?
The first article of the Apostles’ Creed is “I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth.”
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46. Which is the last article of the Apostles’ Creed?
The last article of the Apostles’ Creed is “And life everlasting. Amen.”
47. What does it mean to say that human beings are created in the image and likeness of
God?
God has the capacity to know and love. Human beings are created in the image and
likeness of God means that they are created with the capacity to know and love.
48. What is the meaning of liturgy?
The word ‘liturgy’ originally meant a ‘public work’ or a service in the name of or on
behalf of people.’ In Christian tradition it means the participation of the people ‘in
the work of God.’
49. Which are some of the liturgical celebrations?
The main liturgical celebration is the Holy Eucharist. Some other celebrations are the
celebration of the sacraments, the Liturgy of the Hours, devotions, blessings, and
processions.
50. What happens to us when we celebrate the liturgy?
When we celebrate the liturgy, we are drawn into the love of God, healed, and
transformed.
51. What do you understand by sacraments?
The sacraments are visible signs of invisible grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted
to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.
52. How many sacraments are there?
There are seven sacraments.
53. Which are the seven sacraments?
The seven sacraments are baptism, confirmation, Holy Eucharist, penance, anointing
of the sick, holy orders and matrimony.
54. Which are the sacraments of initiation?
The sacraments of initiation are baptism, confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
55. How is Christian initiation accomplished?
Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is
the beginning of new life; confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist
which nourishes the disciples with Christ’s Body and Blood for their transformation
in Christ.
56. What happens in Baptism?
In baptism we become members of the Body of Christ, sisters and brothers of our
Redeemer, and children of God. We are freed from sin, snatched from death, and
destined from then on for a life in the joy of the redeemed.
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57. What does Vatican II say about the Eucharist?
Vatican II says that the Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of Christian life.”
58. Which are the sacraments of healing?
The sacraments of healing are the sacrament of penance and the sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick.
59. What do those who receive the sacrament of Penance obtain?
Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for
the offences committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the
Church which they have wounded.
60. For whom is the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick intended?
The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick can be received by any Catholic whose
health is in a critical state.
61. Which are the sacraments at the service of communion and mission?
The sacraments that help to serve and build up the people of God are Holy Orders and
Matrimony.
62. Which are the main ministries of a priest?
The priest proclaims the Word of God, administers the sacraments, and, above all,
celebrates the Holy Eucharist.
63. What is the plan of God regarding man and woman
God who is love has created man and woman for love. Through marriage they are to
remain faithful in love, be fruitful, and thus become a sign of God himself, who is
nothing but overflowing love.
64. What reasons do Christians give for human dignity?
Every person, from the first moment of his or her life in the womb, has an
unbreakable dignity, because from all eternity God willed, loved, created, and
redeemed that person and destined that person for eternal happiness.
65. What is the means presented by the Sacred Scriptures for attaining happiness?
We become happy by trusting and living according to Jesus’ words in the beatitudes
given in Mt 5:3-12.
66. What is freedom and what is it for?
Freedom is the God-given power to be able to act of one’s own accord; a person who
is free no longer acts under the influence of someone else. It is given to us for doing
good.
67. What is conscience?
Conscience is the inner voice in a person that moves the person to do good under any
circumstances and to avoid evil by all means.
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68. Which are the principal human virtues?
The principal human virtues are called cardinal virtues. All other virtues can be
grouped under them. They are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.
69. Which are the theological virtues?
The theological virtues are faith, hope and charity. They are called theological
virtues because they are all centered on God.
70. Which are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven. They are wisdom, understanding, counsel,
fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
71. Which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are twelve. They are charity, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and
chastity.
72. Which are the seven corporal works of mercy?
The seven corporal works of mercy are 1) feed the hungry; 2) give drink to the
thirsty; 3) clothe the naked; 4) shelter the homeless; 5) visit the sick; 6) visit the
imprisoned; and 7) bury the dead.
73. Which are the seven spiritual works of mercy?
The seven spiritual works of mercy are 1) counsel the doubtful; 2) instruct the
ignorant; 3) admonish sinners; 4) comfort the sorrowful; 5) forgive offenses; 6) bear
wrongs patiently; and 7) pray for the living and the dead.
74. What is sin?
Sin is turning away from God. It is a word, an act, or a desire contrary to God’s law.
It is offending God in disobedience to his love.
75. Which are the seven capital sins?
The seven capital sins are 1) pride; 2) covetousness; 3) lust; 4) anger; 5) gluttony; 6)
envy; and 7) sloth.
76. Which are the four last things?
The four last things are 1) death; 2) judgment; 3) hell; and 4) heaven.
77. In what way are all people equal in God’s sight?
All are equal in God’s sight insofar as all have the same Creator, all were created in
the same image of God with a soul, and all have the same Redeemer.
78. What is grace?
By grace we mean God’s free, loving gift to us, his helping goodness, and the vitality
that comes from him.
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79. Are we all supposed to become saints?
Yes. The purpose of our life is to be united with God and always do what God
expects from us. As Mother Teresa says, we should allow God ‘to live his life in us.’
This is what it means to be holy: a saint.
80. How many precepts of the Church are there?
There are five precepts of the Church.
81. What is the first precept of the Church?
The first precept of the Church is: You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of
obligation and abstain from work or activities that offend against the character of the
day.
82. What are the second and third precepts of the Church?
The second precept of the Church is: You shall receive the sacrament of Penance at
least once a year. The third precept of the Church is: You shall receive the Eucharist
at least during the Easter time.
83. What are the fourth and fifth precepts of the Church?
The fourth precept of the Church is: You shall observe the prescribed seasons of
fasting and days of abstinence. The fifth precept of the Church is: You shall
contribute to the material support of the Church.
84. On which texts of the Bible are the Ten Commandments based?
The Ten Commandments are based on Exodus 22:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
85. Are not the Ten Commandments outmoded?
No, the Ten Commandments are by no means the product of a particular time. They
express man’s fundamental obligations toward God and neighbour, which are always
and everywhere valid.
86. Which is the first commandment?
The first commandment is “I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have strange
Gods before me.
87. How do children respect their parents?
Children respect their parents by showing them love and gratitude.
88. Why is abortion unacceptable?
God-given human life is God’s own property; it is sacred from the first moment of its
existence and is not under the control of any human being. “Before I formed you in
the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer 1:5).
89. Why is it a sin to take drugs?
Using drugs is a sin because it is an act of self-destruction and thus an offense against
the life that God has given us out of love.
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90. What is sexuality?
“Sexuality is a beautiful, good, extremely powerful, sacred energy, given us by God
and experienced in every cell of our being as an urge to overcome our
incompleteness” and to move toward unity with another person.
91. What is love?
Love is the free self-giving of the heart.
92. What is chastity?
Chastity is the spiritual power which frees love from selfishness and aggression. By it
a person remains pure and resists the temptation to use either things or other persons
for satisfying one’s own selfish sexual desires.
93. Why is premarital sex a sin?
The possibility of expressing love sexually is given to us by God so that we may offer
ourselves to another person exclusively, totally and forever. These elements of love
are not properly respected in premarital relations.
94. What are the essential elements of a Christian marriage?
I) Union between man and woman; 2) No divorce (Indissolubility); 3) Openness to
having children; 4) commitment to the welfare of the spouse.
95. What is theft?
Theft is the unlawful appropriation of goods belonging to another person.
96. What does it mean to be truthful?
Truthfulness means that one acts sincerely and speaks honestly.
97. What is the content of the social doctrine of the Church?
The social doctrine of the Church presents the Church’s teaching about the ordering
of life in society and about the attainment of individual and social justice. Its four
central principles are: personhood, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity,
which means allowing lower bodies to take decisions.
98. What is prayer?
Prayer is turning the heart and mind toward God. When a person prays, the person
enters into a living relationship with God.
99. What are the names of the five main types of prayer?
The five main types of prayer are 1) blessing and adoration; 2) prayer of petition; 3)
prayer of intercession, 4) prayer of thanksgiving; 5) prayer of praise.
100. How did the Our Lady pray?
Our Lady prayed with faith and with a generous offering of her whole being to God.
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101. When should a person pray?
From the earliest times Christians have prayed at least in the morning, at meals, and
in the evening. Someone who does not pray regularly will soon not pray at all.
102. What is the meaning of “alleluia”?
Alleluia means ‘Let us praise the Lord.’
103. Which is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples?
The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is the Our Father.
104. What structure does the Our Father have?
The Our Father consists of seven petitions to God. The first three petitions are related
to God and the right way of serving him. The last four petitions present our basic
needs to God.
105. What position does the prayer Our Father hold among prayers?
St Thomas Aquinas says that the Our Father is “the most perfect prayer,” and
Tertullian says that it is the “summary of the whole Gospel.”
106. Which are the two official summaries of the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
The two official summaries of the CCC are 1) The Compendium of the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, and 2) The YouCat.
107. What does YouCat stand for?
YouCat stands for Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church.
108. What do the Compendium and the YouCat present?
The Compendium and the YouCat present a faithful synthesis of the CCC in simple
language and in the form of question and answers.
109. How many articles are there in the Compendium?
There are 598 articles in the Compendium.
110. How many articles are there in the YouCat?
There are 527 articles in the YouCat.
Prepared by Fr. Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb
(jmksdb@gmail.com)
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