Sacraments Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Many symbolic rituals practiced by the Church are not considered sacraments, and some denominations do not recognize sacraments at all.

Answer: It is practiced by all Christians.

It was Augustine who defined the sacraments as "outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace" ("Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia Volume 23"). In the Catholic Church, holy orders and marriage are sacraments that are practiced by some, not all, Christians. All Catholic sacraments are taught to have been instituted by Christ.

Answer: False

Like many spiritual concepts, such as the "Trinity," the word does not actually appear in the text, but it is used to describe a concept many Christians believe is evidenced in the scripture.

Answer: Mystery

The Greeks referred to things such as baptism and the Eucharist as "musterion." The word was replaced by the Latin "sacramentum," but the Eastern Orthodox Church still uses the word mystery instead ("Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia" Volume 23).

Answer: Confirmation

The Eucharist is celebrated routinely, and penance is also practiced regularly. Marriage can occur more than once if a person is widowed.

Answer: Baptists

Most Baptists do not recognize sacraments and instead refer to baptism and communion as "ordinances".

Answer: baptism

Such Protestants believe these to be the only two sacraments directly instituted by Christ.

Answer: Seven

The same number of sacraments is recognized by the Catholic Church. The seven sacraments of the Orthodox Church are: Baptism, Penance (also called Confession or Reconciliation), Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Holy Unction (once called Extreme Unction or last rites and now often called "anointing of the sick").

Answer: Eucharist

The Lutherans believe in "sacramental union" (sometimes controversially called "consubstantiation"), that is, they believe the body and blood coexist "in, with, and under" the bread and wine. Catholics believe something slightly different: transubstantiation.

In this dogma, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ. There is an old joke about this: What is the difference in the way Baptists, Lutherans, and Catholics perceive communion? In the Lutheran view, the wine becomes both the blood of Christ and a symbol of the blood of Christ.

In the Catholic view, the wine actually becomes the blood of Christ. And in the Baptist view, the wine actually becomes the grape juice.

Answer: marriage

Because of the vow of celibacy, most priests cannot participate in marriage. However, men who are already married can sometimes become priests and remain married.