Preparing the Way of the Lord:

An Advent Quiz

  1. Who said. “Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour”?
  2. Why did the child leap in Elizabeth’s womb?
  3. What was the name of that child?
  4. What name did the neighbors want to give Elizabeth’s son?
  5. Why did they want that name?
  6. Who was the Roman Emperor who decreed a census should be taken?
  7. Complete the sentence: “Today in the town of David a saviour…”
  8. To whom did the angel speak that sentence?
  9. Who said “My soul magnifies the Lord”?
  10. To whom was it said?
  11. Which of the 4 Gospels gives details about the shepherds at Bethlehem?
  12. Which of the Gospels tells us about the wise men?
  13. Who was the King who interviewed the wise men?
  14. Which of the Gospels begins: “A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham”?
  15. Who was the father of Joseph?
  16. Which great Prophet is quoted with the words: “A virgin will conceive…”?
  17. Which of the Gospels gives us that quotation?

ABOUT CHRISTMAS CAROLS

  1. Can you give the second line of “Come, come, come to the manger…”?
  2. What is the English version of Adeste Fideles?
  3. “______! Of noblest cities.

None can once with thee compare;

Thou alone the Lord for heaven

Didst for us incarnate bear.”

  1. How is a priest called Joseph Mohr remembered at Christmastime?
  2. Why would his friend. Franz Gruber, be remembered also?
  3. Which carol has the words:

“Yet, in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight”?

  1. What “came upon the midnight clear”?
  2. Complete the line: “Once ______city stood a lowly cattle shed”.
  3. Why need nothing dismay the merry gentlemen?
  4. Who said: “He who sings well, prays twice”?

DAYS TO REMEMBER IN ADVENT

  1. Can you name the great feast of Mary on December 8th?
  2. What has the feast got to do with the South of France?
  3. Who is the brother of St. Peter whose feast we celebrate on November 30th?
  4. Of which country is the brother of St. Peter patron Saint?
  5. Can you name the patron saints of England, Ireland and Wales?
  6. December 6th is the feast of someone closely associated with Christmas. Who is it?
  7. Name the Jesuit missionary who died on his way from Goa to China in 1552. Feast on December 3rd.
  8. Can you name the saint who had 6 children and went on to found a religious order? Feast day is December 12th.
  9. Elected Bishop of Milan by popular acclaim he is one of the great teachers of the faith. Who is he? Feast on December 7th.
  10. One of the early Christian martyrs was born in Syracuse. Who could that be? Feast on December 13th.
  11. Friend of Teresa of Avila, celebrated spiritual writer and reformer. Feast on December 14th. Who is it?
  12. Who wrote “The Ascent of Mount Carmel”?

LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURES AT CHRISTMAS

  1. Who was the governor of Syria when Jesus was born?
  2. Why were the shepherds terrified?
  3. Who said: “For there is a child born for us, a son given to us”?
  4. What “has made salvation possible for the whole human race”?
  5. What sign were the shepherds to look for?
  6. Who said of the child born for us: “Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace”?
  7. Where do we hear the words: “With justice he will rule the world, he will judge the peoples with his truth”?
  8. What town in Galilee did Joseph set out from?
  9. What was a great throng of the heavenly host singing?

FINALLY JUST FOR FUN

  1. What were the first Christmas puddings made of?
  2. What was generally the main course at Christmas dinner before the turkey became ‘traditional’?

HOW DID YOU DO?

40-50 is extremely good so give yourself an extra helping of Christmas pudding;

30-40 is very good; 20-30 shows fair familiarity with the Scriptures and the Advent season; 10-20 maybe you need to take a closer look at the Bible; 1-10 and you’d be well advised to start reading your Bible right away—and no extra pudding!

ANSWERS TO THE ADVENT QUIZ

  1. The angel Gabriel
  2. Mary the Mother of Jesus greeted Elizabeth
  3. John the Baptist
  4. Zechariah
  5. It was his father’s name
  6. Caesar Augustus
  7. Has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord
  8. The shepherds
  9. The virgin Mary
  10. To Elizabeth her cousin
  11. According to Luke
  12. According to Matthew
  13. Herod
  14. According to Matthew
  15. Jacob
  16. Isaiah
  17. According to Matthew
  1. Children come to the children’s King
  2. O come all ye faithful
  3. Bethlehem
  4. He wrote the Carol “Silent Night”
  5. He composed the music for “Silent Night”
  6. O little town of Bethlehem
  7. “That glorious song of old”
  8. in royal David’s
  9. For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day
  10. St. Augustine
  1. The Immaculate Conception
  2. This was the title of Our Lady given to Bernadette at Lourdes in the south of France
  3. St. Andrew
  4. Scotland
  5. St. George, St. Patrick and St. David
  6. St. Nicholas
  7. St. Francis Xavier
  8. St. Jane Frances de Chantal
  9. St. Ambrose
  10. St. Lucy
  11. St. John of the Cross
  12. St. John of the Cross
  1. Quirinius
  2. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them
  3. The Prophet Isaiah
  4. God’s grace has been revealed
  5. A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger
  6. The Prophet Isaiah
  7. The responsorial psalm: Psalm 95
  8. Nazareth
  9. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to those who enjoy God’s favour”
  1. beef, raisins and prunes making a “plum porridge”
  2. goose, chicken and roast beef

Taken from “Advent , A Quality Storecupboard” by Redemptorist Publications; Newmedia. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer