Catholic Election
Who is responsible for electing the new Pope?
College of Cardinals
The new Pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals, usually from within the group of Cardinals. The last time a Pope was elected from outside the College of Cardinals was in 1378. In a secret meeting, called a Conclave, they decide who is to fill the vacancy of the Holy See
The person at Mass who usually leads the congregation in song is called by what title?
Cantor
The ministry of Cantor is exercised when someone who has the gift of singing and gift of leading others in song, does so in service to the assembly.
At the second Station Jesus receives something. What is it that He receives?
the cross
The soldiers performed this task of handing Jesus the cross. The "cross" was to become a metaphor representing "the burdens of life".
This romance-loving teenager turned her life around and reformed the Carmelite Order. Who is she?
St. Teresa of Avila
Although St. Teresa seems to have lived a pious youth, she became quite worldly after reading many romantic novels. She was convinced that she was a horrible sinner and was sent to a convent. It was there that Teresa decided to become a nun, not because she loved God, but she thought that was were she belonged.
When she was 41, a priest encouraged her to turn from her worldly ways to prayer. As she prayed, she experienced spiritual delights, including many visions of Jesus. She decided that she was wrong about wanting the world, and knew that many other Carmelites like her were lost. She began St. Joseph's Convent and brought back the austerity to it. Teresa also became the founder of Discalced Carmelites. In 1582, Teresa died and is now invoked as the patroness of those suffering from headaches.
This simple man is the patron saint of animals.
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis (1182-1226) gave away all that he had. Many icons and statues depict him holding animals and he is a popular choice for garden sculptures.
At what age are Cardinals excluded from participating in the electoral process?
80
In 1975, Pope Paul VI decreed that no Cardinal over the age of 80 was eligible to participate in papal elections. He made this rule in an addendum to the Church's Constitution entitled "Romano Pontifico Eligendo".
Which of these is another name for the ministry of Catechesis?
Faith Formation
A meaning of Catechesis is "to echo." A catechist, then, is one who "echoes" the faith to others. These are teachers of the faith. They participate in the ministry of Catechesis or Faith Formation. (In some places, this ministry may be called Religious Education, or CCD - Confraternity of Christian Doctrine - often older terms to express the same reality.)
Who does Jesus meet at the fourth Station?
His Blessed Mother
This famous author of "Introduction to the Devout Life" and founder of the Visitation Order had a dream of converting the 60,000 Swedish Calvinists back to the Catholic Faith. By the time he left Switzerland, he had converted 40,000 of them. Who is he?
St. Francis de Sales
Although it was clear to St. Francis that he had a vocation, he was sent by his father to Paris to study. Three times Francis fell from his horse, each time the sword fell out of the scabbard, with the sword and scabbard resting in the shape of a cross. Francis took this as a sign, and soon became a priest.
After converting the Calvinists, he and St. Jane de Chantal founded the Visitation Order.
St. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of France, but what men and women also regard her as a patron saint?
Soldiers
St. Joan (1412-1431) was a peasant girl, but heard the voices of the saints compelling her to help King Charles return to the French throne. After several great victories, she was captured and tried as a heretic. She was burned at the stake at 19 after refusing to renounce her assertion that the saints spoke to her.
Where do Papal Elections take place?
Sistine Chapel
Meeting in the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinals traditionally uses secret ballots to choose the new pontiff. There have been times when the elections were conducted by the cardinals saying their choice out loud, but this is a rare occurence.
According to local custom, females or males may participate in which liturgical ministry that is specifically designated to assist the Priest or Bishop with practicalities during the celebration of the Mass?
Altar server
At the fifth station someone eventually helps Jesus with His physical burden and carries His cross. Who was this person who shared Jesus's cross?
Simon of Cyrene
This "Greatest Saint of Modern Times" is often admired as the "Little Flower" and her "Little Way" is followed by people everywhere. Although she died when she only 24, she achieved great holiness. Who is she?
St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Therese was born in Lisieux, France in 1873. After her mother died when Therese was only four, little Therese became very ill. She was cured when a statue of Our Lady smiled at her.
Therese's greatest desire was to become a Carmelite nun, like her older sisters. When she was only fifteen, she received permission from the Pope and became "Sr. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face." Beginning in 1896, Therese began coughing up blood; she had tuberculosis. Her pain was so great, that she said if she didn't have faith she would have committed suicide. Before she died, she promised, "I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. I will let fall a shower of roses." Everywhere in the world, people are receiving mysterious roses, which they believe are from St. Therese.
It probably can't hurt for college students, especially those getting ready for postgraduate exams, to say a quick prayer to this Italian patron of test takers.
St. Joseph of Cupertino
What is the maximum number of Cardinal Electors permitted to elect the Pope?
120
For this reason, and in order to abide by the above mentioned rule, only 120 clergymen younger than age 80 are allowed to be raised to the level of Cardinal at any one time. Of course, papal conclaves can occur with fewer than 120 voting cardinals.
People who (usually) belong to a religious order and try to live out the charism(s) of that order in service to the Church are called by what title?
Consecrated Religious
Consecrated Religious are vowed men (Brothers, Friars, Monks, and in some cases, Priests) and women (Sisters or Nuns) who usually belong to a particular religious order. Some examples of religious orders are the Dominicans, the Franciscans, and the Benedictines.
According to Catholic tradition, where was St Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus, throughout the events of the crucifixion?
He had died much earlier.
Saint Joseph died earlier in Jesus's life, and records of his life are few. The death seems to have happened before Jesus's public ministry and left Jesus to look after His mother, as this was the custom of the day. Whilst dying on His cross Jesus told Saint John that he (John) was now Mary's son (John 19:25-27).
This disciple then took over from Jesus as a son to Mary and cared for her. Saint John was the only one of the original twelve disciples to die a natural death.
This mystical Dominican was the 25th child of a wool dyer. She is famous for persuading Pope Gregory XI to move back to Rome. Who is she?
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine was in northern Italy in 1347. Beginning at the age of six, Catherine was a mystic; having visions of Jesus, Mary, the Saints, and Angels. She opposed her parents' idea of marriage and cut off her hair to prove this. Finally her family gave in and Catherine became a Dominican Tertiary.
One night Jesus appeared to Catherine and gave her a ring, which only she could see. Thus she became his mystical bride. Catherine also received the invisible Stigmata and spent the last years of her life tirelessly persuading the pope from to move from his luxurious life in Avignon to Rome, the home of the Apostles. In 1430, 50 years after her death, her body was found to be incorrupt.
How is St. Christopher most commonly depicted?
Carrying a child on his shoulders
The patron saint of travelers, St. Christopher ("Christ bearer") is believed to have carried people, including the Christ child, across a stream.
Who announces the election results to the waiting crowds?
Senior Cardinal Deacon
Once the new Pope is elected, the Senior Cardinal Deacon announces his election to the world. From the balcony of the Vatican, he proclaims, 'Habemus Papam!' ('We have a Pope'). And the crowd goes wild. :)
Serving those in need, especially the poor, is an integral part of the mission of the Catholic Church. At the parish level, those who participate in this ministry are generally referred to as being involved in what ministry?
Outreach
The thirteenth station is "Jesus is taken down from the cross". Who went to Pilate and obtained permission to take Jesus's body and bury it?
Joseph of Arimathea
This famous author of "Ascent of Mount Carmel" and "Dark Night of the Soul" helped St. Teresa of Avila reform the austerity of the Carmelite Order. Who is he?
St. John of the Cross
St. John of the Cross was born in 1542 in Spain. When John became a Carmelite, John found out that many of the monks led luxurious and immoral lives. He asked St. Teresa of Avila to help him reform the order. Although many of the worldly Carmelites felt threatened and beat John, he eventually escaped, he says, with the help of the Blessed Virgin. John spent the rest of his life in poverty; he had seen the danger to the soul worldly pleasure could do.
His feast day is celebrated on December 14.
This patron saint of athletes is usually depicted shot through with several arrows.
St. Sebastian
Sebastian visited persecuted Christians and eventually was condemned. He was shot several times by archers, but recovered. The Roman emperor had him beaten to death c. 288 A.D. in Rome. Ironically, he's also the patron saint of archers.