An isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19 is seen in a transmission electron microscopic image obtained March 10, 2020, from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. (CNS photo/handout, CDC via Reuters)
My fellow Herald readers,
The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is certainly much on everyone’s minds these days. So why not put all that news reading and googling to good use with this quiz.
1) Scripture
God inflicted 10 plagues on the Egyptians so that Pharaoh would let the Israelites go free. Which was not one of them?
- a) Locusts
- b) Hail
- c) Boils
- d) Fire
2) Catholic history
One popular (and debunked) theory of the cause of the Black Death in Europe in the mid-1300s was that Pope Gregory IX ordered the killing of black cats because they were satanic, and thus fewer cats led to more mice and rats transmitting the plague to people. However, the most likely cause of the plague’s spread was through what means?
- a) Fleas and lice
- b) Water transmission
- c) In the air
- d) Spoiled food
3) Saints
Who is considered the patron saint of pandemics?
- a) St. Dymphna
- b) St. Edwin the Martyr
- c) St. Damien of Molokai
- d) St. Maria Goretti
4) Religious orders
Which religious order worked with Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War and other combat situations? (Hint in the image.)
- a) Sisters of Mercy
- b) Franciscan Sisters
- c) Dominican Sisters
- d) Sisters of Providence
5) Current events
Which (arch)diocese in the U.S. was the first to announce that all public Masses would be canceled temporarily due to the coronavirus?
- a) Archdiocese of New York
- b) Diocese of Honolulu
- c) Diocese of Orlando
- d) Archdiocese of Seattle
6) Hygiene
A popular circulating information sheet from the Diocese of Dallas explains that the Catholic version of properly washing your hands would last as long as saying what three prayers all the way through once, for a total of about 30-45 seconds?
- a) Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
- b) Our Father, Glory Be, The Apostles’ Creed
- c) Glory Be, The Apostles Creed, Hail, Holy Queen
- d) Three decades of the rosary
7) Sacraments
In what year did the Council of Florence standardize the practice of Anointing of Sick, also known as Extreme Unction, which is usually given to someone who is gravely ill or dying?
- a) 787
- b) 1439
- c) 1545
- d) 1870
Answers: 1) d, 2) a, 3) b, 4) a, 5) d, 6) a, 7) b