Hark, the “Herald” angels sing! May your Christmas be blessed and bright, my friends!
1) SCRIPTURE
The Gospel of Matthew recounts the prophecy, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” In which Old Testament book was this prediction first recorded?
a) Genesis
b) Isaiah
c) Song of Songs
d) Wisdom
2) JOSEPH
How did St. Joseph come to realize that it was acceptable for him to take in the pregnant Mary as his wife?
a) He consulted with the rabbis in the temple.
b) An angel appeared to him in a dream.
c) He talked to Mary’s parents.
d) The magi told him during their visit.
3) SACRED MUSIC
What is the name for the chants that are traditionally sung at vespers (evening prayer) during the last seven days of Advent?
a) “Dies Irae”
b) “Canto Noel”
c) “Ave Maria”
d) “O Antiphons”
4) PAPAL PROCLAMATIONS
On Christmas Day, the pope traditionally delivers his “urbi et orbi” message. What does the Latin phrase “urbi et orbi” translate to in English?
a) “For one and all”
b) “Grace and peace”
c) “To the city and the world”
d) “God is with us”
5) THE CHURCH IN HAWAII
Misa de Gallo is the Filipino tradition of nine days of early morning Masses leading up to Christmas. “Misa de Gallo” translates from Spanish to what in English?
a) “Mass of the Dawn”
b) “Mass of the Savior”
c) “Mass of the Nativity”
d) “Mass of the Rooster”
6) THE HOLY LAND
What town in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank gets its name from a Hebrew word that translates as “house of bread”?
a) Nazareth
b) Jerusalem
c) Bethlehem
d) Jericho
7) THE NATIVITY
Rather than a stable, biblical scholars believe Jesus was most likely born in what structure?
a) A cave
b) An inn
c) A synagogue
d) A tent
8) CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
“Pan de pascua,” “buche de noel” and “panettone” are all examples of:
a) Food eaten during the Christmas season
b) Christmas carols
c) Real names of the magi
d) Children’s toys
Answers: 1) b, 2) b, 3) d, 4) c, 5) d, 6) c, 7) a, 8) a