Q 01/05

When does the season of Advent begin?

A) The day after Thanksgiving

B) The first day of December

C) The fourth Sunday before Christmas

D) The feast of St Nicholas

Answer · why

C) The fourth Sunday before Christmas

The fourth Sunday before Christmas: Advent Sunday, the Sunday nearest the feast of St Andrew (30 November), opens the liturgical year in the Western C...

Q 02/05

What is the usual liturgical colour for Advent in the Western Church?

A) Green

B) White

C) Violet

D) Red

Answer · why

C) Violet

Violet: Pope Innocent III once named black as Advent's colour, but violet had taken over by the end of the 13th century.

Q 03/05

On which Sunday of Advent may rose vestments be worn and the rose candle lit?

A) The first

B) The second

C) The third

D) The fourth

Answer · why

C) The third

The third: rose is worn then to signal that Christmas is now near.

Q 04/05

What does 'Gaudete', the Latin name of a Sunday in Advent, mean?

A) Rejoice

B) Prepare

C) Watch

D) Come

Answer · why

A) Rejoice

It is the first word of that day's introit, from Philippians: 'Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.'

Q 05/05

Advent was once also called a 'Lent' named after which saint, whose feast falls on 11 November?

A) Martin of Tours

B) Andrew the Apostle

C) Ambrose of Milan

D) Clement of Rome

Answer · why

A) Martin of Tours

Martin of Tours: the fast began the day after his feast, which is why this season of preparing for Christmas was nicknamed St Martin's Lent.