Assessment Test: Understanding the Church and Baptism

I. Multiple Choice (20 points, 2 points each)

1. According to Catholic teaching, the Church is:

1. A purely spiritual reality with no visible structure
2. A human institution founded after Christ's death
3. Both a visible hierarchical structure and the Mystical Body of Christ
4. A voluntary association of like-minded believers

2. Who did Christ appoint as the first head of His Church? 

1. St. John the Apostle
2. St. Paul
3. St. Peter
4. St. James

3. The Baltimore Catechism defines the Church as: 

1. A building where Christians worship
2. The congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, same sacrifice, and same sacraments under the Pope
3. The invisible community of all saved individuals
4. A democratic organization of believers

4. Which Church Father wrote: "He cannot have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother"? 

1. St. Augustine
2. St. Cyprian of Carthage
3. St. Jerome
4. St. Ambrose

5. The matter of the Sacrament of Baptism is: 

1. The words of institution
2. The Holy Chrism
3. Natural water
4. The baptismal candle

6. According to Christ's words in John 3:5, what is necessary for entering the kingdom of God? 

1. Being born of water and the Spirit
2. Performing good works
3. Receiving Confirmation
4. Studying Scripture

7. The ordinary ministers of Baptism are: 

1. Only bishops
2. Only priests
3. Bishops, priests, and deacons
4. Any baptized person

8. Which of the following is NOT an effect of Baptism according to Catholic teaching?

1. Remission of original sin
2. Infusion of sanctifying grace
3. Immediate entrance into heaven
4. Incorporation into the Church

9. St. Paul compares Baptism to: 

1. A wedding feast
2. Death and resurrection with Christ
3. The exodus from Egypt
4. The creation of Adam

10. The Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches that sacraments are:

1. Merely symbols of grace
2. Visible signs instituted by God to effect the grace they signify
3. Optional rituals for Catholics
4. Created by the Apostles after Christ's ascension

II. True or False (10 points, 1 point each)

1. ____ The Church is both a divine and human institution.
2. ____ According to traditional Catholic teaching, one can be saved outside the visible structure of the Church in certain circumstances. 
3. ____ St. Ignatius of Antioch taught that wherever the bishop appears, there is the Catholic Church.
4. ____ The Sacrament of Baptism can be repeated if one falls into serious sin.
5. ____ In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, can baptize if they have the proper intention.
6. ____ The form of Baptism is: "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
7. ____ St. Augustine defined a sacrament as "a visible sign of an invisible reality."
8. ____ The Pope's authority is limited to spiritual matters and does not extend to matters of faith and morals.
9. ____ Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul that can never be removed.
10. ____ The Church teaches that the Eucharist is merely a symbol of Christ's body and blood.

III. Fill in the Blank (10 points, 1 point each) 

1. Christ told Peter, "Upon this __________ I will build my church."
2. The ____________ is the successor of St. Peter and the visible head of the Church on earth.
3. The Church is described as the ____________ ____________ of Christ in St. Paul's epistles.
4. St. Vincent of Lérins provided the rule that Catholic truth is that which has been believed "____________, ____________, and by ____________."
5. The seven sacraments were definitively enumerated by the Council of ____________.
6. Baptism is often called the ____________ to the other sacraments.
7. The ____________ ____________ is the teaching authority of the Church in matters of faith and morals.
8. Christ commanded His disciples to baptize "in the name of the ____________, and of the ____________, and of the ____________ ____________."
9. In 1 Timothy 3:15, St. Paul calls the Church "the pillar and ____________ of the truth."
10. St. Cyprian of Carthage taught that "The ____________ is one, each part of which is held by each one for the whole."

IV. Short Answer (20 points, 5 points each)

1. Explain the difference between the visible Church and the Mystical Body of Christ, citing at least one Scripture passage and one Church Father.
2. Describe three effects of Baptism according to Catholic teaching and explain their significance for the Christian life.
3. What is apostolic succession, and why is it important for Catholic ecclesiology? Include at least one reference to early Church writings. 
4. Explain the Catholic understanding of the necessity of Baptism for salvation, including the concepts of Baptism of desire and Baptism of blood.

V. Essay Question (10 points)

In approximately 250 words, explain how the Catholic understanding of the Church and Baptism differs from some Protestant denominations' views. Include in your answer references to Scripture, Church Fathers, and the teaching authority of the Church.