Question 1

Which of these events did not occur in 529 CE?&#10;A) Justinian closed the philosophical academy&#10;B) Council of Orange&#10;C) Benedict founded a monastery at Monte Cassino&#10;D) St. Antony closed his monastery in the desert

Accepted Answer

The closure of St. Antony's monastery in the desert did not occur in 529 CE. The other events listed did occur in that year: Justinian closed the philosophical academy in Athens, the Council of Orange was held in Southern France, and Saint Benedict founded a monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy.

Question 2

What distinguished Benedict's Rule from other approaches to monasticism?&#10;A) Emphasis on life in community&#10;B) Solitary pursuit of God&#10;C) Withdraw from society&#10;D) Asceticism

Accepted Answer

Benedict's Rule emphasized the importance of communal living and working together for the sake of spiritual growth and support. This was a departure from previous approaches to monasticism that placed a greater emphasis on solitary pursuit of God and withdrawal from society. While asceticism was a part of Benedict's Rule, it was not the main focus.

Question 3

The overall impression in reading Benedict's Rule is that it is:&#10;A) detailed rules for church governance&#10;B) a carefully articulated theology&#10;C) a training exercise for advancing in spirituality&#10;D) dietary restrictions are fundamental to spiritual advancement

Accepted Answer

Benedict's Rule outlines specific practices and routines for those pursuing a monastic life, with the ultimate goal of spiritual advancement. It includes guidance on prayer, work, relationships with others in the community, and personal discipline. While there are some guidelines related to church governance and dietary restrictions, these are not the primary focus of the rule. Additionally, while the theology underlying the Rule is certainly present, it is not the central purpose of the text.

Question 4

What is the motto of the Benedictine Order?&#10;A) God helps those who help themselves&#10;B) To pray is to work; to work is to pray&#10;C) Sleep little, work often, pray always&#10;D) Love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Accepted Answer

"To pray is to work; to work is to pray" is the motto of the Benedictine Order. This reflects the Benedictine approach to daily life, which emphasizes balancing work, prayer, and study. The motto highlights the idea that prayer and work are not separate activities, but rather integral parts of a holistic life of faith.

Question 5

Which of the following is true regarding Saint Benedict?&#10;A) His brother became Pope Gregory the Great&#10;B) His father denounced him when he started the monastery&#10;C) His twin sister Scholastica started a convent&#10;D) His mother Monica was the most important spiritual influence in his life.

Accepted Answer

Saint Benedict's twin sister Scholastica started a convent. A, B, and D are incorrect. His brother did not become Pope Gregory the Great, his father did not denounce him when he started the monastery, and his mother Monica was not the most important spiritual influence in his life.

Question 6

For what is the Venerable Bede most well-known?&#10;A) Beginning the great English revival&#10;B) Translating the Bible into English&#10;C) Converting the English pagan king to Christianity&#10;D) Writing the ecclesiastical history of the English people

Accepted Answer

The Venerable Bede is most well-known for writing the "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," which is considered to be an important source for early English history and the spread of Christianity in England.

Question 7

What was Pope Gregory's approach to penance?&#10;A) It is primarily a punishment for sins committed&#10;B) Regular confession to a representative of the church encouraged humility&#10;C) It should be delayed until one is close to death&#10;D) It has no place in the life of the true Christian.

Accepted Answer

Pope Gregory believed that regular confession to a representative of the church encouraged humility and helped people to recognize and repent of their sins. He did not view penance as primarily a punishment for sins or something that should be delayed until near death. Additionally, he believed that penance had a crucial place in the life of the Christian.

Question 8

Which of the following doctrines was Pope Gregory instrumental in establishing within church tradition?&#10;A) Purgatory&#10;B) Indulgences&#10;C) Treasury of merits&#10;D) Prayer to saints

Accepted Answer

Pope Gregory is credited with the establishment of the doctrine of purgatory, which holds that those who have died in a state of grace but are not yet completely purified must undergo a process of purification before entering heaven.

Question 9

What is significant about the Synod of Whitby?&#10;A) It signaled the suppression of local expressions of faith&#10;B) It decentralized church authority&#10;C) It established monasteries in Ireland&#10;D) It undermined the role of the king in church matters

Accepted Answer

The Synod of Whitby, held in 664 AD, was significant because it marked a decisive moment in the history of the English Church. The synod resolved the conflict about the date of Easter and the form of the tonsure, but it also signaled the adoption of Roman Christianity and the suppression of local expressions of faith. This meant the end of the distinctive Celtic Christian traditions that had been flourishing in the north of England and Scotland. The decision to adopt the practices of the Roman Church centralized church authority, as it brought the English Church closer in line with the rest of Western Christendom.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of Pope Gregory?&#10;A) The first Pope who was a monk&#10;B) Gregorian chant is named after him&#10;C) He wrote a biography of St. Benedict&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Pope Gregory was the first Pope who was a monk and Gregorian chant is named after him. He also wrote a biography of St. Benedict.

Deck 12: Monasticism of the Early Middle Ages