Gothic Cathedrals and the Catholic Mass—Study Guide
Directions: All of the questions are t/f or multiple choice. There can be more than one true answer in the
multiple choice questions. Don’t skip slides. Read everything or you might miss an answer.
1. Which of the following are true?
a. The apse is the area of the church where the altar is located and where the priest celebrates the
mass.
b. The nave is the central area of a church where the congregation gathers to hear Mass.
c. The transept is the crossing arm of the church.
d. The tympanum is the ornamental molding or band following the curve of the underside of an
arch.
2. The dominant church architectural style in Europe in the ninth through the eleventh centuries was
called Romanesque.
3. Romanesque buildings are characterized by groin vaults and flying buttresses.
4. Gothic was the most prominent style of church building in the mid-twelfth century through the fifteenth
century throughout Europe, except for Germany.
5. Gothic buildings are characterized by rounded arches and attached buttresses.
6. Gothic churches are highly symbolic buildings meant to represent God’s heaven and his earthly
creations.
7. Which of the following are true?
a. The sacrament of baptism is completely symbolic for Catholics.
b. Historically, baptisteries were often constructed as a separate building in front or to the side of
a gothic church.
c. The baptistery at a gothic church symbolizes that baptism is the beginning of the long journey
back to God.
8. Which of the following are true concerning a Gothic west front?
a. The west front of a gothic church serves as a place of preliminary teachings, preparatory to
entering the holy ground of the interior.
b. Stone sculptures of Adam and Eve remind them why they need Christ.
c. Statues of Mary, apostles, prophets, and saints call to mind their examples as practitioners of
holiness and consecration.
d. The evangelists pictured as an angel (Matthew), lion (Mark), ox (Luke), and Eagle (John)
suggest that the word of God as found in the Gospels are the standard for living righteous lives.
9. The most prominent part of the west front of a gothic church is normally a sculptural rendition of the
dormition of Mary.
10 When Catholics cross themselves, they are essentially going through a ceremonial washing. T
11. Which of the following are true?
A The Good Samaritan Window at Chartres is window that symbolizes the Fall and the
Atonement.
B When Mary and Christ are at the center of a rose window it suggests that Christ should be
worshipped and Mary revered for their respective parts in the plan of salvation.
C In the nativity scene in the incarnation window at Chartres, Christ is in a bassinet in order to
symbolize his mortal experience.
D Zodiacs in Gothic church windows signify the place that astronomy plays in Catholic theology.
12. Crosses are typically red because they typify the blood of Christ.
13. Catholics worship relics as a means of showing heavenly beings that they want to be saved.
14. The apse of a church generally sits higher than the rest of the building and has a railing of some sort
that sets it apart from the rest of the church.
15. The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation is another name for Augustine’s Theory of Just War.
16. Which of the following are true?
a. The “ordinary” is the basic structure of the mass.
b. Placing the pulpit in the nave on the right symbolizes that the Liturgy of the Word is
preparatory to the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
c. The “proper” refers to the variation in themes and music of the particular readings and hymns.
d. The main point of the two parts of the mass are meant to show that Catholicism is true.
17. Which of the following are true?
a. In a Catholic church, a processional past statues of the apostles symbolizes the generosity of
God.
b. A processional is mostly just a parade.
c. Processionals represent pilgrimages back to God’s presence.
18. The Opening Rite signifies that the people have been “gathered” and are ready to begin the journey to
God’s presence.
19. Kýrie Eléison means “Glory to God.”
20. John’s symbol is often a chalice or a chalice with a serpent or dragon in it.
21. General intercessions are prayers given by the congregation for the needs of the Church, for public
authorities and the salvation of the whole world, for those oppressed by any need, and for the local
community.
22. Which of the following are true?
a. The money collected in the offertory represents the principle of sacrifice and is used for the
work of the church.
b. In the preparation of gifts the priest offers the host and chalice at the altar while reciting two
short prayers.
c. In the offertory the washing of the hands symbolizes purification.
d. In the offertory the congregation offers the prayer over the gifts, asking God to accept the
sacrifice being offered.
23. Which of the following are true?
a. Transubstantiation takes place during the Communion rite.
b. “Agnus Dei”means Lamb of God.
c. The people are invited to partake of the wafer, and sometimes the wine, in Final Blessing.
24. Pope Gregory VII said, “You are what you eat.”
25. Most Protestant denominations reject the doctrine of transubstantiation.