A Little Lent Trivia February 2008

by Lorene Hanley Duquin

How much do you know about Lent?   Here’s some Lent Trivia to test your knowledge.  The answers are at the bottom of the page. 

1. How many days are there in Lent?

2. What was the original meaning of the word “Lent”?

3. What is the first day of Lent called?

4. What do we call the day before Lent begins?

5. What color vestments does the priest wear during Lent?

6. What prayer of the Mass is omitted during Lent?

7. What word is never said or sung during Lent?

8. What do Catholics abstain from eating on Fridays during Lent?

9. On what days are Catholics required to fast during Lent?

10. What snack originated during Lent because it contains only flour, water and salt?

11. What food was traditionally eaten the day before Lent begins?

12. What Irish saint’s feast day takes place during Lent?

13. On what Sunday during Lent does the priest bless palms?

14. What event in the life of Jesus do the palms recall for us?

15. On what day during Lent does the Bishop bless holy oils for the year?

16. How many Stations of the Cross are there?

17. How many times does Jesus fall in the Stations?

18. Who helped Jesus carry his Cross?

19. When does Lent officially end?

20. What is the Triduum?

Answers

1. 40

2. “Spring”

3. Ash Wednesday

4. Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras

5. Purple

6. The Gloria

7. Alleluia

8. Meat

9. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

10. Pretzels

11. Hot Cross Buns

12. St. Patrick

13. Palm Sunday

14. The entrance into Jerusalem

15. Tuesday of Holy Week

16. 14

17. 3

18. Simon of Cyrene

19. At sundown on Holy Thursday before the beginning of the Mass of the Last Supper

20. “Triduum” comes from the Latin word for three, and it includes the three holiest days of the Church year from sundown on Holy Thursday, through Good Friday and Holy Saturday, to sundown on Easter Sunday.