Vital Catholic Knowledge

Exercise to Practice Virtues

Example Exercise to Practice the First Commandment

1. Choose a virtue, commandment, or idea from the Vital Catholic Knowledge below.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Look for an important word. ________________________

3. Use a dictionary to look over all definitions of that word, and find a definition that matches the way the word is used in the Vital Catholic Knowledge.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________


4. Observe who has exemplified this quality. [Give examples of real people who did it.]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

5. When have you exemplified this quality? [Give examples when you did your duty.]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

6. When have you not exemplified this quality? [Give examples when you did not do it.]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

7. What decision did you make about that? [For example, did you make an excuse for not doing the right thing? Now it’s easier to use that excuse for any sin.]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

8. Meditate on that quality. [For example, spiritual reading or a sermon.]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

9. How are you going to apply this quality in your life? [How are you going to give God his due and make Him the most important thing in your life?]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Holy Trinity Meditation

Ten Commandments

  1. I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.
  2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
  3. Remember thou keep holy the Lord’s day.
  4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
  5. Thou shalt not kill.
  6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
  7. Thou shalt not steal.
  8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
  9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
  10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods. (Exodus 20) #Return-to-the-exercise

Example Exercise to Practice the First Commandment

Six Commandments of the Church

1. To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation.
2. To fast and to abstain on the days appointed.
3. To confess our sins at least once a year.
4. To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
6. To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage. #Return-to-the-exercise

Three Theological Virtues

Faith, Hope and Charity #Return-to-the-exercise

Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Piety, Fortitude, Counsel, Fear of the Lord (click for Bible quotes)

#Return-to-the-exercise

Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost

Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Benignity, Goodness, Long-suffering, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continency, Chastity. #Return-to-the-exercise

Four Cardinal Virtues

Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance #Return-to-the-exercise

Four Marks of the Church

One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic #Return-to-the-exercise

Three Attributes of the Church

Authority, Infallibility, Indefectability #Return-to-the-exercise

Nine Choirs of Angels

Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, Angels #Return-to-the-exercise

#Return-to-the-exercise

Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  1. The Prophecy of Simeon
  2. The Flight into Egypt
  3. The Loss of Our Lord in Jerusalem
  4. The Meeting of Our Lord on the Way to Calvary
  5. The Standing at the Foot of the Cross
  6. The Taking Down of Our Lord from the Cross
  7. The Burial of Our Lord

Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  1. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  2. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  3. The Nativity of Our Lord and Adoration of the Magi
  4. The Presentation of Our Lord and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple
  6. The Resurrection
  7. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

#Return-to-the-exercise

Eight Beatitudes

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
  3. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
  5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
  6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
  8. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

#Return-to-the-exercise

Seven Sacraments

Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, Matrimony

#Return-to-the-exercise

Mysteries and Fruits of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries (Monday & Saturday)

  1. The Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary – Humility
  2. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Charity
  3. The Nativity of our Lord – Detachment
  4. The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple – Obedience
  5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple – Piety

#Return-to-the-exercise

The Luminous Mysteries (Thursday)

  1. The Baptism of Our Lord in the Jordan – Openness to the Holy Ghost
  2. The Wedding Feast at Cana – To Jesus Through Mary
  3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God – Repentance and Trust
  4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord – Desire to Repentance
  5. The Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper – Participation at the Mass

#Return-to-the-exercise

The Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesday & Friday)

  1. The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden – Contrition and Conformity
  2. The Scourging at the Pillar – Mortification and Purity
  3. The Crowning with Thorns – Moral Courage
  4. The Carrying of the Cross – Patience
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord – Self-denial and Salvation

#Return-to-the-exercise

The Glorious Mysteries (Wednesday & Sunday)

  1. The Resurrection of Our Lord – Faith
  2. The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven – Hope and Desire for Heaven
  3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles – Wisdom and Love of God
  4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – Devotion to Mary
  5. The Coronation of Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven – Eternal Happiness

#Return-to-the-exercise

Twelve Apostles

Peter, Andrew,
James, John,
Simon, James, Jude,
Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, Matthias

#Return-to-the-exercise

Four Evangelists and Their Symbols

St. Matthew – Man
St. Mark – Lion
St. Luke – Ox
St. John – Eagle

#Return-to-the-exercise

Corporal Works of Mercy

  1. To feed the hungry
  2. To give drink to the thirsty
  3. To clothe the naked
  4. To visit the imprisoned
  5. To shelter the homeless
  6. To visit the sick
  7. To bury the dead

#Return-to-the-exercise

Spiritual Works of Mercy

  1. To admonish the sinner
  2. To instruct the ignorant
  3. To counsel the doubtful
  4. To comfort the sorrowful
  5. To bear wrongs patiently
  6. To forgive all injuries
  7. To pray for the living and the dead

#Return-to-the-exercise

Seven Cardinal Sins and Opposite Virtues

Pride – Humility
Anger – Meekness
Covetousness – Liberality
Gluttony – Temperance
Lust – Charity
Sloth – Diligence

#Return-to-the-exercise

Four Truths Necessary to Believe for Salvation

  1. That God exists
  2. That God rewards the good and punishes the evil
  3. That there are three Persons in one God
  4. That the Son of God became Man and died for our salvation

#Return-to-the-exercise

Four Last Things

Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell

Vestments Worn by the Priest During Mass

Amice, Maniple, Alb, Stole, Cincture, Chasuble

Three Evangelical Counsels

Poverty, Chastity, Obedience

Holydays of Obligation in the United States

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – December 8
Nativity of Our Lord – December 25
Octave-Day of the Nativity – January 1
Ascension of Our Lord – 40 days after Easter
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 15
All Saints Day – November 1

The Manner in Which a Lay Person is to Baptize in Case of Necessity

Pour ordinary water on the forehead of the person to be baptized, and say while pouring it,
“I baptize thee in the Name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost.”
Note that any person who has reached the use of reason can baptize in case of necessity,
but the same person must say the words while pouring the water.

#Return-to-the-exercise