CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY - RELIGIOUS STUDIES A -
EDEXCEL GCSE ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
What is a sacrament? - ANS-An outward sign of an inward gift instituted by Christ, in order to give grace
to a human being.
It is a religious ritual performed in the life of the church that makes people holier.
What is the sacramental nature of reality? - ANS-It means finding the grace of God within the physical
world. God is invisible, but Catholics believe he speaks to humans through everything he has created.
How can God speak to Catholics in the sacramental nature of reality? - ANS-- Bread
- Wine
- Water
- Oil
- Words
- Hands upon the head
- Songs
- Gestures
- Movements
- Books
- Debates
- Buildings
- Music
- Work
,- Love
- Sport
What are the seven sacraments? - ANS-Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of
the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony
What do the Sacraments mark? - ANS-An important point between life and death for Catholics and links
an individual's physical life with their spiritual life.
What is Baptism? - ANS-The ceremony that welcomes a person into the family of God.
What is Baptism important? - ANS-- Person becomes a member of God's universal family.
- Person is freed from original sin, by sharing in the new life that comes from the Paschal Mystery.
- Person receives strength from God to continue Jesus' mission.
What SOWAA is there for Baptism? - ANS-Matthew 28:19, "make disciples of all nation"
What is Confirmation? - ANS-Receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit to encourage a faithful life; literally
confirming the faith.
Why is Confirmation important? - ANS-- It strengthens the faith ready to become a mature, active
Catholic.
- Candidates receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What SOWAA is there for Confirmation? - ANS-John 14:26, "the Holy Spirit [...] will send in my name"
What is the Eucharist? - ANS-Receiving the body and blood of Christ.
Why is the Eucharist important? - ANS-- Receiving the real presence of Christ in a physical way.
- Uniting the Catholic community through the Mass.
,What is the SOWAA for the Eucharist? - ANS-Mark 14:22 "this is my body...this is my blood"
What is Reconciliation? - ANS-The forgiveness of sins.
Why is Reconciliation important? - ANS-- Removes spiritual illness of sin.
- Restores relationship with God and community.
- Offers mercy, forgiveness, and advice to the penitent.
- Sins are forgiven.
What is the SOWAA for reconciliation? - ANS-"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven" - John
20:23
What is Anointing of the Sick? - ANS-Healing and forgiveness of sins in preparation for the journey into
the next life.
Why is Anointing of the Sick important? - ANS-- Gives strength in sickness and suffering.
- Prepares an individual for death.
- Shows God's presence and love throughout their life.
What is the SOWAA for anointing of the sick? - ANS-"they were sick and healed them" Mark 6:13
What is Matrimony? - ANS-The joining together of two people as one in marriage.
Why is Matrimony important? - ANS-- Two people give themselves permanently and exclusively. This is
the only sacrament in which the people give the sacrament to each other.
- They are open to the possibility of procreation and new life. God is present through the couple's
lifelong love and commitment.
What is the SOWAA for matrimony? - ANS-"they are no longer two but one" Matthew 19:6
, What is Holy Orders? - ANS-The giving of a distinct mission within the Church.
Why is Holy Orders important? - ANS-- Priesthood establishes Christ's presence throughout the ages in
the sacraments, above all the "Sacrament of sacraments", the Eucharist.
What divergent attitudes are there towards the sacraments? - ANS-- Not all Christians recognise seven
sacraments. Not recognising a sacrament means they do not believe it was instituted by Jesus - but they
might still perform it (e.g marriage).
- Not all Christians believe the sacraments are a communication of God's grace, instead, they are
expressions of faith.
What is liturgical worship? - ANS-Structured, public worship that follows a set pattern set out by the
Catholic Church.
What does liturgical worship help Catholics to do? - ANS-Grow in holiness and be saved from sin.
What is the mass? - ANS-The central act of worship, celebrated nearly every day in the Catholic Church.
Catholics are expected to attend mass weekly.
What are the four main parts to a mass? - ANS-1. Introductory Rites
2. Liturgy of the Word
3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
4. Concluding Rites
What happens in the introductory rites? - ANS-- A call to mind of sins and an ask of forgiveness in
preparation for receiving the Eucharist.
What happens in the liturgy of the word? - ANS-- Readings from the Old and New testaments including
the Gospels.
- Homily (commentary on the meaning of God's word).
- Nicene Creed (Sundays and feast days).
EDEXCEL GCSE ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
What is a sacrament? - ANS-An outward sign of an inward gift instituted by Christ, in order to give grace
to a human being.
It is a religious ritual performed in the life of the church that makes people holier.
What is the sacramental nature of reality? - ANS-It means finding the grace of God within the physical
world. God is invisible, but Catholics believe he speaks to humans through everything he has created.
How can God speak to Catholics in the sacramental nature of reality? - ANS-- Bread
- Wine
- Water
- Oil
- Words
- Hands upon the head
- Songs
- Gestures
- Movements
- Books
- Debates
- Buildings
- Music
- Work
,- Love
- Sport
What are the seven sacraments? - ANS-Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of
the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony
What do the Sacraments mark? - ANS-An important point between life and death for Catholics and links
an individual's physical life with their spiritual life.
What is Baptism? - ANS-The ceremony that welcomes a person into the family of God.
What is Baptism important? - ANS-- Person becomes a member of God's universal family.
- Person is freed from original sin, by sharing in the new life that comes from the Paschal Mystery.
- Person receives strength from God to continue Jesus' mission.
What SOWAA is there for Baptism? - ANS-Matthew 28:19, "make disciples of all nation"
What is Confirmation? - ANS-Receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit to encourage a faithful life; literally
confirming the faith.
Why is Confirmation important? - ANS-- It strengthens the faith ready to become a mature, active
Catholic.
- Candidates receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What SOWAA is there for Confirmation? - ANS-John 14:26, "the Holy Spirit [...] will send in my name"
What is the Eucharist? - ANS-Receiving the body and blood of Christ.
Why is the Eucharist important? - ANS-- Receiving the real presence of Christ in a physical way.
- Uniting the Catholic community through the Mass.
,What is the SOWAA for the Eucharist? - ANS-Mark 14:22 "this is my body...this is my blood"
What is Reconciliation? - ANS-The forgiveness of sins.
Why is Reconciliation important? - ANS-- Removes spiritual illness of sin.
- Restores relationship with God and community.
- Offers mercy, forgiveness, and advice to the penitent.
- Sins are forgiven.
What is the SOWAA for reconciliation? - ANS-"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven" - John
20:23
What is Anointing of the Sick? - ANS-Healing and forgiveness of sins in preparation for the journey into
the next life.
Why is Anointing of the Sick important? - ANS-- Gives strength in sickness and suffering.
- Prepares an individual for death.
- Shows God's presence and love throughout their life.
What is the SOWAA for anointing of the sick? - ANS-"they were sick and healed them" Mark 6:13
What is Matrimony? - ANS-The joining together of two people as one in marriage.
Why is Matrimony important? - ANS-- Two people give themselves permanently and exclusively. This is
the only sacrament in which the people give the sacrament to each other.
- They are open to the possibility of procreation and new life. God is present through the couple's
lifelong love and commitment.
What is the SOWAA for matrimony? - ANS-"they are no longer two but one" Matthew 19:6
, What is Holy Orders? - ANS-The giving of a distinct mission within the Church.
Why is Holy Orders important? - ANS-- Priesthood establishes Christ's presence throughout the ages in
the sacraments, above all the "Sacrament of sacraments", the Eucharist.
What divergent attitudes are there towards the sacraments? - ANS-- Not all Christians recognise seven
sacraments. Not recognising a sacrament means they do not believe it was instituted by Jesus - but they
might still perform it (e.g marriage).
- Not all Christians believe the sacraments are a communication of God's grace, instead, they are
expressions of faith.
What is liturgical worship? - ANS-Structured, public worship that follows a set pattern set out by the
Catholic Church.
What does liturgical worship help Catholics to do? - ANS-Grow in holiness and be saved from sin.
What is the mass? - ANS-The central act of worship, celebrated nearly every day in the Catholic Church.
Catholics are expected to attend mass weekly.
What are the four main parts to a mass? - ANS-1. Introductory Rites
2. Liturgy of the Word
3. Liturgy of the Eucharist
4. Concluding Rites
What happens in the introductory rites? - ANS-- A call to mind of sins and an ask of forgiveness in
preparation for receiving the Eucharist.
What happens in the liturgy of the word? - ANS-- Readings from the Old and New testaments including
the Gospels.
- Homily (commentary on the meaning of God's word).
- Nicene Creed (Sundays and feast days).
