Besides incense, another traditional scented element in Catholic worship is the Oil of Chrism used for various ritual forms of anointing (at rites of initiation such as Baptism and Confirmation). What ingredient, added into the oil itself, gives it its distinctive fragrance?
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Balsam
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Myrrh
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Patchouli
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Lavender
Q.2.
The Christian Church at large, across its many diverse denominations, remains broadly agreed and loyal to the principle of offering its members regular chances to attend a partial reenactment of the Last Supper, in which Jesus (originally to his Disciples) foretold and illustrated the coming sacrifice of His body and blood 'for the forgiveness of sins'. This ritual, perhaps unsurprisingly, goes by a variety of titles ... but which one do Catholics almost always use for it?
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The Lord's Supper
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Mass
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Holy Communion
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The Eucharist
Q.3.
In the eyes of the Catholic Church, is there any other way for anyone to become right with God except through the water of Baptism (and the other significant ritual details that go along with that)?
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Unfortunately not
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Martyrs ~ usually in the early Christian centuries ~ may have shed their blood for their faith before they had come forward for official baptism, e.g. those who were rounded-up for execution during the 'public amusement' of the pre-Christian Roman games. This ultimate homage to their Lord was just as valid as the comparatively cosy baptismal ritual would have been
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Catholicism recognises 'baptism by desire', i.e. (approximately) the intention to accept God through Christ as and when the person's first awareness and chance arose. This also covers anyone who never heard the Gospel as such because human missionaries had not reached them, yet whom God in His omniscience and mercy would know had never had cause actively to reject Him.
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The categories in Answers 2 and 3 are both acceptable in their respective, and somewhat extreme, circumstances
Q.4.
Apart from the great cathedrals of course, and several significant networks of monastic communities, most Catholic worship takes place in parish churches. Which of the following is almost certainly the LEAST likely sign that you are in a Catholic church, rather than one belonging to some other Western Christian denomination?
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There will be a matching set of 14 pictures (called Stations of the Cross) showing the key incidents of the Passion narrative, usually spaced in a steady progression around the walls of the nave
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There will be plentiful statues and other likenesses of the Virgin Mary in key positions around, and possibly one outside, the building
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You may well be able to smell that incense is being burned, or has been recently and/or regularly
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Organ music is being played
Q.5.
What usually comes next after the Greeting, at the beginning of Mass?
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A prayer of General Confession
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The Penitential Rite (sprinkling of the congregation with a symbolic quantity of Holy Water)
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A reading from the Old Testament
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Corporate recital of the Creed
Q.6.
You might almost certainly see more robed people in the sanctuary party ('up the sharp end of the church') during a Mass, than during its broadly equivalent ritual in 'lower' denominations. Indeed, aside from the celebrant himself, all the following would probably be present ~ although, at a pinch, ONE of them might be done-without. Which would this be?
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The Lector, who will read out all the relevant Scripture passages in a clear and sincere voice
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The Thurifer, whose duty is to keep the incense going (particularly at certain moments), and who may also ring the sanctuary bells &/or Angelus at the appropriate point/s if everyone else if busy
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The Boat Boy, who accompanies the Thurifer, bringing with him the (usually boat-shaped) vessel* in which the spare incense is kept ~ in case the thurible runs out during the course of the Mass. He will also have a little spoon or shovel for inserting more.* The whole outfit, in form and function, is not entirely dissimilar ~ at first glance, at least ~ to a lump-sugar receptacle from a formal, perhaps silver, country-house tea service
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The Acolytes, who tend the candles and move them as required at certain points in the ceremony
Q.7.
Since time almost immemorial, the Catholic church (in common with more traditional or ritualistic other denominations ~ but characteristically, more so!) has used colour symbolically in worship, principally by changing such linen as altar frontals and sanctuary-party vestments according to the liturgical season. The Roman Rite distinguishes up to seven of these (it's That Number Again), four of which we detail below, but ONE of these we have ~ as ever ~ mismatched with its liturgical reference ... which one?
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White (or off-white / cream, usually with some gold/yellow trimmings) is used for Christmas, Easter and sacraments of initiation such as Baptism, First Communion, Marriage or Ordination
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Red represents festivals of the Spirit (Pentecost), the Holy Blood and Cross (Martyrdom and the original sufferings of Jesus: Palm Sunday and Holy Week), and Confirmation
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Violet or Purple ~ cool, solemn colours ~ are used for the penitential, preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent; and for Burials
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Green is used at Harvest and Rogationtide (when praying for God's blessing on the beginning of the main spring/summer cycle), and for the Holy Innocents
Q.8.
Given how outwardly similar Mass appears to a communion service in many Protestant churches, and indeed how pivotal its central commemorative meaning is to all sincere participants, it may seem surprising that non-Catholics are not allowed to share in it. (There is no such reciprocal prohibition ~ i.e. by Protestants on would-be Catholic co-communicants ~ but most strict Catholics wouldn't 'let themselves go', however friendly and well-intentioned the ecumenical circumstances, because the Vatican prescribes one absolutely crucial difference.) So... what is it that Protestants, by definition, would themselves not be able to accept within the Mass?
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While Catholics recognise seven Sacraments (of which Mass is one), Protestants, for instance, reject Penance (Confession etc.) as an absolute precondition. Therefore in the eyes of the Catholic church, they are not fully and willingly subscribing to all that the Catholic (= 'worldwide') fellowship as a whole subscribes to, on Rome's own terms
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Non-Catholics, again by definition, are not obliged or minded to accept the binding and infallible authority of the Pope. Therefore, however much inclusion, forgiveness etc. he and his priesthood may preach, outsiders may not engage fully in the communion ritual on his 'turf' or terms
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There are elements within the Catechism of the Catholic Church ~ i.e. its declared set of doctrines which members must know, confess, recite and generally abide by ~ that non-Catholics would not have subscribed to, over and beyond the difficulties identified in Answers 1 and 2. If anyone is not in complete agreement, assent and understanding with an organisation (and may therefore be disqualified, by omission or commission ~ e.g. not having been to the Confessional), they cannot expect blithely to go through the motions, on at least somewhat false (& hence inherently sinful) pretences, of the most sacred and special ritual of the Church
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(Click this Answer only if you believe all the three preceding ones are applicable, and/or if you can't reach a decision between them!)
Q.9.
The individual Catholic journey (rather than 'pilgrimage', perhaps) begins at Baptism ~ at various levels of which, each of the following apart from ONE is held for true: which one?
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(Blessed) Holy Water washes away 'original sin' and brings God's sanctifying grace
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The baptism will be undertaken and declared 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'
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Two separate anointings take place, one before and one after the Baptism proper, and using different oils (but each of which has previously been blessed)
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There must be godparents (one only, of each gender, and who are not the child's actual natural parents) who are confirmed and practising Catholics
Q.10.
According to the phrase in the Nicene Creed (also shared in Protestant worship), the Church is described in four distinct ways. As ever, here we have taken the liberty of subverting ONE of them: which one?
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'One ... ' (i.e., the worldwide Church is united in its shared beliefs)
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'... Holy ...' (i.e. it is in indissoluble fellowship with God, and hence is just about the most special and sacred thing on earth)
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'... Roman ...' (because the Real Church, i.e. the Western Catholic Rite, is based out of the Vatican in Rome)
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'... Catholic ...' (i.e. its ministry embraces all races and regions of the world, without any discrimination or exclusion)
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