Dear friend,

We are pleased to present the new Trivia quizzes in our “History of the Church Through the Saints” series. We have now reached the 11th and 12th centuries, a period of Church reform, the spread of Christianity, and the development of theological thought. These were also times of conflict, including the Investiture Controversy, the East–West Schism (1054), and the Crusades.

In the 11th century, the evangelization of Northern Europe was advanced by St. Olaf II, King of Norway, who promoted the Christianization of his people. Another prominent figure was St. Peter Damian, a strong advocate of Church reform. Meanwhile, St. Anselm of Canterbury, a great theologian and defender of the Church's freedom, paved the way for the flourishing of medieval Scholasticism.

In the 12th century, as theological schools and the first universities flourished, St. Bernard of Clairvaux stood out as a leading promoter of Cistercian reform. Another remarkable figure was St. Hildegard of Bingen, an abbess, mystic, and highly influential writer. Toward the end of the century, St. Peter Nolasco was born. He would later found the Mercedarian Order, dedicated to the redemption of Christians held captive.

This “History of the Church Through the Saints” helps us discover how, amid reforms, conflicts, and major cultural changes, the saints contributed to renewing the life of the Church and spreading the Gospel.

You can now participate and test your knowledge, here!

We remind you that the correct answer to each question is explicitly or implicitly found in the commentary on family.evangeli.net and even in the saint’s illustration. The brief explanations that accompany each correct answer are very helpful and contribute to the knowledge of the History of the Church and the saints.

Warm regards, The evangeli.net Team