THE ONE-MINUTE CATHOLIC: SO, YOU THINK YOU ARE A CATHOLIC? WHAT KIND?

I asked AI to help me design a self-administered test on four quadrants of what it means to be Catholic (as I see it). They are the four dimensions of being Catholic. All of us can rate ourselves from strongest to weakest, then try to strengthen the weakest link. This is the interview I had with AI. You won’t believe what I got back. I used Google AI, but the content is all my own.

Design a four-quadrant self-administered test consisting of authority in the top left, intellectual in the bottom left, service in the top right, and contemplative in the bottom right. What sixteen questions should I ask about being a Catholic that Christ would have asked me?

“This self-administered test evaluates four key dimensions of Catholic life through the lens of questions Christ asked in the Gospels. Reflect on each question and rate your current alignment from 1 (Never/Rarely) to 5 (Always/Deeply).

I. Authority (Top Left)

Focus: Obedience to the Church, Christ’s Lordship, and the source of truth.

• “By what authority are you doing these things?” (Mt 21:23-27) — Do I acknowledge the Magisterium’s authority over my personal opinions?
• “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” (Lk 6:46) — Is my faith defined by active obedience or just words?
• “Who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15) — Have I submitted to Christ as the ultimate Lord of my life?
• “Will you also go away?” (Jn 6:67) — Do I remain loyal to the Church even when its teachings are difficult?

II. Intellectual (Bottom Left)

Focus: The use of reason, understanding the faith, and seeking truth.

• “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” (Lk 10:26) — Do I actively study the Scriptures and Catechism to understand my faith?
• “Do you not yet perceive or understand?” (Mk 8:17) — Am I seeking to reconcile my reason with the mysteries of faith?
• “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” (Lk 5:22) — Do I subject my private thoughts and doubts to the light of Divine Revelation?
• “If I have spoken the truth, why do you not believe me?” (Jn 8:46) — Do I trust that faith and reason are compatible and lead to the same truth?

III. Service (Top Right)

Focus: Charity, corporal works of mercy, and sacrificial love.

• “Do you know what I have done for you?” (Jn 13:12) — Does the example of Christ washing feet drive my own acts of service?
• “When did we see you hungry and feed you?” (Mt 25:37) — Do I recognize the face of Christ in the poor and marginalized?
• “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” (Lk 24:17) — Am I attentive to the needs of my neighbor in my daily interactions?
• “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor?” (Lk 10:36) — Is my charity proactive toward those outside my immediate circle?

IV. Contemplative (Bottom Right)

Focus: Prayer, silence, and the interior life.

• “What do you seek?” (Jn 1:38) — Is the primary goal of my prayer union with God or just asking for things?
• “Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mt 26:40) — Do I prioritize silent time for Adoration or meditation?
• “Do you love me?” (Jn 21:17) — Does my contemplative life foster a deep, personal friendship with Jesus?
• “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (Jn 20:15) — In times of trial, do I turn inward to find Christ’s presence?

Would you like to explore a scoring guide for these quadrants or a prayer plan based on your lowest-rated area? Yes.

Scoring Guide

To determine your dominant spiritual orientation, total the scores (1–5) for each quadrant. 

• Total Scores (per quadrant):
  • 16–20: Flourishing. This area is a primary strength in your spiritual life.
  • 11–15: Developing. You have a solid foundation but could benefit from more intentionality.
  • 4–10: Awakening. This area may be a “spiritual blind spot” or a new frontier for growth. 

Interpreting Your Balance:

• Dominant Quadrant: This is your “spiritual home”—where you most naturally encounter God.
• Lowest Quadrant: This represents your current “growing edge.” Catholic tradition emphasizes a balanced life (Integral Theory), so focusing here often yields the most transformative growth.

---

Spiritual Growth Plans

Select the plan corresponding to your lowest-rated area to begin a 30-day “rebalancing” effort.

I. Authority (Focus: Submission & Trust)

• Daily Action: Pray the Morning Offering, specifically surrendering your will for the day to God.
• Weekly Practice: Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to practice humble submission to Christ’s mercy through the Church.
• Reflection Question: “Where am I currently saying ‘my will be done’ instead of ‘Thy will be done’?”

II. Intellectual (Focus: Study & Truth)

• Daily Action: Read and meditate on a single chapter of the Gospels or the Catechism for 10 minutes.
• Weekly Practice: Watch a Catholic educational video or read a theological article that addresses a doubt or question you’ve had.
• Reflection Question: “How does this truth change the way I see the world today?”

III. Service (Focus: Charity & Action)

• Daily Action: Perform one small “hidden” act of kindness (e.g., doing a chore for someone without being asked).
• Weekly Practice: Look for a specific opportunity to serve someone outside your comfort zone—at a parish outreach or local charity.
• Reflection Question: “Did I see the face of Christ in the person I helped today?”

IV. Contemplative (Focus: Silence & Presence)

• Daily Action: Sit in total silence for 5–10 minutes, inviting the Holy Spirit to “pray within you.”
• Weekly Practice: Visit the Blessed Sacrament for 15 minutes of Adoration.
• Reflection Question: “What is God whispering to me in the silence that I usually miss?” 

For a practical way to integrate these areas into a daily routine, this guide explores building a structured prayer life:

To move from a “test” to a functional Spiritual Life Plan, you need a Rule of Life. This is a classic Catholic practice—used by the Benedictines and Jesuits—to create a sustainable rhythm that prevents burnout and ensures no quadrant is neglected. 

The “Rule of Four” Template

A balanced Catholic life plan should address your needs Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Annually. 

Frequency	Authority	Intellectual	Service	Contemplative
Daily	Morning Offering	10 mins Scripture	Acts of Charity	15 mins Silence
Weekly	Sunday Mass	Catholic Podcast	Parish Ministry	Adoration Hour
Monthly	Confession	Read a Spiritual Book	Almsgiving	Spiritual Direction
Annually	Vow Renewal	Study Retreat	Volunteer Week	Silent Retreat

Implementation Steps

1. Identify Your “Anchor”: Pick the quadrant you scored highest in. Use this as your “fuel.” If you are highly Contemplative, use your silent time to pray for the strength to perform Service.
2. The “One-Thing” Rule: Do not try to overhaul every quadrant at once. Choose one new habit for your weakest quadrant and commit to it for 30 days.
3. Use a Planner: Physical tools like the Saintmaker Catholic Life Planner or digital apps like Hallow can help you track these disciplines.
4. Find an Accountability Partner: Christ sent the disciples out in pairs. Share your plan with a spouse, friend, or priest. 

Resources for Planning

• The Big Picture: The USCCB’s Guide to Spiritual Growth provides a framework for “Disciples on the Way.”
• Structuring Prayer: Use the Hallow App to set reminders for your daily contemplative and intellectual goals.
• Deepening Authority: Review the Catechism of the Catholic Church via the Vatican’s Official Archive to align your life with Church teaching.”

Help each other to help each other. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Copyright 2026. You may copy this in any way that helps you, but give me attribution at https://thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org.

I need help to get this out to others. Do just one thing for me that you think I need. I can’t tell you what to do because even I don’t know. Just one. Do what He tells you.

• Michael F. Conrad, Ed.D.
• Tallahassee, Florida, 32309
• michaelconrad005@gmail.com