From Kindergarten to Senior year of High School I went to Catholic schools, along with the rest of my family, cousins, and closest friends. Catholicism was what I knew. We studied religion in school, prayed rehearsed prayers, went through the sacraments, and went to Mass every Sunday at the 9:30am service.

Looking back, I never thought how my religion was anything but correct. Theology classes informs us of other religions. But what we did as part of being Catholic was the right way to God.

Looking back, we had a religion that brought us to God, but never left me with confidence in my salvation. Sin left me with the weight of guilt, and fear left me anxious and nervous. I never felt like I was going to Heaven. My thoughts included going to purgatory, hell, or trying to do things for sake of being on God’s nice list for judgment day. Getting into Heaven was always a mystery for me.

Through the sacraments, prayers, Mass, Lent sacrifices, classes, etc I know one thing is true: I never felt Free. I never felt the freedom from sin without paying a penalty. I never knew that my sin was already forgiven, I never knew Jesus Christ, His story, or His saving Grace. I never had Faith.