Were you from a really religious family?

That is always a hard question. The answer, I think, is no!

But, it depends on what you mean by "really religious." If "really religious" means praying all the time and going to mass two times a day and bringing into every conversation something specifically about God, then the answer is definitely NO!

If "religious" means that my family valued their faith and belief as something important and tried to quietly live the values of their faith in their everyday lives by what they did and how they treated people, and if it means did they go to church because they valued the importance of community and found Eucharist strengthening and nourishing, then yes!

My family had a quiet but healthy faith and valued practicing it. I also believe they were just like any other family. I believe our faith should be as regular and everyday as the rest of life. Often the word "religious" is used to mean "overly devout"; "repressed," "prudish," "cautious," "judgmental," "aloof from the world," or "perfectionists." This is, of course, not true religious practice. My family was never that kind of religious. Just down to earth, warm and friendly people who got a sense of their purpose and drive from their faith.