I am a cradle Catholic, meaning I was born into the faith and received all my sacraments growing up. I went to church on Sundays, said nightly prayers, and prayed the rosary daily whenever my grandmother was around. Yet, despite these practices, the teachings of the Church often took second or even third place in my life. Looking back, I’m not sure why my formation was so weak, given how beautiful our faith truly is.

It wasn’t until years of hardship, when I experienced true pain and deep loneliness, that I began yearning for God to take ownership of my life. Even then, it has taken me years to rediscover my Catholic faith. There were moments of questioning and moments of clarity, often guided by people stronger in their faith than I was. Yet, through it all, God kept pulling me back.

In 2022, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and discovered a community of young adults who were on fire for their faith. It wasn’t perfect, but it set me on a path of success. On two occasions, I heard people in this community—humble yet bold—state that their ultimate goal was to reach sanctity and be in Heaven with God. At first, I thought this was odd. Who were they to proclaim such a thing? In my ignorance, I believed sainthood was reserved for extraordinary people—those far holier than the average person.

Now, I see things differently. Those two individuals weren’t being presumptuous; they were simply rooted in a deeper understanding of our purpose. Sainthood isn’t about being extraordinary by the world’s standards. It’s about striving to love and serve God fully, recognizing that our ultimate calling is to be with Him in Heaven. Their bold proclamation inspired me to reflect on my own life.

Through this blog, my goal is twofold: to open the eyes of others who, like me, might think Heaven is unattainable or not a real goal, and to discern what God wants from me in this life. How should I live in accordance with the Church and Christ’s teachings? How can surrender my will to His?

I’ve made many mistakes, and I struggle with the weight of them. While I understand that my circumstances have often led me to sin, I also recognize that a lack of knowledge and true teaching played a role. My hope is that this space becomes a source of learning, growth, and encouragement—for myself and for anyone else who seeks to walk the path of sanctity.