“I went to Catholic school.”
That was the response I gave anytime someone challenged something about Catholicism and I inserted my opinion as the gospel.
I wore my parochial schooling like armor, assuming the time I spent in plaid jumpers and First Friday Masses automatically made me spiritually strong.
But in reality, the routine had just made me comfortable. And comfort can easily turn into complacency.
I am ashamed, but will admit, that I spent years being a lukewarm Catholic.
I went to Mass on Christmas and Easter, but otherwise only when I could fit it in.
I proudly wore the sign of Ash Wednesday on my forehead to signal Lent, a fast I never quite took seriously.
I forgot how to pray the Rosary beyond the Hail Mary and Our Father.
In truth, I was practicing what St. John Paul II called functional atheism: professing belief in God, but living much of my life as if God had no bearing on my decisions, relationships, or ambitions.
The Bible warns us of this in Revelation 3:16: “So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
Many cradle Catholics fall into this trap. We assume our faith is something that will always be there in the background, rather than something alive that needs daily attention.
In law we call it ‘res ipsa loquitor’ which means ‘the thing speaks for itself’. But, of course, our faith cannot simply speak for itself. Christianity is a life, and we must feed that life as we seek to get to heaven.
This isn’t to say Catholic schools are to blame. In fact, they remain one of the greatest blessings of the Church, forming students with Christian values, Catholic identity, discipline, and a moral compass the world desperately needs.
Catholic schools give us a foundation: reverence for the Eucharist, an understanding of Scripture, and an introduction to a life of virtue. Some of my best memories come from the halls and the pews of St. Mary’s.
The problem is that many of us stop building on that foundation once we graduate. We let routine harden into ritual without heart. So how do you move from lukewarm to fully alive in your faith? Here are five steps that helped me:
1. Test Your Spiritual Temperature
The first step is honesty. Test your temperature; Are you hot, cold or lukewarm in your Faith? Until you admit that your faith has slipped into “neutral,” you’ll never shift into “drive.” Recognizing lukewarmness is humbling, but it opens the door for renewal.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
2. Evaluate Friendships with Those Who Pull You Away from Christ
I always get pushback for saying this, but I need ‘iron sharpening iron’ friendships to keep me on track. Friendships shape who we become.
If your closest circle is atheist, agnostic, or dismissive of Catholic values, their influence will dull your zeal. This doesn’t mean cutting people off entirely, but it does mean being discerning about who speaks into your life.
“Do not be led astray: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
3. Start Engaging in the Sacraments Again
Confession and the Eucharist are the lifeblood of Catholic identity. If you’ve been away, go back. Frequent confession restores spiritual clarity, while the Eucharist strengthens you to strengthen your relationship with God.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)
4. Study and Research About Catholicism
Faith can’t live on childhood memories alone. Download the Hallow app, listen to priests like Fr. Mike Schmitz, or join a parish Bible study.
Deepening your intellectual understanding of Catholicism transforms faith from tradition into conviction.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” (1 Peter 3:15)
5. Increase Your Catholic Identity
Surround yourself with reminders of who you are: wear a crucifix, display sacred art, celebrate feast days, pray the Rosary, or volunteer at your parish.
The more visible and integrated your Catholicism becomes, the harder it is to drift into lukewarmness.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
Being a cradle Catholic is a gift, but it comes with a challenge: not to let familiarity water down faith. Being lukewarm is easy and allows for moral superiority over others who are not faithful at all, but true holiness requires effort. The good news is, the path back is always open.
Christ doesn’t call us to settle for half-hearted devotion. He calls us to love Him with everything. And that means never mistaking “I went to Catholic school” for “I am thriving as a Catholic today.”
Article Author: YourCatholicBFF.
