The vast majority of indentured servants in the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries were Christians. The majority were Protestant, with smaller numbers of Roman Catholics. Indentured servants were individuals who agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for their passage to America. They came from a variety of European countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and France. Protestant indentured servants often brought with them their own Bibles and religious books, and they were allowed to practice their faith freely in the colonies. Roman Catholic servants, on the other hand, faced more restrictions, as Catholicism was not officially recognized in most of the colonies. Despite these challenges, Roman Catholics were able to practice their faith in secret or in private homes.