Are you or someone you know away from the faith, but looking for a way back? It can be intimidating to return to the Catholic Church after years away and not know where to begin to repair the relationship that was broken so long ago.
An anonymous Relevant Radio® listener wrote that they received all the sacraments earlier in life, but had fallen way from the Faith. After many years, they began to faithfully attend Mass again for the past two years, but hadn’t received Communion or been to Confession for 25 years. They wondered what they could do in order to receive these sacraments once again and return to full communion with their Catholic Faith.
Turns out that returning to the Catholic Church after 2 years, 20 years, or even 60 years is much easier than one might expect. Msgr. Stuart Swetland, host of Go Ask Your FatherTM on Relevant Radio, offered this explanation:
“It’s a simple thing—all you have to do is go to Confession. And the priest will help you work through, even if you perhaps haven’t been there in a while so you might not know exactly how to do it—don’t worry. All you have to do is walk in ready to confess your sins.
“And since it’s been a while you might want to do an examination of conscience before you go in there. You can find examinations of conscience all over the place—they’re online, they’re on our Relevant Radio app; there’s many places you can find a good examination of conscience. And if you can’t find one just walk through the Ten Commandments and think of any of those you may have failed to live up to during these two and a half decades away.
“And then, just make a sincere Confession. You will know with absolute certainty because the Holy Spirit will work through the priest who will be acting … in the person of Christ. You will hear Christ speak through the priest, your sins will be forgiven and absolution received. You’ll be given a penance and you do that penance and you’re able to receive Communion and begin again the life of grace.
“Now of course, Satan will do everything he can to keep you from doing this. So expect some difficulties in this because he doesn’t want you to be reconciled to Christ and His Church. But be not afraid; persevere. Your heart’s in the right place, your will’s in the right place, your mind’s in the right place because you seek that union with Christ. And that’s the key! Christ loves you and all he wants you to do is respond to his offer of love.”
For more answers about the faith, tune in to Go Ask Your Father, weekdays at 1pm ET/10am PT on Relevant Radio.
