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Hi, Matt —
Seeing you have been away from the Church for a while, it's best if you make an appointment with your local pastor or priest. When we receive Communion, we are publicly saying we are in a Common Union with the teachings of the Church. Even if you think you know what we believe, there are probably areas where you have received misperceptions about our faith from your time at the Evangelical-Interdenominational church. I think joining an RCIA program would be a great first step. It would accomplish three things:
- Give you the opportunity to re-enforce what you knew about the faith
- Clear up misperceptions you may have gotten from any other non-Catholic congregation, and
- Allow you to meet new friends and discover Church ministries you can get involved in.
Try to find a local Catholic parish
in your area that has a priest known
for a prayerful life and faithfulness
to the Church's Magisterium.
He will be able to:
- hear your Confession and
- tell you what is required for
you to receive Confirmation.
The seal of the Confession is private,
under pain of excommunication, so tell him everything you have
done that you think is sinful.
Just like any normal medical doctor,
he can't give you the correct medicine
(grace), if you don't tell him where
you are spiritually [ill|sinful].
You may reply:
- At times is it
a little embarrassing, confessing
certain sins?
Sure!, but through a little humility
and openness to him, you get the
grace you need. That is the important
part which can't be overlooked.
It appears you were never given the opportunity to learn the faith. The Catholic Catechism is the best way to learn the Divine Catholic faith that our Lord left for us to pass on.
I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but I no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
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Hope this helps,
Mike
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