The Catholic Corner
From Pastoral Answers To Questions About Faith by Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci
Though I was raised in a Catholic home, I stopped going to Mass after I committed a sin that I know God will not forgive. Recently, however, I've had an increasing desire to receive the Eucharist, but the thought of that sin holds me back. Could God ever forgive me after what I did?
The Lord does not want you to feel condemned because of a sin in your past. He is infinitely loving, and as we repent from our sins and ask his forgiveness, he forgives us. He no longer holds those sins against us. When we confess our sins, and this includes any sins in our lives, God who is just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all iniquity (see 1 Jn 1:9). Read over Psalm 51, and ask the Lord to allow you to experience his healing forgiveness.
It is important that you speak to a priest and ask to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. The Lord uses this sacrament as a channel of his love and the ordinary means for receiving forgiveness. Confession helps us to be assured of his forgiveness and to receive spiritual care and counsel on living a holy life.
Let me also assure you that the Lord Jesus Christ love you intimately and has called you by name to be his very own (see Is 43:1). Although he is the Son of God, Jesus chose to humble himself, become a human being, and suffer upon the cross to save us from hopelessness and sin. Jesus longs for all of us to be in a personal relationship with him and to know his healing love and forgiveness. Only he can free us from our sins and heal the hurts of life.
It is my hope and prayer that you will come to experience Jesus' infinite love for you and ask him to come into your live as your Lord, Savior, and Healer. He is the Rock upon which you can build your life, and in him and in his Church, you can live a holy and joyful life.