What about sins committed during the conversion process?

[HolySpiritRCIA]

I am about halfway through RCIA, I was baptized, and will be received into the Church this Easter. My instructors have never really mentioned anything about our first confessions (we are about half and half candidates and catechumens), but from what people have told me, plans will be made for the candidates to confess before our reception. My question is: What about the sins that I have committed during (and before for that matter) my conversion process? I have struggled with many things, and continuted to struggle even after I formally began the process of becoming Catholic, and have committed what I believe to be mortal sins during that time. I am unclear as to what this means, because I have been told if I died tomorrow without confession, I’d go to hell. Since I will be confessing before I am technically Catholic anyway, can I not do it now? Is the fact that I am not at that point enough to give me pardon from getting to confession, so that my desire to confess and my repentance would be enough? I know that there is something like that for people who say, die in an accident on the way to confession (that being a pretty extreme case I know). Can you please help me to understand my “status” as a Catholic at this point as it pertains to the confession requirement?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear H,

I understand your concern. Once a baptized person gets to the point that he or she recognizes the need for absolution, that person ought to make use of the sacrament right away. You will need to learn how to go to Confession—which is a very simple matter.

See: catholicism.about.com/cs/sacraments/ht/howconfess.htm

Then approach the priest at your parish. If you have any trouble, contact me here by clicking on my name and then on “email” or “private message.”

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.