Bringing a List to Confession

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Is it okay to bring a list of my sins with me to confession? I get flustered sometimes in the confessional and a list would help me compose myself. I have heard that it is improper to bring a “laundry list” of sins to confession, so I wanted to make sure.
 
Rolypoly said:
Is it okay to bring a list of my sins with me to confession? I get flustered sometimes in the confessional and a list would help me compose myself. I have heard that it is improper to bring a “laundry list” of sins to confession, so I wanted to make sure.
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The references to “Don’t bring a laundry list to confession” don’t mean “Don’t bring a list;” they mean “Avoid the laundry-list style of confession.” It’s a metaphorical statement, not a ban on lists.

Some people get into a habit of showing up at confession and running through the same ol’ list every time: “I got mad at my brother six times. I pushed my sister twice. I skipped my homework three times. I lied to my parents once. I was mean . . . .” It’s the same thing every time, with some changes to the numbers.

If your confessor recognizes this happening, you might find him asking things like “What’s the underlying problem causing you to get mad at your brother? Why are you forgetting your Christian love for him? Why are you pushing your sister? What sin is that, and why are you committing it?” or some such.

It’s a way of causing you to go beyond the here-are-the-rules-that-I-broke model of confession to try to reach the I-want-to-follow-Jesus model. It’s more advanced, and it’s harder. But, eventually, you might well find yourself going in and saying things like “Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It’s been ____ since my last confession, and lately I’ve been struggling with the sin of pride. I’ve noticed that at work I tend to . . . .”

But, until you get there (and even once you have gotten there), feel free to bring in a list to prompt you in your interaction with the priest.
 
There are some priests who get their shorts all in a wad about people with lists. If you run into one of those, just find someone else. Or have a chat with the priest to explain how the list helps you and maybe he’ll not be so bothered about it. Most priests are OK with it, and if you’re behind the screen, they don’t know anyway.
 
Oh, I do this all the time! It’s a great way to really probe your conscience (beware of being scrupulous), and when you chuck it after absolution, it’s a physical reminder of your sins being taken away by the mercy of Christ!
 
But how do you actually read from it? It’s pretty dark in the confessional, or are my 51 year old eyes just showing their age?
 
You bring your sins to the confessional in any way that you can…
 
Hi,

I went to confession once and the priest did not like the fact that I brought a list. So I just went to another priest and he was wonderful and actually encouraged me if a list helped me to make a good confession, then I should bring the list.

Actually the list helped, I found that in writing it and getting it written so I could read it, most of the time I found out that I did not need the list at all. Yet, it felt good to have that security blanket.

To this day if I am confessing something with a longer number of stuff to confess, I will make a list, but most of the time, I find that I do not need it, as I go to confession frequently. The more frequently you go I think, the less you need a list.

Sometimes in confession the priest ends up asking me questions lol, I think he might have a list.

God Bless.

Little One0307
 
I brought a list to my first confession. The priest didn’t mind at all (maybe because it was my first), but he did tell me to burn it afterwards, for practical and symbolic reasons.
 
A list is good. After 45 years I needed a list! But my CONTRITION was not that good! The Holy Spirit told me to try again!

***ACT OF CONTRITION

Forgive me my sins, 0 Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body, my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins, the sins I know and the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed so long, and which are now hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial, for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour. I know my sins have wounded Thy Tender Heart, 0 my Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil, through the most bitter passion of my Redeemer. Amen.

Oh my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.***
 
Neithan said:
I brought a list to my first confession. The priest didn’t mind at all (maybe because it was my first), but he did tell me to burn it afterwards, for practical and symbolic reasons.
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Burning is always fun. I save em from time to time to make a bigger fire. 😃
 
I always bring a list. Or else I will freeze up, and not know what to say. Knowing that I have it written down, helps me to focus more on being sorry for my sins, and not having to waste as much energy on worrying what I’m going to say to the priest.
 
I’m a terribly nervous confessor, I’ve always used lists otherwise my mind goes blank and I can’t remember a single thing. Though of course destroy it afterwards. I have an iPod touch so I use the Confession app now to record my examination of conscience and guide me through the Confession because I also forget what I’m supposed to do/say otherwise.
 
PerfectTiming said:
I’m a terribly nervous confessor, I’ve always used lists otherwise my mind goes blank and I can’t remember a single thing. Though of course destroy it afterwards. I have an iPod touch so I use the Confession app now to record my examination of conscience and guide me through the Confession because I also forget what I’m supposed to do/say otherwise.
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Wow!!! EOC on iPhone, man what will they think of next. I must be in the dinosuar age using pen and paper. :o
 
Little_One0307 said:
Wow!!! EOC on iPhone, man what will they think of next. I must be in the dinosuar age using pen and paper. :o
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Haha I only use it because it avoids the issue of having to destroy the list because once you record that you’ve taken confession it wipes clear again.
 
PerfectTiming said:
Haha I only use it because it avoids the issue of having to destroy the list because once you record that you’ve taken confession it wipes clear again.
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Nice. Becuase I always forget to destory the list and I find past EOC’s scattered all over, place them in a pile to burn, and guess what lose the pile. By the time I do get to burning them they are a substantial pile. I don’t want to get an iPhone for this lol. Any suggestions?
 
Little_One0307 said:
Nice. Becuase I always forget to destory the list and I find past EOC’s scattered all over, place them in a pile to burn, and guess what lose the pile. By the time I do get to burning them they are a substantial pile. I don’t want to get an iPhone for this lol. Any suggestions?
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I don’t actually have an iPhone, I have an iPod Touch. Perhaps a small difference but not to anyone with an iPhone 😛 Though the app is also now on Android if you happen to have an Android phone.

What I used to do with lists was tear them up as I left the church and as I walked home I’d drop little pieces in the various trash cans along my walk.
 
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