Confession Cheat Sheet

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regression

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Just wondering if any of you have gone to confession and used a “cheat sheet” to list your sins so you wouldn’t forget?
 
I did when I made a general confession in Lourdes last year.

edit: What you are doing is cheating the devil. The devil likes to make you forget a sin and then make you doubt your confession. Among other things.

Paul
 
I do. I always take a slip of paper with me so I can remember both my sins and the number of offenses. I find that keeping track each night when I do an examination of conscience helps me to see patterns of behavior. Do I always tackle fixing these problems as much as I should? No, but at least I can become more aware of them and try to improve. I also find that taking a slip of paper into the confessional with me helps me overcome my nervousness and makes me less likely to forget a sin or sins.
 
daily_rosary said:
I do. I always take a slip of paper with me so I can remember both my sins and the number of offenses. I find that keeping track each night when I do an examination of conscience helps me to see patterns of behavior. Do I always tackle fixing these problems as much as I should? No, but at least I can become more aware of them and try to improve. I also find that taking a slip of paper into the confessional with me helps me overcome my nervousness and makes me less likely to forget a sin or sins.
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Hmm, I hadn’t thought of making a list each night. I just thought of doing it while I was reading an examination of conscience online. I guess in additional to having a list so you won’t forget a sin, explicitly writing it down nightly might prevent you from consciously or subconsciously glancing over something, or try and make it not as bad as it is… Thanks for the reply.
 
I have a notebook… :blushing: I don’t completely mark out everything (but I make a notation when I’ve been to confession) so I can see the patterns. Since I’ve started writing everything down, it seems that I have SO much more to confess each time… but I’m really hoping that I’m just being made more aware of things that I may have failed to confess before I started writing everything. My priest seems to agree with that assessment.

E
 
I always take a “cheat sheet”. I use a post-it note. I don’t always look at it, but it’s there if I need it.

Sometimes just the fact of writing it down, summarizing things, helps me to remember.

I do keep a journal, and sometimes in preparation, I go back and read through that. Sometimes things (sins) will become very obvious by some of the things I have written.

One time, I went to confession and just drew a total blank. Father was very understanding as I fished around in my pocket for my list. Now I just fold it up and take it out of my pocket as I enter the confessional.
 
I try to go to confession on the First Saturday of the Month as Our Lady of Fatima asks and I used to keep a cheat sheet, but my DW would try and peek, women!:rolleyes: Now I keep my list in my list on Pocket PC Phone, in a List software application.😛

Hey don’t laugh, had it Blessed by one of my Priest after one of my confession earlier this year.😉
 
I went to confession a few weeks ago for the first time in 20 years and I did bring an outline on index cards. Since I went to face to face confession I asked Father if it was okay to use my outline. He said yes but it had to be destroyed before I left his office - I tore it up on my way out. I had reviewed what I was going to confess so many times that I found I really didn’t need it - just glanced at it a couple times. I am planning on going to confession again - probably this weekend and will do the same.
 
GratefulDad said:
I try to go to confession on the First Saturday of the Month as Our Lady of Fatima asks and I used to keep a cheat sheet, but my DW would try and peek, women!:rolleyes: Now I keep my list in my list on Pocket PC Phone, in a List software application.😛

Hey don’t laugh, had it Blessed by one of my Priest after one of my confession earlier this year.😉
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Not to get too off track… But what type of phone do you have and what sort of list application do you use? I have a Sprint HTC Touch Pro. I use a program called ListPro for things like grocery lists, things to get for a trip, etc.
 
I have a mind like a sieve, and I think a cheat sheet for confession is an excellent idea. Just today I found myself in a half-panic in the confessional - I was unable to remember the list of sins that I had compiled in my head on the walk to church.
 
regression said:
Not to get too off track… But what type of phone do you have and what sort of list application do you use? I have a Sprint HTC Touch Pro. I use a program called ListPro for things like grocery lists, things to get for a trip, etc.
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I have the AT&T Fuze with ListPro. Haha.😉 I have a list going in a separate Check List File and use a Qty Field as well as the Notes section. I am not sure this or using a regular Mobile Word Doc would be better. I am trying to both out for now, I always have a few things to confess, no shortage for this humble sinner.:rolleyes:
 
GratefulDad said:
I have the AT&T Fuze with ListPro. Haha.😉 I have a list going in a separate Check List File and use a Qty Field as well as the Notes section. I am not sure this or using a regular Mobile Word Doc would be better. I am trying to both out for now, I always have a few things to confess, no shortage for this humble sinner.:rolleyes:
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That is funny that we are running the same hardware / software. I am so forgetful I couldn’t live without it!
 
I used a “cheat sheet” once, back when I made a general confession covering about twenty years of my life. Since then, I try to go to confession often enough so I don’t need one.
 
i used a cheat sheet at first because i got soooooo nervous in the confessional that i would always forget.
now i go every other week when i go to st louis because they have confession before every mass, and going so frequently i am not nearly as nervous.
 
I use it every time!

I keep a pad in my purse and whenever I do something or act out inappropriately i write it down.
When I go into the confessional, I have my "cheat " sheet and I read from it.
I also read my act of contrition right out of the book. It is much less stressful for me that way and than I am more prone not to forget any sins, although sometimes when I elaborate and want some advice on a particular thing, i tend to forget something else.
It no big deal to use a cheat sheet, especially for us that have “senior moments or freeze in the spotlight”
I’m fine talking to God when I’m alone with Him about things but when I’m in the confessional, although I know it’s God, I also know the man sitting behind the screen!
 
I have used them sometimes, especially for confession on retreat or when I’ve waited too long between confessions.

It can be easy to focus too much on the enumeration of the sins and not enough on the sorrow and purpose of amendment. That happens to me sometimes, how about you?

Betsy
 
Yes, I use a “cheat sheet.” I don’t necessarily read from it, but I do get nervous and/or tongue-tied sometimes, so it’s good to have a “prompter” to turn to when needed! I also have a little card with the Act of Contrition for the same reason. I see nothing wrong with it.
 
GratefulDad said:
I have the AT&T Fuze with ListPro. Haha.😉 I have a list going in a separate Check List File and use a Qty Field as well as the Notes section. I am not sure this or using a regular Mobile Word Doc would be better. I am trying to both out for now, I always have a few things to confess, no shortage for this humble sinner.:rolleyes:
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Confession goes high-tech. 👍
 
Newbie2 said:
Confession goes high-tech. 👍
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Yeah, not sure how comfortable I would be doing that in front of some priests, but the priest at my parrish talks a lot about his Mac and his genealogy research on the Internet, so he probably wouldn’t give it a second thought. Only thing he might object to is mine runs Windows Mobile as opposed to Mac (ie, iPhone)…
 
dachsiemom said:
I went to confession a few weeks ago for the first time in 20 years and I did bring an outline on index cards. Since I went to face to face confession I asked Father if it was okay to use my outline. He said yes but it had to be destroyed before I left his office - I tore it up on my way out. I had reviewed what I was going to confess so many times that I found I really didn’t need it - just glanced at it a couple times. I am planning on going to confession again - probably this weekend and will do the same.
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I have used a note before to remember.

I ate the note after reconciliation.

Eddie Mac
 
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