Confession Help

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crckthrs

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When I go to confession I get really nervous and have to use a cheat sheet with my sins written out. My Priest doesn’t like it he is concerned that if I lose it before destroying it somebody will read it and know my confession.

At one time I found on the internet a sheet that listed sins and had a blank beside it for how many times was done. I can’t find the sheet or the website and was hoping someone can direct me to something I can use to take to confession with me. I didn’t write on the paper it helped me to keep my thoughts straight.

Thank you,

Connie
 
see my blog - I’ve got some good links about confession posted today:thumbsup:

Confession is the second most powerful weapon we have in our spiritual arsenal.

Don’t be scared! I used to be, but now it’s become a necessity for me, like cold water on a hot day!
 
Code the list of confessions, so only you know what the list means.

God bless
 
Can’t out of confessionals-my teenager makes it a point for us to go, even when I am busy with other things-sometimes that extra push helps out in getting me there.👍 He is 18 and my youngest is 9-I feel so blessed to have wonderful children who loves God. 🙂 I hate to confess this but sometimes, I act like a baptist (used to be baptist) and slack off-my kids are amazing in encouraging me to not lose sight of the importance of this beautiful sacrament. I do get nervous about going yet feel at peace afterward.👍
 
Thank you for all your help. I was raised Baptist and am now Catholic. I have a hard time with Confession because my sisters and I were raised not to really discuss what was going on in our lives. That and I naturally don’t like to talk about my faults…am a very good listener.
 
I have been going to Confession for nearly 60 years .

I usually write what I confess on a piece of paper .

It helps me prepare for the sacrament beforehand and to concentrate on the sacrament in the confessional .

If you abbreviate what you write , and scribble so that it is not easy for others to read you should have no problems .

When I leave the church I screw up the piece of paper and throw in a rubbish bin . That is symbolic of what God has done to my sins .
 
My Priest is very particular about how things are done. I did find a guide online that I will be able to take in with me today. I am sooo nervous right now am about to cry. My hubby thinks if I do more of this it will get better…No it doesn’t.
 
I empathize with you completely! And while it is probably never an easy thing to do, in some sense your husband may be right. If you continue to live through this one, nerve-wracking confession, then as nervous as you might get subsequently, you can always look back and use it as a measure: I didn’t die from that time, I won’t die now 😉

Been there, done that :rolleyes:
 
Thank you and God Bless all for your help 🙂 Went to confession yesterday and cried through the whole thing…my poor priest. Now to get the nerve up to go before Christmas.
 
If you have an iPhone, then “there’s an app for that!” Can’t remember the name, but has been approved by the church for use in the confessional. It’s password protected too!
 
One way to avoid needing the paper would be to go more frequently (easier to remember since there would be less to confess;)).

Another thing would be, instead of writing out your sins, to write out the virtue that you lacked when you fell to that sin, after all, confession is only partly about the forgiveness of your sins, but also about our Lord wanting to give you the grace to be with Him always.

E.g.: Before you would write:
  • I pigged out (gluttony)
  • I looked at that other person’s calves…maybe for longer than I should’ve (lust)
  • I thought about how much holier I am than the lady sitting up front at Mass (pride)
  • etc.
Now you can write instead:
  • May I be graced with temperance (you’ll remember you pigged out, and will be able to tell so to the priest)
  • I want to have an increase in the virtue of chastity
  • I pray for humility, and for the holiness of others
  • etc.
Or maybe keep a journal (harder to lose than a sheet)

Just some ideas 👍
 
crckthrs said:
Thank you and God Bless all for your help 🙂 Went to confession yesterday and cried through the whole thing…my poor priest. Now to get the nerve up to go before Christmas.
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Happy Easter!!

I strongly recommend that you try to go once a month. The graces you receive help you to grow in faith. the repetition of going will help make it less nerve-wracking through familiarity, and best of all you’ll have less time to commit sins in between!
 
I’ve written out a little note to myself when I’ve need to for Confession before. There’s nothing wrong it. Even if your priest thinks it’s not advisable in case you lose the note, it’s certainly not a sin to do so.

As people have already suggested it, write it in a way that means only you can understand it - code or shorthand.

Then, rather than just tossing it in the trash, how about, after you’ve done your penance, symbolically burning it? That would work on both the practical and spiritual levels.
 
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