How do you keep a list of your sins? the mortal and venial?

[dann]

How do you keep a list of your sins?
And the mortal and venial?

Do you get concerned that you might forget??

 

[sko]

For me, a useful habit I’m still trying to build up is daily examination of conscience. I thank God for the whole day, ask Him to help me see both the good and the bad things I thought and did today and then “replay” the whole day in my mind. I have a little diary at hand where I write down both, thank God for the good things and ask forgiveness for the bad ones. I can then consult the diary when preparing for confession.

This is the ideal case for me; usually, I’m a little absent-minded and aching to go to bed, so I can slightly mix some steps together and rush the examination a little. I certainly have some discipline to build up

 

[jdavani]

I keep track of mortal sins. I don’t keep track of venial because if I know the venial sins, wouldn’t they be mortal?

 

[sko]

Not necessarily, as mortal sin requires grave matter, full knowledge of the action and its gravity and deliberate and complete consent. If you argue with a coworker and think “I hope the door hits you on the way out”, it might be wishing him harm and thus it might be a sin, but it hardly qualifies as wishing him grave harm, thus the sin, if there was one, is not in grave matter.

 

[Hereiam]

I don’t keep a list, and I’m not afraid I’m going to forget…that’s why God gave me a conscience.

I have a dear friend and confessor who told me years ago when I asked the good Father how I determined what sins I must confess, who answered, “If the thought or deed is bothering you, it is serious enough to need to be taken to confession”.

It may not work for the sociopath, but it probably works for the normal person.

A good, honest nightly examination of conscience might just eliminate the need to keep a list.