Is it okay to bring 'notes' into the confessional?

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MaryEllen1951

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Prior to going to confession, I usually spend a few hours doing a thorough examination of conscience by praying and reviewing the commandments, 7 deadly sins, and a few Catholic resource booklets/articles on mortal and venial sins.

The problem is that in my older age my memory is poor. I get nervous while confessing and my mind sometimes goes blank.

Is it acceptable to bring a list to refer to? I’m talking about just maybe writing down one or two key words that trigger my memory.

I know that all my unintentionally forgotten sins are forgiven, but I also want to receive the guidance that is often given through the priest to help me in not repeating them.
 
I have been doing it for quite a while. If anything, the Priest thinks it is a good idea. I can’t imagine not taking notes in.
 
Yes, i’ve done it and the priest told me to rip it up afterwards
 
Be very careful with notes. The problem is that you can make your confessions ‘perfect’… you can write on every venial sin you can think of. And you can start adding sins on the list even when you’re not completely sure that you are guilty of them. “Was that gossip?”… I better add this, just to be safe. ← an example

This has definetly helped the scrupulosity and OCD to take over my life and I don’t know how to escape this. Eventually I started feeling that if I think of a sin and don’t write it, that It will be an invalid confession. The next thing, I started doubting if I confessed with enough details. The next thing I came with a few sheets of paper with every word of my confession, so I don’t mess up.

I’m skipping another thing here, beacuse it may be a trigger for others with scrupulosity

Well… eventually I had a full drawer of these notes, becuase I was too affraid to throw them away, because this was the only way for me to proove myself that I said all that needed to be said in the exactly right way. Over and over again.

With struggle, I am no longer reconfessing and I did destroy the notes. I don’t think the notes caused my scrupulosity, but I do think that the notes were feeding it. So now I don’t use notes? I am not there yet. I still do. But now I just list sins and NEVER TAKE MORE THAN 10 MINUTES FOR MY EXAMINATION. I used to take hours.

I was about to delete what I have just written, because my scrupulosity will probably attack me even more - I already feel like I am trying to feel sorry for myself. I just want peace. But when I read this:

“Prior to going to confession, I usually spend a few hours doing a thorough examination…”

I felt as if I just had to write this. I am sorry if I made anyone feel like I am trying to feel sorry for myself.
 
Also, in the rare instance where I feel the need to bring in notes, I write in a kind of code known only to me, so that in case I forget to rip it up or anything, it’s just gibberish to anyone else.
 
The danger is that extensive list-making (as well as spending hours in the examination of one’s conscience) can lead to scrupulosity.

But I’m like you: I need to bring a list because my mind tends to go blank if I don’t, and it’s not worth the frustration. On the other hand, I try to follow the advice of a priest-friend of ours: when confessing venial sins, stick to two or three of those that are associated with your predominate fault. Perhaps only two or three sins doesn’t merit or require notes.
 
LiamQ said:
The danger is that extensive list-making (as well as spending hours in the examination of one’s conscience) can lead to scrupulosity.

But I’m like you: I need to bring a list because my mind tends to go blank if I don’t, and it’s not worth the frustration. On the other hand, I try to follow the advice of a priest-friend of ours: when confessing venial sins, stick to two or three of those that are associated with your predominate fault. Perhaps only two or three sins doesn’t merit or require notes.
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I agree with you - the hours I spend are mostly in reading material and some of it makes me think that being human is a sin. I have been going to confession every 2 months because that’s what was suggested in this Year of Mercy (I read the Pope goes more often than that). Honestly, sometimes I feel I don’t commit enough sins to warrant going that often. Is that the opposite of scrupulosity? In one homily our priest gave, it was suggested we pray that our hidden sins be revealed - the ones we aren’t aware of. I want to make a good confession and cover all areas, but I can see how overthinking could lead to scrupulosity.
 
Just a quick note for those suffering from Scruples, it is NOT recommended for these persons to make a list of sins for confesision. 👍
 
MaryEllen1951 said:
Honestly, sometimes I feel I don’t commit enough sins to warrant going that often. Is that the opposite of scrupulosity?
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The Sacrament is for more than absolution, it is for the benefit of counsel and for the sake of humbling oneself before God in a man. 👍
 
If the confessional doesn’t turn
out the light on the kneeler, then
sure, make a list to remind your-
self of what to confess. but one
of the two Churches I confess at
turns off the light in the confession-
al when you kneel to confess, so
I just make notes and try to memor-
ize it before confession.
 
This came up in my most recent confession. I came in with notes, and Father told me to put them away. He said the Holy Spirit will guide me, and he wanted me to be wary of scrupilosity. (I’m sorry if I spelled that wrong).

I would dis cuss this with your confessor and ask him what he thinks.
 
My original priest during RCIA advised against it because you’re putting a physical copy of your sins down on paper for people to see, but ultimately, it’s completely your decision since it’s your Confession. It depends how concerned you would be about that sort of thing, but human sin isn’t interesting or original and anything you confess, somebody has confessed before. I don’t write down sins as a rule to follow, but I have done it on many occasions. In the broader sense, putting thoughts onto paper has been one of the greatest spiritual weapons in my life and I’m sure many people out there would attest likewise. If you have frequent restlessness or an overabundance of emotions, fears, hopes, and desires in your life, then I would very, very strongly recommend taking up a journal. It puts order into your life.

I think if you do take up regular note taking, it is ideal for it to be comprehensive and not just a list of sins for Reconciliation. I.E. write about what you’ve accomplished, what you could do better with, your sins, your short-term & long-term aspirations, etc. A broader examination of conscience.
 
I also tend to go blank when confessing so I always bring notes written in a code that no one could decipher. I also tear up the list after confession. And no, I’m not talking about a long list of sins here. My regular confessor has no problem with me bringing a list.

As others have said, it is NOT a good idea to do this if you are scrupulous.
 
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