Notes for Confession

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HailHolyQueen90

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If someone goes to confession and has a lot of sins to confess and fears forgetting a couple… Is it ok if they write them down and take the note into the confessional?
 
It’s absolutely fine. I’ve always done it, I’m such a nervous confessor I can’t even remember the rite if I don’t have it written down - I use the Confession app on my iPod touch. If you take it on a piece of paper, just be sure to throw it out once you leave.
 
As long as it doesn’t turn into a scrupulous log, I think it’s a fantastic idea. I, too, get nervous and feel more comfortable writing things down on a little piece of paper. I’ve also found that sometimes I’ll write something down (a venial sin or weakness), but when I get in there, I realize that it is more my scrupulosity and I don’t mention it.

I rip up my little paper into confetti when I get home from church, too. 😃
 
HailHolyQueen90 said:
If someone goes to confession and has a lot of sins to confess and fears forgetting a couple… Is it ok if they write them down and take the note into the confessional?
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Greetings HailHolyQueen90,

Yes it is fine. In fact it is recommended for peace of mind when going to Confession.

Of course going to Confession frequently would decrease the amount of time that you cover between each examination of conscience.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit
 
Excellent idea, just remember not to leave the list behind. You can also jot down a quick question or two.
 
HailHolyQueen90 said:
If someone goes to confession and has a lot of sins to confess and fears forgetting a couple… Is it ok if they write them down and take the note into the confessional?
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Of course, it’s fine. I was nervous that the confessional would be dark as the ones I remember when I was little, but it was fully lit so I could read my list perfectly. I still make notes sometimes if I have been struggling with something.

In fact, I could have used a note today, I knew I had lied intentionally but I forgot the circumstances.😊

But the priest told me it wasn’t important so maybe that was a scruples moment.

:rolleyes:
 
There’s no harm in writing down notes beforehand. I’ve done it myself, albeit I write it in a form of code so that if I lose the note then nobody will understand what’s on it.

I might suggest that after you’re done with it, rather than just toss it in the trash, you might (safely, of course!) burn the note along with a little prayer, as a little symbolic action.
 
PerfectTiming said:
It’s absolutely fine. I’ve always done it, I’m such a nervous confessor I can’t even remember the rite if I don’t have it written down - I use the Confession app on my iPod touch. If you take it on a piece of paper, just be sure to throw it out once you leave.
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I’m the same way, except I literally write everything down on a piece of paper. I don’t recommend throwing the paper out after. Instead, rip it into pieces and flush it down the toilet before you leave the church. 👍
 
HailHolyQueen90 said:
If someone goes to confession and has a lot of sins to confess and fears forgetting a couple… Is it ok if they write them down and take the note into the confessional?
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Yep, it sure is. When I was getting ready for my first confession back in the day, we were encouraged, no, let me re phrase that, we were told that we had better do it. The good Sisters were quite demanding back then.
 
I’ve done it most times I have been to confession and is acceptable. Make certain that you destroy the list before leaving the church.
 
I’ve made a list on a few occasions where I’ve been long overdue for a confession and needed to make sure I remembered everything. I almost always encrypt what I write down (I use a different alphabet or some kind of abbreviation, since the list is just an aid to memory), and I always go outside after my confession and burn the paper. There’s something satisfying about lighting that list on fire, that list of one’s sins, and scattering the ash to the winds. It reminds us of what the power of the Holy Spirit does within our souls–He comes down, a cleansing, purifying fire, purging us of our sins because we have opened our souls to Him, and then our sins are scattered to the wind like dust, no longer to burden us.

-ACEGC
 
edward_george said:
I’ve made a list on a few occasions where I’ve been long overdue for a confession and needed to make sure I remembered everything. I almost always encrypt what I write down (I use a different alphabet or some kind of abbreviation, since the list is just an aid to memory), and I always go outside after my confession and burn the paper. There’s something satisfying about lighting that list on fire, that list of one’s sins, and scattering the ash to the winds. It reminds us of what the power of the Holy Spirit does within our souls–He comes down, a cleansing, purifying fire, purging us of our sins because we have opened our souls to Him, and then our sins are scattered to the wind like dust, no longer to burden us.

-ACEGC
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I’d be careful with the burning thing. A lot of places have laws against that.
 
I usually don’t stress about destroying my confession note because I write very vaguely. I wouldn’t write. 'On Thursday, December 2, I stole 4 packs of gum from 7-11." Instead, I might just write, “7-11.” That’s enough to jog my memory when I’m in the confessional. If someone found it, it would just look like a list of random things.
 
Yes it is perfectly fine. I have been doing that for the past while too. 🙂 👍
 
hannajomar said:
I usually don’t stress about destroying my confession note because I write very vaguely. I wouldn’t write. 'On Thursday, December 2, I stole 4 packs of gum from 7-11." Instead, I might just write, “7-11.” That’s enough to jog my memory when I’m in the confessional. If someone found it, it would just look like a list of random things.
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Yeah, being vague doesn’t work for me. You’ve heard of how priests usually forget everything about a confession after the penitent leaves the Confessional? I’m the opposite. As soon as I walk into the Confessional I forget everything. Something like “7-11” would leave wondering what I had meant by that.
 
edward_george said:
I’ve made a list on a few occasions where I’ve been long overdue for a confession and needed to make sure I remembered everything. I almost always encrypt what I write down (I use a different alphabet or some kind of abbreviation, since the list is just an aid to memory), and I always go outside after my confession and burn the paper. There’s something satisfying about lighting that list on fire, that list of one’s sins, and scattering the ash to the winds. It reminds us of what the power of the Holy Spirit does within our souls–He comes down, a cleansing, purifying fire, purging us of our sins because we have opened our souls to Him, and then our sins are scattered to the wind like dust, no longer to burden us.

-ACEGC
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I think burning the list is a wonderful idea! In a fireplace, or a fireproof dish or something. 👍
 
I’ve been writing sin lists for years and handing them to the priest to read as I’ve always had a hard time of saying my sins out loud to a person I hardly know (despite the fact that the priest isn’t allowed to tell anyone else what my sins are.) Most priests are fine with this.
 
pollycarp said:
I think burning the list is a wonderful idea! In a fireplace, or a fireproof dish or something. 👍
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I usually go out on the brick patio. One tiny piece of paper, if watched while burning, is not likely to be a huge hazard. I was in Scouting for most of my life, so burning things is nothing new 😛

-ACEGC
 
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