Ok to write it down before confession?

[PrayerGirl]

When I go to my first confession, obviously I will have a lot of sins to confess (my whole life). Just to make sure that I don’t forget any, is it OK to write my sins down on paper before hand and refer to it later at confession if needed?

 

[LilyM]

Of course it’s fine. You can even make a little ceremony of burning or shredding your writing into confetti afterwards, to symbolise your freedom from those sins.

You might want to use some sort of code in your writing or something, though, so if you drop the list somewhere or leave it behind people won’t be able to read your sins.

If your confession is likely to be a long one, you might want to (if you haven’t already) make an appointment with the priest for outside the scheduled confession times. That way neither of you will have to worry about other people waiting or anything.

You can still request anonymity and ask to meet him in the confessional at the appointed time, though.

 

[Newbie2]

Sure, why not? I get nervous sometimes and have forgotten the Penance!

 

[muffinmojo]

It’s great when you’ve got lots of sins or get nervous(ME!!), to write it down on one side of a peice of paper, and then write your penance on the other side-when you’re done with your penance, burn the paper, shred it, w/e, so you remember to do it anddd get an awesome little ceremony too =)

 

[La-Petite-Fleur]

I wrote all the sins that I could remember to take with me for my first confession. The priest was very nice, but he did say to tear it up afterwards so that no one would find it. I think it would be best to ask your priest. I say that because I’m not certain that it is something that is recommended, and God forbid the paper becomes lost & someone else finds it. But it may be helpful, especially during one’s first confession when there might be a lot to remember or anxiousness makes it hard to recall things. I don’t think it’s a problem, but just in case, ask your priest beforehand. God bless you as you enter into the Catholic Church!

 

[NMJenny]

I wrote out a list of my sins before my first Confession–only to discover when I got into the confessional that it was pitch dark and I couldn’t read a thing!! I laugh about it now, but at the time I almost had cardiac arrest–Father calmed me down and walked me through my confession, but to be honest I still have no idea whether it was actually a complete recital of all my sins, but the last thing that Father said before I left the confessional was that all my sins were forgiven and never to doubt that, so I took him at his word.

But it was quite an introduction to Confession…

 

[SoulRebel777]

I always write down my sins and take it out when i get in the booth. 50 percent of the time the priest says …thats some list you made up there…with alittle chuckle.

I think if your going to make a really good examaination of your conscience, you will need a pen and paper.

well for me I do

 

[FraterAndre]

Of course!

Everytime I go to confession, I write my sins in a piece of paper and the phrase “I firmly resove with the help of god’s grace to confess my sains, to do penance and to amend my life, Amen.” in the bottom of the list.

I give it to my confessor who reads it silently then he gives me a little advice and the penance. He then meets me outside with a lighter and he asks me to burn the paper in front of him. I don’t know why but I sure feel nice and refreshed.

 

[DL82]

Before my 1st confession I wrote out 10 pages, condensed it into 6 pages by putting things together that seemed like repeats of the same sin, but by the end of reading my list I was nearly having a panic attack. The priest also suggested to me to burn the list, which I did immediately, in the church, in an empty bowl where they usually store spare candles, to this day I’m surprised I didn’t set off the fire alarm!

 

[CatholicCajun]

I usually write my down also, just not to forget. God Bless.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Yes indeed. I do this, too. I sometimes worry about rustling the note paper… and what Father will think. But I can see by the responses you’ve gotten… that this is more common than I ever thought. Thank God for CAF… and that we can share our experiences. God bless.

 

[Jennifer_G]

I wrote out a list of my sins before my first Confession–only to discover when I got into the confessional that it was pitch dark and I couldn’t read a thing!! I laugh about it now, but at the time I almost had cardiac arrest–Father calmed me down and walked me through my confession, but to be honest I still have no idea whether it was actually a complete recital of all my sins, but the last thing that Father said before I left the confessional was that all my sins were forgiven and never to doubt that, so I took him at his word.

But it was quite an introduction to Confession…

That’s how it was when we had the oppurtunity to say our first (if we didn’t already make a confession the week or so earlier during the Lenten mission) at St. Alphonsus’s church. The confessional was pitch black, save for some light coming through the lattace work/screen on the door. The confessionals at my local parish does have a light, though.

 

[Brazzy]

When I go to my first confession, obviously I will have a lot of sins to confess (my whole life). Just to make sure that I don’t forget any, is it OK to write my sins down on paper before hand and refer to it later at confession if needed?

I went through the RCIA process recently and I also had the whole Confession process along with my list of sins typed out. I can only imagine what the priest thought when he heard the crinkling of paper as I unfolded it.