Taking a (paper) list of sins to Confession

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ana_v
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Ana_v

Guest
With bullet points, for example. Does anyone do this? (If so, just out of curiosity, does the priest mind?)

I haven’t done this before, but it occurred to me a few days ago. I will be going to Confession today, and prior to that will write down the sins that come to mind. I want to do that, so as to not forget some, especially the ones most burdening my conscience. It can be surpringly easy to forget sins, especially if one has a really good confessor who offers great counseling (what has tended to happen, is I get very absorbed with examining the particular sin(s) that the counseling addresses, such that afterwards, even when I pause for a few moments to recollect what else I wanted to confess, it’s difficult to recall them on the spot).
 
Yes I do. I star my list to make sure all the mortal ones get confessed if there are any to confess.

My confessor does not mind, in fact he encorages it. Whatever helps you to make a better Confession, do it.

I do it because I am prone to forgetting things.

God bless.
 
But destroy it afterwards…

also it may be helpful to use abbrevations or codes…so if you forget to destroy it --it is not published in the local paper the next week

*(and handwrite it …no computer)
 
Bookcat said:
But destroy it afterwards…

also it may be helpful to use abbrevations or codes…so if you forget to destroy it --it is not published in the local paper the next week

*(and handwrite it …no computer)
Click to expand...
See, and I was going to say, don’t hand write it. People would easily know my handwriting, but printed, it could be from anywhere.

Unless you are confessing a crime, like murder, forget to destroy the paper and the police start an investigation, why not print it out?
 
Bookcat said:
But destroy it afterwards…

also it may be helpful to use abbrevations or codes…so if you forget to destroy it --it is not published in the local paper the next week

*(and handwrite it …no computer)
Click to expand...
And do not put your name on it either! 😃
 
If you feel more comfortable bringing a list go ahead, like other posters hear have already mentioned just make sure and destroy all the evidence 😃

I did this once and the priest told me to put the paper away and just talk him about what I had written. I did my best without the paper, it all worked out in the end. There did end up being one or two things I forgot but I mentioned them the next time I went.
 
Ana_v said:
With bullet points, for example. Does anyone do this? (If so, just out of curiosity, does the priest mind?)
Click to expand...
Hey Ana v,

I do this on occasion. Usually when I’m trying to give a more in depth confession to my spiritual confessor. It’s very helpful to do it every now and again.
Ana_v said:
I haven’t done this before, but it occurred to me a few days ago. I will be going to Confession today, and prior to that will write down the sins that come to mind. I want to do that, so as to not forget some, especially the ones most burdening my conscience. It can be surpringly easy to forget sins, especially if one has a really good confessor who offers great counseling (what has tended to happen, is I get very absorbed with examining the particular sin(s) that the counseling addresses, such that afterwards, even when I pause for a few moments to recollect what else I wanted to confess, it’s difficult to recall them on the spot).
Click to expand...
Yeah, absolutely. It can also help you keep your facts straight, plus it’s a liberating feeling when you tear it up afterward! Best of luck!
 
I have only done it one time - I went behind the screen that time 😛 I will probably do it again in the future, though not every time.

:cool:
 
PatriceA said:
I downloaded an app on my iphone.
Click to expand...
There are a couple of good iPhone apps for examination of conscience that can be used in confession. I use iConfess.

I have a few tips on using them, however.
  • Use the app’s ability to secure your entries using a passcode, if available, for security.
  • Examine your conscience using the app BEFORE you enter church. Take the right amount of time to examine your sins as usual and don’t rush.
  • Turn OFF all ringing and vibration on your phone before you enter church.
  • DON’T use the app while in Mass. Others around you often become confused or annoyed, believing that you are texting or doing something other than watching Mass.
  • If in hidden confession (wall or curtain), have your list of sins ready when you enter.
  • If you confess face-to-face, you might want to explain to the pastor (if they are unfamiliar with these apps) that you are reading your sins from a prepared list on your phone, as if you had written them down.
  • Be sure to know where your app shows the Act of Contrition, or use any guides that are often found in the confessional.
  • Be sure to IMMEDIATELY erase/reset the contents of your last confession after you are done. You don’t want to re-confess sins, nor do you want such a list to become public should your phone become lost or stolen.
 
Ana_v said:
With bullet points, for example. Does anyone do this? (If so, just out of curiosity, does the priest mind?)

I haven’t done this before, but it occurred to me a few days ago. I will be going to Confession today, and prior to that will write down the sins that come to mind. I want to do that, so as to not forget some, especially the ones most burdening my conscience. It can be surpringly easy to forget sins, especially if one has a really good confessor who offers great counseling (what has tended to happen, is I get very absorbed with examining the particular sin(s) that the counseling addresses, such that afterwards, even when I pause for a few moments to recollect what else I wanted to confess, it’s difficult to recall them on the spot).
Click to expand...
My father used to do that in Africa. Then we would go walking to a panoramic view to the harbor and he would shred the papers and (no ecology at the time!) they would go floating to the top of the trees below.

Later on, when he was a doctor at commercial ships, he used to go to the same priest when landed in the capital. Once, listening to him reading the paper, the pries said: “It is always the same thing!” I remember fondly of the smile of my father telling these and many more stories.
 
I did that during one confession I brought in like a note sheet on the things to think of when examining your conscious. But it dropped over the floor so the paper just spread everywhere so I just kept the paper at home. Before I go into confession I pray to God that I can collect my though and make the confessions I need to make. Then I go in and I always talk to the priest I don’t stay behind the screen. It helps me be braver in actually going and I realized that I remember more details about the confession. Plus it’s more dynamic. It makes me feel stronger.
 
I use a legal pad with one of those booklites clipped onto it so I can read in the dark.

But seriously, try these ideas:
  • Don’t dare do it on your computer or even a typewriter, or even on a pad of paper where the penmarks can press through. You have no idea how computers and typewriters can be traced; its a long shot, but it does leave information behind, even if you don’t click “Save”.
  • Write it on toilet paper in magic marker or vis-a-vis marker (their ink dissolves in water) so you can completely destroy it in a glass of water, or even the toilet if you want to be symbolic.
  • Use “code” so that even if someone sees it, they won’t know your sins. For example, let’s say you assassinated Caesar and then denied Christ three times. On your list you can write, “1. Ides of March. 2. Cockadoodledoo.” Only you know what that means. Then for fun insert red herrings like “3. Pick up dry cleaning.”
 
DianaCC said:
I use a legal pad with one of those booklites clipped onto it so I can read in the dark.

But seriously, try these ideas:
  • Don’t dare do it on your computer or even a typewriter, or even on a pad of paper where the penmarks can press through. You have no idea how computers and typewriters can be traced; its a long shot, but it does leave information behind, even if you don’t click “Save”.
  • Write it on toilet paper in magic marker or vis-a-vis marker (their ink dissolves in water) so you can completely destroy it in a glass of water, or even the toilet if you want to be symbolic.
  • Use “code” so that even if someone sees it, they won’t know your sins. For example, let’s say you assassinated Caesar and then denied Christ three times. On your list you can write, “1. Ides of March. 2. Cockadoodledoo.” Only you know what that means. Then for fun insert red herrings like “3. Pick up dry cleaning.”
Click to expand...
I don’t think most of us are so worried that we have to be concerned with whether or not the ink dissolves in water. Most of us will be okay as long as you don’t save it to a public computer marked, “my confession,” or leave the paper in a public restroom.
 
maryjk said:
So maybe Father should put a little crosscut shredded in the Confessional. 😛
Click to expand...
I agree with this. I can’t tell you how many times I left my stupid pieces of paper in the Confessional only for Father to tell me that he had to destroy it. Now I use the same Confessor and so paper is not necessary, but however it might be, it’s been almost three weeks since I have been to Confession.

God bless.
 
Ana_v said:
With bullet points, for example. Does anyone do this? (If so, just out of curiosity, does the priest mind?)

I haven’t done this before, but it occurred to me a few days ago. I will be going to Confession today, and prior to that will write down the sins that come to mind. I want to do that, so as to not forget some, especially the ones most burdening my conscience. It can be surpringly easy to forget sins, especially if one has a really good confessor who offers great counseling (what has tended to happen, is I get very absorbed with examining the particular sin(s) that the counseling addresses, such that afterwards, even when I pause for a few moments to recollect what else I wanted to confess, it’s difficult to recall them on the spot).
Click to expand...
You should just go to confession and telll your sins, what sins you forgot to tell will be foergiven by absolution. Using a laundry list can lead into scrupulosity.
You can say for these sins and whatever ones I forgot, I ask forgiveness.
Did you know when you go to confession, ALL if your past sins are forgiven.

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU
 
DianaCC said:
*]Use “code” so that even if someone sees it, they won’t know your sins. For example, let’s say you assassinated Caesar and then denied Christ three times. On your list you can write, “1. Ides of March. 2. Cockadoodledoo.” Only you know what that means. Then for fun insert red herrings like “3. Pick up dry cleaning.”
Click to expand...
That last sentence was pretty funny, and gave me a laugh! I can certainly see the wisdom in using code, my only fear is, if I don’t properly memorize what my coded language signifies, I could have a confused time at Confession! For today, I’m thinking I’ll do abbreviations, incomplete sentences or phrases, and other improper grammar.

Thanks everyone for the tips. Much of it would properly fall into the category of “common sense”, but, in the midst of preparing for Confession and praying, and then actually going ot Confession, (such that one’s mind is very concentrated), it can be easy to forget some of those things.
Jim_Roberts said:
You should just go to confession and telll your sins, what sins you forgot to tell will be foergiven by absolution. Using a laundry list can lead into scrupulosity.
Click to expand...
I can see how that would happen, but, I’d like give it a try a few times, and if I notice that my lists become increasingly larger, or that I’m constantly in a state of conscience-panic, then I’ll give the list-making a break.
 
Ana_v said:
That last sentence was pretty funny…
Click to expand...
Hence the laundry list reference to keep you happily on track 😃 One of the many ways to combat scrupulosity in the confessional is to deliberately omit your venial sins; another is to go to confession when you have no mortal sins and confess only a venial sin or two (this even has a name: “Devotional Confession”).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top