Catholics, do you write down your sins so you can remember them when you go to confession?

Answer 1

I keep repeating the same sins and so I tattooed them on my arm.

Answer 2

No. I tried it once but it just does not work. I found that trying to read from the list distracted me from the other elements of receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A firm examination of conscience prior to receiving the Sacrament puts the "list" on the forefront of my mind and that's enough.

If, after receiving the Sacrament, I realize I forgot to mention something, I know I am still forgiven because God knows that I intended to confess the sin. Still, I always keep these "forgotten" sins behind and save them for the next time I receive Reconciliation.

Some people will tell you that by ending your confession with the phrase "and the sins I have forgotten" is a great way to get away with being forgiven for sins you did not want to Confess. WRONG! If you do remember the sin - but deliberately choose not to confess it - then claiming to have forgotten it is a lie and that constitutes a sin. If you really want to be forgiven, you will find the courage to Confess.

Answer 3

I don't to confession as often as I should. I don't like the face to face format.

But when I go, I don't write down my sins. The big ones are pretty obvious, hard to forget and bother my conscience. I don't worry about counting my sins, only asking for help on my areas of sinfulness like hateful thoughts, pride and talking trash about others.

Answer 4

The younger crowd will generally create a small list.
This is beautiful because they have taken the time to perform a self-examination of themself in a manner that pleases the Lord.

The older crowd also perform a self-examination but generally have a better understanding of mortal vs venial and focus their confession on the mortal sin.

Remember, the Catholic term "mortal" and "venial" sin are clearly outlined in the bible as "greater" and "lesser" sin.
Furthermore, all sin is not equal as Jesus said many of times throughout the bible when He used the words: greater and lesser.

Jesus answered,
"Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin." John 19:1

"...they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first." 2 Peter 2:20

Booth confession vs face-face confession has exactly the same level of validity concerning the Sacrament.
The main reason for a face-face confession is because you may need to discuss problems on a larger level; like speaking to a spiritual doctor etc...
(family problems, marriage problems).

The booth confession is perfect for a confession that is short in time etc...
Furthermore, some parishioners may decide to attend confession at another Catholic church because they feel more at ease, which is also fine.

The most important part of confession is actually going!

Answer 5

Never
I remember my sins very well
Anyway,
I know that the blood of Christ covers all that i intend to present to Divine Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation

I do write things down to jog my memorywhen i go to see my spiritual director

Answer 6

While I am examining my conscience beforehand, I keep a mental list, organizing it around the 10 Commandments. Sometimes I jot down notes, just a word cue for each category or something, but not always.

Answer 7

Being raised a Catholic, being an altar boy for 5 years, I'd recite my sins during prayer before I went into the Confessional box, I'd swallow really hard because of nerves, with sweaty palms, anxiously trying to recall this little 'speech' I had formulated in my head and rattled off a liturgy of 'sins' (teasing my sister, eating that 2nd dessert, not brushing my teeth) until the priest (Father Spillane of the Sacred Heart Church, Villawood, NSW, Australia) 'absolved' me if I promised to say 5 Hail Mary's, 2 Apostle's Creed and 2 Our Fathers.
Meanwhile, next Sunday mass, Father Spillane would look at me differently, with an air of inate and mildly disgusted indifference, failing to respect the 'sinful' boy who was assisting him to bless the sacramental wine during "Holy" Communion.

Guilt. The ultimate Catholic marketing tool.

Answer 8

Nope.

Sins are best kept private. Writing them down only leads to problems.

We do make an "examination of conscience" by carefully reviewing each of the Ten Commandments, and determining which ones we may have broken.

Answer 9

Not exactly, but I do make an examination of conscience before making my confession so I guess you could call that a list.

Answer 10

My sons do. I do not normally as I have a fairly decent memory but we also spend time in prayer reflecting on our sins.
"Mea Culpa.."