I DID IT! I WENT TO MASS THIS MORNING!

What a good day today has turned out to be, all because I chose to go to Mass this morning. It has been quite a while since I've been - perhaps a month or more - but when I entered, I saw the usual older-people, myself being the only young person by far. One lady saw me and remembered me by name from the last time I went on a weekday! They introduced themselves to me last time I went, but being me, I don't remember their names!!! Ah well. Next time I'll try to hear their name when they're all talking amongst themselves I guess, or just ask them again. I mean, I have never been good with names, and the medication (and often the lack of!) make me quite forgetful, especially with names. Almost like in one ear, out the other... ALMOST!

During the sign of peace, Fr. Flanagan came over and shaked hands with a few of the elderly people, saying hi to me on his way back to the altar. That was nice.

After Mass I went for a short stroll. As I passed Trinity Uniting Church I saw a sign out the front - Free community lunch every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 12-2. Well what do you know - that's today, the third Wednesday of the month! So I made a plan to go there. I need to get out of the house, stop locking myself away all day, ignoring the world, or running from it rather. Besides, still a few days until pay-day and I don't have much food left at all, so a good meal would do me well! We had meatloaf with vegies, fruit with cake and custard, and finished with a coffee and some different slices. It was nice, and the company, though older than myself, were very nice also. It wasn't packed, thankfully, as I was fearing that. I don't do well going to "new places" on my own when they're packed! LOL.

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas I thank you, holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who deigned to feast me, sinful and unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, not for any merit of mine, but only because of your merciful goodness. And I pray that this Holy Communion, far from condemning me to punishment, may bring about my pardon and salvation, encompassing me with the armor of faith and the shield of a good will. By it let my vices be done away, all lustful desires extinguished. May it advance me in charity, patience, humility, obedience, and every other virtue. Let it be strong defense against the wiles of all my enemies, visible and invisible, allaying for me every disturbance of flesh and spirit, binding me firmly to you, the one true God, and bringing my last hour to a happy close. I pray, too, that it may be your pleasure to call my sinful self one day to that banquet, wonderful past all telling, where you, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, feast your saints with the vision of yourself, who are true light, the fulfillment of all desires, the joy that knows no ending, gladness unalloyed, and perfect bliss: through the same Christ our Lord.Amen.