assume nothing

today is a catholic day of obligation. it's mary's assumption into heaven - body and soul. i knew abt this for days now but still one hour before mass, i was ai-mai-ing going to church.

why? coz i wanted to go to tangs to check out the new MAC products that they were selling. of course i asked my one catholic colleague, who went with me to an off-site meeting venue, whether i should go to church seeming that the meeting ended at 5:30 and mass was at 6:30. my catholic friend said, in this order, "lets go have a smoke, then a coffee and pop into church to say some prayers BECAUSE if your mind is not focused on the mass, then no point sitting thru it." spoken like a true catholic.

so off we went for that smoke and a cuppa. then guilt crept in. slow and steady, it came nudging and eventually i found myself packing and making a bee-line to novena church. it was 6:15, i had more then enuf time to manage mass AND sneak into tangs after. well, i assumed mass was at 6:30.

first came the Angelus (which i remember reciting as a child) then came the Evening prayers to St Joseph the worker. THEN came the annoucement that mass was starting shortly but not before the concregation had to sing some songs. WAH! i was taken for a catholic ride. i was not prepared for these extras especially with the anticipation of my after church plans.

by the time mass started i had spent 45 mins in church with a full bladder. i made it past the homily and gospel. did the creed and i was out of there. not happy abt leaving mass early but really it was hard to concerntrate. really.

and so continues the second part of my journey with fatih ... penance.