I have been struck down by a very bad cold which went straight to my chest. Thursday, last day at work before the big weekend and I was feeling iller and iller. Sweaty, cold, shivering. It was sheer hell getting around Newham in the morning to visit all my clients and see them set for the weekend. Popped in to a chemist for some self medication - Lem Sip max, throat lozenges and Benyllin cough mixture. By late afternon I was really feeling like I just wanted to go to sleep. Body really heavy and I felt so exhausted. Going home, at London Bridge I was so tired out by the effort required to just get home that I really felt like lying on the floor and just going to sleep on the foyer. But I made it home and went straight to bed. Where I have been until this afternoon in fact. My chest still feels as if it is full of broken glass but I am getting better. My appetite returned with a vengeance but, alas I have nothing in the larder and I don't want to venture out just yet. So I have a friend coming over this evening with dinner.
It has really saddened me that I have missed the entire Easter Liturgy. It is my favourite and is special besides because it was during the Easter Vigil six years ago that I became a Catholic. I find the entire three days (Maundy Thursday , Holy Friday and Holy Saturday) very moving. I often shed tears by the time we arrive at the Vigil Mass and we are finally allowed to use the 'Alleluiah" word! And when the Altar servers ring the bells which have been silenced throughout Lent - what a Joyful noise unto the Lord! The Mass is always particularly moving when an adult is taken into the Church and is Baptised (if they weren't before), Confirmed and Take First Holy Communion. The Easter Vigil is the traditional time for adult converts to be taken into the Church. In our parish we had two such and I have been part of the Catechism team instructing them so, a particularly bitter absence on my part. Thanks be to God!
CHRIST IS RISEN - ALLELIUIAH!
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