Louise Nealon: Why Mass is my guilty pleasure

The uncomplicated childhood relationship I had with the Church will never be rekindled, but I miss Mass with its mystery, silent moments and camaraderie

‘I have been sitting on the agnostic fence for a long time now, but the backlash against religion has made the fence an uncomfortable position.’ Picture: Getty

My mother has taken to watching Mass on the iPad on Sunday mornings. She gets dressed up, puts on a spritz of perfume and settles down to tune into her favourite priest. We happen to have a grá for the same one. He used to be curate of our parish when I was a kid. I remember writing him a fan letter after he gave a particularly great sermon. I was devastated when he left ...