At Christmas, many of us who wouldn’t otherwise go to church find ourselves doing so, and with pleasure. Carol singing, Handel’s Messiah, showing the crib to the kids — these are seasonal activities as yuletide as holly, shopping, or a trip to Santa. My two boys, aged eight and ten, thoroughly enjoy the whole religious experience, and have brought me back to it. It’s not so much me showing them the crib as them showing me the all-year-round shrines, candles and rites of Communion. Ciaran has done this sacrament, much to his pride, and Alex is about to do so.

Source: The Times December 19, 2018 00:06 UTC