It seems that going to mass could save your life.

A new study finds that going to mass at least once a week can cut your risk of dying by a quarter, by reducing heart disease and cancer.

They couldn't specify why that is, but suspect it's because of higher levels of optimism and a stronger sense of community among church goers.

The study was carried out by Harvard University in Boston but only included white Christian female nurses.

It found those who went to mass more than once a week had a 33 per cent lower risk of dying in the following 16 years.

Those who went once a week cut their chance of dying by a quarter.