Cardinal's plea for renewal at Christmas

by Jonathan Petre THE SECRET of .Christmas is not that we expect the world to change, but that we have the chance to become neiv people, says Cardinal Basil Hume in his Christmas Day message.
Speaking on ITV's breakfast programme. TV am, the Cardinal says the reason for our rejoicing at Christmas time is that Jesul Christ has taught us that it is possible to be born again at any age of our lives.
Referring to the IRA bomb attack on Harrods last Saturday, he says "1 am thinking of those in pain or bereaved this Christmas morning. Those whose lives will never be the same again after the hideous bombing in London a week ago.
And there are all of you who are sick and in hospital this Christmas who may find it difficult to take part in the rejoicing alf arouad you."
The Cardinal recorded his message for television, to be broadcasted between 10 and I I am on Christmas morning, on Monday.
In a separate statement, the Cardinal sent a special message to the Catholic Herald: "May wish all readers of the Catholic Herald a peaceful and joyous Christmas. The recent bomb outrage in London has shown us how fragile is the security we so often take for granted.
"Our hearts and prayers go out at this time to the bereaved and to the injured and their families. We pray for those who have lost their lives so tragically at this time.
"We must not be discouraged from our task of working for a world of peace, freedom and justice."
This theme is echoed in his television message in which he specifically deals with the issue of peace.
"We have all to find our peace this Christmas. For Christmas Day is special and will remain so, I believe.
That is the way not only to make sense of our celebrations but also to make a sense of life itself."
Christmas is the time of year when everyone is brought face to Rice with the fundamental belief of the Christian religion — that God became man, he says.
"It is a most remarkable claim to make, each year we ponder that truth in our hearts and explore its meaning.
"It is rich in consequences. Since God became man, everything human has been touched by the divine. Nothing now remains ordinary or banal. Even the daily routine of life, the work we do, our leisure, our family ties, our friendships take on a new meaning."
Relating the story of Jesus's life, the Cardinal says that Jesus was content with the daily round and the joys and sorrows of every day life.
"So they must be pleasing to God and a true pathway to holiness and happiness. Christmas then shows us how the present is transformed. It shows us also how we have been given the chance of a new future."
Many of the other bishops will be behind bars on Christmas Day — saying Mass for the inmates. Bishop Victor Guazzelli, bishop in East London, who is visiting Pentonville (at 9.15am) and Holloway (at 10.30am), said this week that he was convinced of the value of the visits.
"I find that my Christmas visits always get a splendid response from the prisoners.
"The prisoners themselves get a great deal out of it. They enjoy a change, and having a new face and a new influence in the prison."
Other bishops who will be saying Christmas Mass in prison are: Bishop Mervyn Alexander of Clifton, who will say Mass in Harefield prison, Bristol at Sam; Bishop Antony Emery of Portsmouth, who will say Mass at 9.15am; Bishop Brian Foley of Lancaster, who will visit Lancaster prison at 10am; and Bishop Howard Tripp, Auxiliary bishop in Southwark, who will visit Brixton prison.