The message of Christmas since time immemorial has been on the lines of peace on earth and good will to all. The message is under siege around the world as the last days of 2024 fade into memory. Sadly, there is nothing new in this.
There is nothing the matter with the actual message. There is much that matters with those who would ignore or defy it. The message is under pressure on multiple war fronts, in all too many societies around the world facing repression, hunger, or the increasingly negative effects of climate change. The world needs a reset.
There are those who are trying to implement one. But it is a distinctly Sisyphean task.
At Áras an Uachtaráin, President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina are readying for their final Yuletide in the presidential residence. President Higgins has long been an advocate for that part of the Christmas Message that wishes for peace on earth to all of goodwill.
The president and his wife, Ireland's First Lady if you will, said in a statement that they have taken heart from the fact that many, many people around our world are advocating for that same message working to make things better for humanity, at this special time of year, and at all times of the year.
Said the statement: "This year’s card - which will be sent to international Heads of State, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the public both in Ireland and abroad - features a message of ‘Peace & Love on Earth, Goodwill to All’ on a design of doves and a rainbow creating a heart around the world. Each dove carries an olive branch.
"The inside of the card carries excerpts from a number of President Higgins’ addresses calling for peace and highlighting record global expenditures on armaments, as well as quotations from Pope Francis and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The back of the card features the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the 17 goals agreed in 2015 to build peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
"This year’s card was designed by artist Michael O’Dwyer, who also designed last year’s card, which likewise carried a message of peace at this time of the many global conflicts causing so much unnecessary loss of life across the world."
The design and contents of the annual Christmas Card has been coordinated for each of the last 14 years by Sabina Higgins.
Continued the statement on behalf of the president and Mrs. Higgins: "Reflecting the globally recognised importance of breastfeeding, six of the 14 cards have featured a breastfeeding image of the Madonna and Child. In recognition of the global plight of refugees, a further three cards have carried images of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
"Across each of the cards, Sabina and President Higgins have sought to apply the message of Christmas and the birth of Jesus to the troubles of our current world."
Speaking on the release of this year’s Christmas Card, Sabina Higgins said: “The sending of an annual Christmas card is such an important tradition, bringing each of us across the world closer to our loved ones and to our global family, no matter who or where they may be.
"The sending of the right Christmas image that best carried the message of love we needed to send to our national and global family has been a very important and exciting undertaking for me.
"Amazingly each year the special images came to me from places as diverse as the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin to a Church in Malta, including the copy of the ‘Madonna with the Green Cushion’, painted by and brought in to me by a mother on our breastfeeding, latching-on, day, and so on. I love the 1916 image – the only breastfeeding one I could trace with a young Joseph.
"The back of the card emphasises the vital importance of making the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals the inspiration and guiding principles in all our lives daily. May I wish everyone across Ireland and the world a very happy Christmas and send my best wishes to them for the year ahead.”
The Christmas Message is yet alive at the end of 2024. But it has to be mightily defended. So peace on earth, and goodwill to all men, women and children. And for those who celebrate Christmas, a merry, peaceful and holy one.
