CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM

HIS SERENE HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ANDRE III TRIVULZIO-GALLI

14th PRINCE OF MESOLCINA AND THE SACRED ROMAN-GERMANIC EMPIRE, CHIEF OF THE PRINCELY HOUSE OF MESOLCINA

Once again we are approaching the Christmas Season, at which time, the first candle of the Advent wreath has already been lit. At this time, we must give a retrospect of how we have spent another year, and how our hearts are prepared for the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unlike in most countries, in Mesolcina (and almost all of Switzerland), we did not expect the arrival of "Santa Claus" on a sleigh, but the call of Samichlaus (St. Nicholas), mounted on a small little donkey, arriving on January 6, accompanied by another characteristic figure, the Schmutzli, figure "sinister" that accompanies St. Nicholas everywhere.

These two figures, so different but at the same time so inseparable, remind us of our difficult road to Salvation. For to those children who were good and well behaved during the course of the year, Samichlaus will give some oranges (yellow with their green leaves, eternal remembrance of the Trivulzian Dynasty), oranges that sometimes can be accompanied by nuts or peanuts; but to those children who were bad and behaved poorly, they receive from the Schmutzli a "warning" that when the Child Jesus calls them, they may not be on the side of Heaven, but accompany them to purgatory or eternal damnation.

In this scenario, neither Samichlaus nor Schmutzli bring real gifts to the children ... but then, who brings them? Parents always teach that gifts are left on the night of the 24th by the Baby Jesus. Many might ask, if it would not be more coherent then would the Magi bring the gifts? Not really, because Salvation was brought into the world as an undeserved gift brought by Our Lord.

This interesting childlike analogy of Christmas in the Valleys of Mesolcina is also very useful for us adults. When we are called to the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, are we prepared for salvation?

May we use this Advent period to prepare our hearts, so that we may receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most correct and Christian way.

A merry and holy Christmas to all.