Duccio Di Buoninsegna lived from 1255 to 1318. He is considered one of the greatest Italian artists of the high Middle Ages. Here is the Christmas image taken from perhaps his greatest work, the Maesta altar piece. The painting is essentially a Byzantine icon that has been Italianized.
The Mother of God is resting and wrapped in a lapis mantle. The Holy Infant is also wrapped, but in swaddling clothes, anticipating his Good Friday shroud. His crib resembles an altar. The donkey and cow warm him. They are not mentioned in the Gospels but the artist's imagination is tender and alive. The animals understand—do we?
An animated angel chorus sings the good news. One angel bends low to tell the shepherds where to find the Child. Joseph sits on the far left, almost breaking out of the icon. He is confounded, but will again and again spring into action to guard and protect his family. There is the sub-scene below of midwives bathing the Infant Christ, signifying that this Child is truly human, as needy as the rest of us. Behind the flock of sheep there is a dog sitting upright - an image of the soul, faithful and true to Christ.
I send the image with hopes for your consolation and strengthening in difficult times—my Christmas prayer for you and your family as well.
At Christmas, may confident faith and hope sustain you,
may your heart be a cradle of love for Christ,
may your home be a new Bethlehem.
At Christmas, may your family be held in safety and peace,
may you feel God's compassion in the Holy Child's face,
may Mary's shepherd-welcoming-smile inspire you to hospitality.
At Christmas, may your life be an open door to Christ,
may you share the eagerness of the shepherds,
may you desire Joseph's contemplation and courage.
At Christmas, may you learn to treasure what is little and fragile,
may Bethlehem's remoteness challenge you to go beyond your own small world,
may the night of angel-song lead you to realize a religion that is of the heart.
At Christmas, may God's incarnate breakthrough lead us to reconciliation,
may the peace-message of the angels be your theme,
may the animals of Christmas make you long for understanding.
At Christmas, may hostility and fear be healed,
may Christ's birth teach us to love what is most deeply human,
may the Holy Child of Mary's gaze simply thrill you.
