diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/index.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/index.ts
index a6d9e7560..450814e1d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/index.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ let config: LinguiConfigNormalized
 export type LinguiPluginOpts = {
   // explicitly set by CLI when running extraction process
   extract?: boolean
+  stripMessageField?: boolean
   linguiConfig?: LinguiConfigNormalized
 }
 
@@ -46,6 +47,19 @@ function reportUnsupportedSyntax(path: NodePath, e: Error) {
   throw codeFrameError
 }
 
+function shouldStripMessageProp(opts: LinguiPluginOpts) {
+  if (opts.extract) {
+    // never strip message during extraction process
+    return false
+  }
+  if (typeof opts.stripMessageField === "boolean") {
+    // if explicitly set in options, use it
+    return opts.stripMessageField
+  }
+  // default to strip message in production if no explicit option is set
+  return process.env.NODE_ENV === "production"
+}
+
 type LinguiSymbol = "Trans" | "useLingui" | "i18n"
 
 const getIdentifierPath = ((path: NodePath, node: Identifier) => {
@@ -186,6 +200,9 @@ export default function ({
                     stripNonEssentialProps:
                       process.env.NODE_ENV == "production" &&
                       !(state.opts as LinguiPluginOpts).extract,
+                    stripMessageProp: shouldStripMessageProp(
+                      state.opts as LinguiPluginOpts
+                    ),
                   }
                 )
 
@@ -214,6 +231,9 @@ export default function ({
                   stripNonEssentialProps:
                     process.env.NODE_ENV == "production" &&
                     !(state.opts as LinguiPluginOpts).extract,
+                  stripMessageProp: shouldStripMessageProp(
+                    state.opts as LinguiPluginOpts
+                  ),
                   i18nImportName: getSymbolIdentifier(state, "i18n").name,
                   useLinguiImportName: getSymbolIdentifier(state, "useLingui")
                     .name,
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJs.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJs.ts
index a114c277e..3d35d9842 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJs.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJs.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export type MacroJsOpts = {
   useLinguiImportName: string
 
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean
+  stripMessageProp: boolean
   isLinguiIdentifier: (node: Identifier, macro: JsMacroName) => boolean
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@ export class MacroJs {
 
     this._ctx = createMacroJsContext(
       opts.isLinguiIdentifier,
-      opts.stripNonEssentialProps
+      opts.stripNonEssentialProps,
+      opts.stripMessageProp
     )
   }
 
@@ -59,7 +61,8 @@ export class MacroJs {
       createMessageDescriptorFromTokens(
         tokens,
         path.node.loc,
-        this._ctx.stripNonEssentialProps
+        this._ctx.stripNonEssentialProps,
+        this._ctx.stripMessageProp
       ),
       linguiInstance
     )
@@ -89,7 +92,8 @@ export class MacroJs {
       return createMessageDescriptorFromTokens(
         tokens,
         path.node.loc,
-        ctx.stripNonEssentialProps
+        ctx.stripNonEssentialProps,
+        ctx.stripMessageProp
       )
     }
 
@@ -260,7 +264,8 @@ export class MacroJs {
           const descriptor = createMessageDescriptorFromTokens(
             tokens,
             currentPath.node.loc,
-            ctx.stripNonEssentialProps
+            ctx.stripNonEssentialProps,
+            ctx.stripMessageProp
           )
 
           const callExpr = t.callExpression(
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.test.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.test.ts
index 4e00d5962..3bf9464ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.test.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.test.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,13 @@ const parseExpression = (expression: string) => {
 }
 
 function createMacroCtx() {
-  return createMacroJsContext((identifier, macro) => {
-    return identifier.name === macro
-  }, false)
+  return createMacroJsContext(
+    (identifier, macro) => {
+      return identifier.name === macro
+    },
+    false, // stripNonEssentialProps
+    false // stripMessageProp
+  )
 }
 
 describe("js macro", () => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.ts
index 51ca1bfad..8c7e942cc 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsAst.ts
@@ -18,17 +18,20 @@ export type MacroJsContext = {
   // Positional expressions counter (e.g. for placeholders `Hello {0}, today is {1}`)
   getExpressionIndex: () => number
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean
+  stripMessageProp: boolean
   isLinguiIdentifier: (node: Identifier, macro: JsMacroName) => boolean
 }
 
 export function createMacroJsContext(
   isLinguiIdentifier: MacroJsContext["isLinguiIdentifier"],
-  stripNonEssentialProps: boolean
+  stripNonEssentialProps: boolean,
+  stripMessageProp: boolean
 ): MacroJsContext {
   return {
     getExpressionIndex: makeCounter(),
     isLinguiIdentifier,
     stripNonEssentialProps,
+    stripMessageProp,
   }
 }
 
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ export function processDescriptor(
     tokens,
     descriptor.loc,
     ctx.stripNonEssentialProps,
+    ctx.stripMessageProp,
     {
       id: idProperty,
       context: contextProperty,
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.test.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.test.ts
index a7bbf58da..b16b2b560 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.test.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.test.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ const parseExpression = (expression: string) => {
 function createMacro() {
   return new MacroJSX(
     { types },
-    { stripNonEssentialProps: false, transImportName: "Trans" }
+    {
+      stripNonEssentialProps: false,
+      stripMessageProp: false,
+      transImportName: "Trans",
+    }
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.ts
index cc8ae2e1f..a867bac01 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/macroJsx.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ function maybeNodeValue(node: Node): { text: string; loc: SourceLocation } {
 
 export type MacroJsxOpts = {
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean
+  stripMessageProp: boolean
   transImportName: string
 }
 
@@ -53,11 +54,13 @@ export class MacroJSX {
   expressionIndex = makeCounter()
   elementIndex = makeCounter()
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean
+  stripMessageProp: boolean
   transImportName: string
 
   constructor({ types }: { types: typeof babelTypes }, opts: MacroJsxOpts) {
     this.types = types
     this.stripNonEssentialProps = opts.stripNonEssentialProps
+    this.stripMessageProp = opts.stripMessageProp
     this.transImportName = opts.transImportName
   }
 
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ export class MacroJSX {
       tokens,
       path.node.loc,
       this.stripNonEssentialProps,
+      this.stripMessageProp,
       {
         id,
         context,
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/messageDescriptorUtils.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/messageDescriptorUtils.ts
index c85936fb2..165c0032f 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/messageDescriptorUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/src/messageDescriptorUtils.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export function createMessageDescriptorFromTokens(
   tokens: Tokens,
   oldLoc: SourceLocation,
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean,
+  stripMessageProp: boolean,
   defaults: {
     id?: TextWithLoc | ObjectProperty
     context?: TextWithLoc | ObjectProperty
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export function createMessageDescriptorFromTokens(
     buildICUFromTokens(tokens),
     oldLoc,
     stripNonEssentialProps,
+    stripMessageProp,
     defaults
   )
 }
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ export function createMessageDescriptor(
   result: Partial<ParsedResult>,
   oldLoc: SourceLocation,
   stripNonEssentialProps: boolean,
+  stripMessageProp: boolean,
   defaults: {
     id?: TextWithLoc | ObjectProperty
     context?: TextWithLoc | ObjectProperty
@@ -76,13 +79,15 @@ export function createMessageDescriptor(
         )
   )
 
-  if (!stripNonEssentialProps) {
+  if (!stripMessageProp) {
     if (message) {
       properties.push(
         createStringObjectProperty(MsgDescriptorPropKey.message, message)
       )
     }
+  }
 
+  if (!stripNonEssentialProps) {
     if (defaults.comment) {
       properties.push(
         isObjectProperty(defaults.comment)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/js-t.test.ts.snap b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/js-t.test.ts.snap
index ee22a3056..f1db6876c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/js-t.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/js-t.test.ts.snap
@@ -156,6 +156,31 @@ const msg = _i18n._(
 
 `;
 
+exports[`Production - message prop is kept if stripMessageField: false 1`] = `
+import { t } from "@lingui/macro";
+const msg = t({
+  message: \`Hello \${name}\`,
+  id: "msgId",
+  comment: "description for translators",
+  context: "My Context",
+});
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { i18n as _i18n } from "@lingui/core";
+const msg = _i18n._(
+  /*i18n*/
+  {
+    id: "msgId",
+    message: "Hello {name}",
+    values: {
+      name: name,
+    },
+  }
+);
+
+`;
+
 exports[`Production - only essential props are kept 1`] = `
 import { t } from "@lingui/core/macro";
 const msg = t\`Message\`;
@@ -570,6 +595,39 @@ const msg = _i18n._();
 
 `;
 
+exports[`stripMessageField option - Message prop is kept during extraction process if extract: true and stripMessageField: true 1`] = `
+import { t } from "@lingui/macro";
+const msg = t\`Message\`;
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { i18n as _i18n } from "@lingui/core";
+const msg = _i18n._(
+  /*i18n*/
+  {
+    id: "xDAtGP",
+    message: "Message",
+  }
+);
+
+`;
+
+exports[`stripMessageField option - message prop is removed if stripMessageField: true 1`] = `
+import { t } from "@lingui/macro";
+const msg = t\`Message\`;
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { i18n as _i18n } from "@lingui/core";
+const msg = _i18n._(
+  /*i18n*/
+  {
+    id: "xDAtGP",
+  }
+);
+
+`;
+
 exports[`t\`\` macro could be renamed 1`] = `
 import { t as t2 } from "@lingui/core/macro";
 const a = t2\`Expression assignment\`;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/jsx-trans.test.ts.snap b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/jsx-trans.test.ts.snap
index 8edb94936..f6b6e9b4d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/jsx-trans.test.ts.snap
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/__snapshots__/jsx-trans.test.ts.snap
@@ -411,6 +411,27 @@ import { Trans as _Trans } from "@lingui/react";
 
 `;
 
+exports[`Production - message prop is kept if stripMessageField: false 1`] = `
+import { Trans } from "@lingui/macro";
+<Trans id="msg.hello" comment="Hello World">
+  Hello World
+</Trans>;
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { Trans as _Trans } from "@lingui/react";
+<_Trans
+  {
+    /*i18n*/
+    ...{
+      id: "msg.hello",
+      message: "Hello World",
+    }
+  }
+/>;
+
+`;
+
 exports[`Production - only essential props are kept 1`] = `
 import { Trans } from "@lingui/react/macro";
 <Trans id="msg.hello" context="my context" comment="Hello World">
@@ -791,3 +812,40 @@ import { Trans as _Trans } from "@lingui/react";
 />;
 
 `;
+
+exports[`stripMessageField option - Message prop is kept during extraction process if extract: true and stripMessageField: true 1`] = `
+import { Trans } from "@lingui/macro";
+<Trans id="msg.hello">Hello World</Trans>;
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { Trans as _Trans } from "@lingui/react";
+<_Trans
+  {
+    /*i18n*/
+    ...{
+      id: "msg.hello",
+      message: "Hello World",
+    }
+  }
+/>;
+
+`;
+
+exports[`stripMessageField option - message prop is removed if stripMessageField: true 1`] = `
+import { Trans } from "@lingui/macro";
+<Trans id="msg.hello">Hello World</Trans>;
+
+↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+import { Trans as _Trans } from "@lingui/react";
+<_Trans
+  {
+    /*i18n*/
+    ...{
+      id: "msg.hello",
+    }
+  }
+/>;
+
+`;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/js-t.test.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/js-t.test.ts
index b11afc7cc..ed2e0796e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/js-t.test.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/js-t.test.ts
@@ -156,6 +156,27 @@ macroTester({
         const msg = t()
       `,
     },
+    {
+      name: "stripMessageField option - message prop is removed if stripMessageField: true",
+      macroOpts: {
+        stripMessageField: true,
+      },
+      code: `
+          import { t } from '@lingui/macro'
+          const msg = t\`Message\`
+        `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "stripMessageField option - Message prop is kept during extraction process if extract: true and stripMessageField: true",
+      macroOpts: {
+        extract: true,
+        stripMessageField: true,
+      },
+      code: `
+          import { t } from '@lingui/macro'
+          const msg = t\`Message\`
+        `,
+    },
     {
       name: "Production - only essential props are kept",
       production: true,
@@ -204,6 +225,22 @@ macroTester({
         })
     `,
     },
+    {
+      name: "Production - message prop is kept if stripMessageField: false",
+      production: true,
+      macroOpts: {
+        stripMessageField: false,
+      },
+      code: `
+          import { t } from '@lingui/macro';
+          const msg = t({
+              message: \`Hello $\{name\}\`,
+              id: 'msgId',
+              comment: 'description for translators',
+              context: 'My Context',
+          })
+      `,
+    },
     {
       name: "Production - all props kept if extract: true",
       production: true,
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/jsx-trans.test.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/jsx-trans.test.ts
index a7289481b..8fcb5d783 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/jsx-trans.test.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-lingui-macro/test/jsx-trans.test.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,27 @@ macroTester({
         <Trans>{<br />}</Trans>;
       `,
     },
+    {
+      name: "stripMessageField option - message prop is removed if stripMessageField: true",
+      macroOpts: {
+        stripMessageField: true,
+      },
+      code: `
+      import { Trans } from '@lingui/macro';
+      <Trans id="msg.hello">Hello World</Trans>
+    `,
+    },
+    {
+      name: "stripMessageField option - Message prop is kept during extraction process if extract: true and stripMessageField: true",
+      macroOpts: {
+        extract: true,
+        stripMessageField: true,
+      },
+      code: `
+      import { Trans } from '@lingui/macro';
+      <Trans id="msg.hello">Hello World</Trans>
+    `,
+    },
     {
       name: "Production - only essential props are kept",
       production: true,
@@ -171,6 +192,17 @@ macroTester({
         <Trans id="msg.hello" context="my context" comment="Hello World">Hello World</Trans>
       `,
     },
+    {
+      name: "Production - message prop is kept if stripMessageField: false",
+      production: true,
+      macroOpts: {
+        stripMessageField: false,
+      },
+      code: `
+      import { Trans } from '@lingui/macro';
+      <Trans id="msg.hello" comment="Hello World">Hello World</Trans>
+    `,
+    },
     {
       name: "Production - all props kept if extract: true",
       production: true,