[Ecumenical] Recent Developments: A Day for the Unborn [March 25th]

Recent Developments: A Day for the Unborn

One of the most fascinating aspects of the development of the “Day of the Unborn Child” is that the impetus for it seemed to self-generate naturally in the various pro-life communities of many nations, with no international organization or communication. As stated in the March 2004 WNY Catholic, “a growing number of people, independently of each other, have experienced insight concerning the significance of March 25 in promoting a ‘Culture of Life.’”

Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, said that when he worked at the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family, he often heard pro-life leaders from around the world stress the importance of the Incarnation as a pro-life symbol and the need to give the feast of March 25th more emphasis in church celebrations. Dr. John Willke, well known as the former president of the premier U.S. pro-life organization National Right to Life Committee, shares this view. Willke wrote and distributes a brochure titled “Mary’s Pregnancy” that sheds light on the significance of Christ’s conception.

In 1998, Argentina became the first nation to officially recognize the feast as a secular memorial for the unborn--President Carlos Menem declared March 25 as the Day of the Unborn. The establishment of the day as a pro-life memorial elicited a particularly noteworthy response from Pope John Paul II who wrote to Menem expressing the hope that "the celebration of the 'Day of the Unborn' foster a positive choice in favor of life and the development of a culture oriented in this direction, which will ensure the promotion of human dignity in all situations." (Zenit 3/25/03).

Since then, many countries, with those in Central and South America leading the way, have established an official memorial for unborn children--most often choosing the March 25th feast of the Annunciation for the date of the observance. In other countries the legislation is being introduced or under consideration. In 2002, Peru's Congress declared March 25 the “Day of the Unborn” -- officially by Law No. 27654. Previously in 2001, Peru’s Roman Catholic bishops had announced that the March 25 feast of the Annunciation would be celebrated as the "Day of the Unborn." -- read more here. More recently, in 2006 the day was given official recognition in Ecuador by Presidential Decree No. 1441.

Individual organizations have also endorsed the Annunciation feast date as a day of pro-life remembrance and activism. Most notably, since 2002 the Knights of Columbus have undertaken a wide sweeping organized effort to promote the feast as the "Day of the Unborn Child," and their website offers many recommendations and materials for its observance as such on their Day of the Unborn webpage. In that same year Priests For Life with two other prominent pro-life apostolates (Human Life International, and the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe) issued a joint statement entitled "The Annunciation: A Feast of Life" encouraging special celebration of the feast as marking the moment the Incarnation took place, with special emphasis given to pro-life observances on the day -- the web page also lists over 75 leaders of various organizations who have added their names to the statement. Priests for Life further urged believers to honor the March 25th feast specifically as the "Day of the Unborn Child" on its "Celebrate the Annunciation" webpage.

A partial list of countries that officially recognize the day can be found at the site for Human Life International’s Hispanic Division -- http://www.vidahumana.org/dia/dia_index.html (the web page also includes a link to a Spanish language article about the adoption of the Day of the Unborn in various countries. Click here for an updated 2008 list, and additional details on these and other countries’ efforts to establish this day as an official observance can be found at http://www.zenit.org/article-15596?l=english.

In addition to Central and South America, the Philippines instituted March 25 as “The Day of the Unborn” through Presidential Proclamation 586 in 2004.

Check the site for updates on the latest countries to adopt March 25 as a Day of the Unborn.

Archdiocese of Washington

When Facing an Uncertain Future

By: Fr. Scott Hurd

It’s a very special and wonderful moment when someone learns that they’re going to become a new parent. Yet first-time moms and dads can be apprehensive too. They may worry: “Am I up to the job? How will I juggle work and family? Will my baby be okay? How is my life going to change? Can we afford this?” Expectant parents can feel overwhelmed by their new responsibilities. Some even suffer depression.

Given this, we can appreciate how Mary may have felt at the Annunciation. It was an angel of light- not a nurse- who told her that she’d be a mom. What’s more, she wouldn’t be an ordinary mom- she was going to be a queen mother, as her son was to be a king who would rule forever! To top it off, she wasn’t even married yet, and somehow her child was to be conceived by a “Holy Spirit.”

Scripture describes Mary as frightened and confused- and who could blame her? Thankfully, Gabriel understood. He told Mary to put away her fears, and assured her that nothing is impossible for God.

But – aren’t Gabriel’s words meant for us too? Like Mary, we may face situations that seem daunting- things that fill us with fear, appear impossible, or make no logical sense, and we wonder how it all fits into God’s plan. We may find ourselves asking Mary’s question: “How can this be?”

When we do, Mary invites us to imitate her surrender, entrusting ourselves into the hands of a trustworthy God by saying, “Thy will be done.” Even though we may be afraid; even though we may not understand; even though the way ahead looks dark.

To know “The Lord is with thee” was enough for Mary. And praise God, the Lord will be with us too.

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