Day of the Unborn Child is observed internationally on 25 March to commemorate, promote and protect human life from the moment of conception in the mother’s womb until natural death.
The date was established in Argentina in December 1998 by President Carlos Saúl Menem. A few days before the observance of this day in 1999, the President encouraged leaders throughout Latin America to join the initiative.
At that time, St. John Paul II sent a letter to the President of Argentina, encouraging that “the celebration of the ‘Day of the Unborn Child’ promotes a positive choice in favor of life and the development of a culture oriented in this direction – ensuring the promotion of human dignity in all situations.”
In 1999, the ritual was also adopted by law in Guatemala and Costa Rica, while Nicaragua followed suit the following year. Bolivia joined in 2000; The Dominican Republic followed in early 2001; In Peru, it was established by law in 2002; and Paraguay joined in 2003.
The festival is also celebrated on March 25 in El Salvador, Uruguay, Spain, Mexico, Austria, Slovakia, Cuba and the Philippines. Ecuador joined in 2006, Chile in 2014, and it was enacted into law in Puerto Rico in 2018.
This date usually coincides with the Solemnity of the Annunciation, which is usually celebrated on 25 March. On this day, the Catholic Church remembers the Annunciation made to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel, as well as her solemn yes to God – an assent that led her to conceive, at that very moment, the child who saved humanity, becoming His Most Holy Mother.
Catholic bishops in various countries are joining the celebration by organizing programs to protect the lives of unborn children. Additionally, in recent years, monuments have been erected to commemorate the millions of unborn children who have been victims of abortion.
this story was first published By ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language affiliate of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
