On March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Catholic Church commemorates the wondrous mystery of the Incarnation. This is the day when the Eternal Word became flesh... in the form of a human zygote. What better way to celebrate the gift of life and to affirm the humanity of every person from the moment of conception and during the hidden months in the mother's womb, than to refer to the mystery of Love which brought us back to life by becoming one of us in all things but sin? That is why all throughout Latin America, Vida Humana Internacional's affiliates and other pro-life groups have worked hard to establish March 25 as "The Day of the Unborn".

The Holy Father seems to confirm this inspiration of the pro-life movement in the words he proclaimed during his homily Sunday, March 25: "From the contemplation of this mystery all believers can draw renewed spiritual energy to ceaselessly proclaim and witness to Christ, our only salvation, and to faithfully serve the 'Gospel of life' that he entrusts to us."

The first country ever to celebrate this day was Argentina when in 1998 it proclaimed the Day of the Unborn a national holiday by presidential decree. Other countries soon followed. To date, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica have ratified the celebration of the Day of the Unborn, although Costa Rica celebrates it on July 27.

In other countries, the pro-life groups joined in the celebration this year by organizing special ecclesiastical and civic events to commemorate this special day.

Our affiliate in Paraguay, SEAVI, in union with other groups, co-sponsored a Solemn Mass at the Cathedral. The Episcopal Conferences of Peru, Venezuela and Cuba proclaimed March 25 the Day of the Unborn and held special events to commemorate the celebration. Special events were also held in Uruguay and in Chile, civic festivities accompanied the Celebration of the Eucharist during which expectant moms received a special blessing.

But the greatest celebration of the Day of the Unborn took place in Nicaragua, where top leaders of Church and State united to affirm the rights of the unborn person. HLI's affiliate, ANPROVIDA (Asociacion Nacional Pro Vida), was the main organizer of the multitudinous event held at the National Baseball Stadium, which was filled to capacity. The evening started with songs of praise, the praying of the Holy Rosary and a procession with Our Lady of Guadalupe. It culminated with the Celebration of the Mass presided by Archbishop Raphael Renato Martino, the Vatican's permanent observer at the United Nations. The mass was concelebrated by Mons. Luigi Travaglino, the Apostolic Nuncio in Nicaragua, other members of the Episcopate including Miguel Cardinal Obando Bravo, Archbishop of Managua and a courageous defender of life; as well as the diocesan clergy .

In special attendance were the President of Nicaragua, Dr. Arnoldo Alemán, the First Lady and other members of the cabinet. The event marked the first anniversary of the presidential decree issued by President Alemán for the recognition and rights of the unborn. During the event, President Alemán vowed to veto pro-abortion laws because, in his words: "every baby in the maternal womb has the right to be born, and the state has the duty to protect him or her". The entire event was televised nationally.

The President of ANPROVIDA Dr. Rafael Cabrera Artola, main organizer of this event, was one of the distinguished speakers at HLI's recent regional conference in Miami. In his words: "God and the Blessed Mother have showered Nicaragua with graces". Praise be to God!

As we strive to protect the unborn, let's heed the Holy Father's words which he gives us on the Feast of the Annunciation: "In the face of the culture of death and of the attacks that, unfortunately, go on multiplying against man's life, let the effort to defend it in all its phases, from the first moment of conception to its natural end, not diminish. May humanity come to know a renewed spring of life in respect and acceptance of every human being, on whose face shines the image of Christ!"