Image rights: Public Doman
The von Trapp family became famous after their story was shared internationally through the film The Sound of Music, released in 1965. The matriarch of the family — Maria von Trapp — was known for her independence, compassion, and free-spiritedness. After marrying Georg von Trapp, a widower with seven kids, Maria went on to have three additional children. It was when Maria was pregnant with her son, Johannes, that she was faced with the pressure to abort.
In a book written by herself, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," Maria described the situation she faced when she became unexpectedly pregnant with Johannes. The family had lost their fortune due to a bank crash in Europe, causing financial stress and uncertainty. Additionally, Maria was struggling with her health. Severe back pain and kidney issues landed Maria in the doctor's office, where her husband was told, "Your wife cannot have another child, at least, not until the kidneys are back to normal. They are both badly infected … The child has to be removed, of course, immediately."
Maria could be fierce when necessary, and this moment called for an intense response. She told the physician, "What do you mean, of course? That is not of course at all. On the contrary, it is absolutely out of the question—we are Catholics, you know."
Sick or not, Maria was determined to protect the life of her preborn son, Johannes. The doctor did not believe she was making the right decision and informed Maria, "The child won’t be born alive; this much I can tell you." The entire family began regular prayer for Maria, her pregnancy, health, and unborn son, Johannes. Months passed, and Maria gave birth to the baby boy. The physician's predictions had been wrong — Johannes and Maria were both safe and in stable health at delivery.
After years had passed, Maria became aware of the existence of one of the largest abortion providers in the world. It caused her to reflect on her experiences with Johannes. "Many years later I happened to learn about Planned Parenthood and birth control to guard against unwanted children. I must say, Johannes had not been exactly planned for that very moment, and as far as being wanted is concerned, I would have gladly said many times, 'Oh, won’t you please be so kind as to wait for just six months?' … If there is any planning to be done, why don’t we let Him do it? Looking back now, I know that He chose the only right moment for Johannes’ arrival."
Maria von Trapp saw her large family as a blessing — including her son, Johannes, who joined the family unexpectedly during a health scare. To transform our society from pro-abortion to pro-life, we need more women who see the world as Maria von Trapp did — she embraced her family as something that brought joy, and she opened her arms to all the babies she had — whether they were planned or unplanned. If more people valued the gift of children and saw through Planned Parenthood's tactics as the sleazy lies they are, abortion could be eradicated from the world quickly. It's as Mother Teresa wisely said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." And certainly, one of the most basic ways we love our families is by recognizing their right to be safe from violence in the womb. Every life is a blessing, and every baby deserves to be protected from abortion the way Maria protected her son, Johannes.
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