The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance of public prayer held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". The president is required by law () to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. History Colonial Public Prayer Days The National Day of Prayer shares common roots with the celebration of Thanksgiving; both were national proclamations establishing a day of public prayer. In the New England Colonies under British rule, traditional observances in late fall called for prayer and thanksgiving, while observances in the spring or summer called for prayer and fasting. The fall observance was established by President Abraham Lincoln as the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. The spring observance was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 as the National Day of Prayer. American Revoluntary War Public PrayerDays Friction in 1768–1776 between the American colonists and England spurred some American cities and colonies to proclaim days of prayer. For instance, Boston declared a day of fasting and prayer in September 1768, as a protest against a British plan to station troops in the city. The Colony of Virginia's House of Burgesses established a day of fasting and prayer to take place on Wednesday, June 1, 1774, to protest the Boston Port Act, such that the people of Virginia would assemble for prayer led by clergymen. Thomas Jefferson wrote that "the effect of the day through the whole colony was like a shock of electricity", moving the Virginians to choose delegates to establish self-rule. Jefferson is quoted by Derek H. Davis in Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, page 84. The Provinces of South Carolina, Maryland and Georgia all observed official days of fasting and prayer during 1774–1775. The observance of a day of fasting and public prayer was brought to all of the colonists by the Continental Congress in 1775. Congress issued a proclamation recommending "a day of publick humiliation, fasting, and prayer" be observed by the "English Colonies" on Thursday, July 20, 1775, "and to bless our rightful sovereign, King George the Third..." "Proclamation for a day of Fasting and Prayer" The text, written by John Witherspoon and John Hancock, instructed the colonists to pray for a resumption of "the just rights and privileges of the Colonies" in "civil and religious" matters.Davis 2000, p. 85. A proclamation to this end was sent to every town in the colonies. John Adams wrote that the popular response was gratifying, that the special day was more widely observed than the practice of going to church on Sunday.Davis 2000, p. 86. After this success, Congress determined to call for a day of fasting and prayer each spring, and a day of thanksgiving and praise each fall. After James Madison, none of the next eleven presidents issued public prayer proclamations. Thus, there was a period of 47 years, from 1815 to 1862, with no presidential public prayer proclamations. Confederate States of America Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis called for the first national day of fasting and public prayer for the Confederate States of America on June 13, URL "A Day of Fasting and Prayer, June 13, 1861 at St. George’s" The June 7, 1862, edition of Harper's Weekly featured a political cartoon depicting Davis praying in public on a street corner in Richmond, standing next to a poster declaring "A Day of Fasting%DIFDELCMD < [%%% and Prayer." with Davis clutching prayer beads, 'though he has Satan-like horns on his head" and hooves for URL "Scene in Richmond, VA."%DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation on February 27, 1863 and published within the March 4, 1863 edition of The Richmond Enquirer, "setting apart Friday, the 27th day of March, as a day of fasting, humiliation and public%DIFDELCMD < ] %%% prayer" and inviting "the people of the said States Confederate States of America%DIFDELCMD < ] %%% to repair, on that day, to their usual places of public worship, there to join in prayer to Almighty God that he will continue his merciful protection over our cause; that he will scatter our enemies and set at nought their evil designs, and that he will graciously restore to our beloved country the blessings of peace and URL "Which day did Jefferson Davis declare to be for fasting, humiliation, and prayer?" Throughout the American Civil War, Confederate President Jefferson Davis officially declared a total of ten such days of fasting and days of public URL "A Day of Fasting and Prayer, June 13, 1861 at St. George’s" Billy Graham Residents of Kentwood, Louisiana, gather outside in public prayer at the Town Hall alongside LA 38 to observe the 2015 National Day of Prayer.in January–February 1952 during the Korean War, the desirability of a united national prayer was stated by Reverend Billy Graham, who said, "What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril." Representative Percy Priest from Tennessee observed that Graham had issued a challenge for a national day of prayer. Members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual National Day of Prayer, "on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each subsequent president at an appropriate date of his choice. Evangelical National Prayer Committee In 1982 a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the "National Prayer Committee" was formed to coordinate and implement a fixed annual day of public prayer for the purpose of organizing evangelical Christian prayer events with local, state, and federal government entities. The Thanks-Giving Foundation also collaborated in this effort. In his 1983 declaration, Ronald Reagan said, "From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future." 175px|Sailors bow their heads in prayer during the National Day of Prayer. May 3, 2007. In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in public prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world. Republican George W. Bush administration (2001–2009) made his first presidential act be the announcement of a National Day of Prayer, and he held public prayer events at the White House in each year of his presidency. Democrat Barack Obama (2009–2017) did not hold any public prayer events at the White House,National Day of Prayer Task Force Knocks Obama White House, U.S. News & World Report, April 15, 2010, Dan Gilgof though he issued presidential proclamations regularly each year. On May 7, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many virtual prayer events were planned. President Trump issued an official proclamation. A national event was planned for the evening, to be co-hosted by the grandson of the late evangelist Billy Graham.
The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". The president is required by law () to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. History The National Day of Prayer shares common roots with the celebration of Thanksgiving; both were national proclamations establishing a day of prayer. In the New England Colonies under British rule, traditional observances in late fall called for prayer and thanksgiving, while observances in the spring or summer called for prayer and fasting. The fall observance was established by President Abraham Lincoln as the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. The spring observance was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 as the National Day of Prayer. Residents of Kentwood, Louisiana, gather outside the Town Hall alongside LA 38 to observe 2015's National Day of Prayer. Friction in 1768–1776 between the American colonists and England spurred some American cities and colonies to proclaim days of prayer. For instance, Boston declared a day of fasting and prayer in September 1768, as a protest against a British plan to station troops in the city. The Colony of Virginia's House of Burgesses established a day of fasting and prayer to take place on Wednesday, June 1, 1774, to protest the Boston Port Act, such that the people of Virginia would assemble for prayer led by clergymen. Thomas Jefferson wrote that "the effect of the day through the whole colony was like a shock of electricity", moving the Virginians to choose delegates to establish self-rule. Jefferson is quoted by Derek H. Davis in Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, page 84. The Provinces of South Carolina, Maryland and Georgia all observed official days of fasting and prayer during 1774–1775. The observance of a day of fasting and prayer was brought to all of the colonists by the Continental Congress in 1775. Congress issued a proclamation recommending "a day of publick humiliation, fasting, and prayer" be observed by the "English Colonies" on Thursday, July 20, 1775, "and to bless our rightful sovereign, King George the Third..." "Proclamation for a day of Fasting and Prayer" The text, written by John Witherspoon and John Hancock, instructed the colonists to pray for a resumption of "the just rights and privileges of the Colonies" in "civil and religious" matters.Davis 2000, p. 85. A proclamation to this end was sent to every town in the colonies. John Adams wrote that the popular response was gratifying, that the special day was more widely observed than the practice of going to church on Sunday.Davis 2000, p. 86. After this success, Congress determined to call for a day of fasting and prayer each spring, and a day of thanksgiving and praise each fall. After James Madison, none of the next eleven presidents issued prayer proclamations. Thus, there was a period of 47 years, from 1815 to 1862, with no presidential prayer proclamations. %DIFDELCMD < [%%% %DIFDELCMD < %DIFDELCMD < %%% %DIFDELCMD < ] %%% %DIFDELCMD < ] %%% In January–February 1952 during the Korean War, the desirability of a united national prayer was stated by Reverend Billy Graham, who said, "What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril." Representative Percy Priest from Tennessee observed that Graham had issued a challenge for a national day of prayer. Members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual National Day of Prayer, "on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each subsequent president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the "National Prayer Committee" was formed to coordinate and implement a fixed annual day of prayer for the purpose of organizing evangelical Christian prayer events with local, state, and federal government entities. The Thanks-Giving Foundation also collaborated in this effort. In his 1983 declaration, Ronald Reagan said, "From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future." 175px|Sailors bow their heads in prayer during the National Day of Prayer. May 3, 2007. In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world. Republican George W. Bush administration (2001–2009) made his first presidential act be the announcement of a National Day of Prayer, and he held events at the White House in each year of his presidency. Democrat Barack Obama (2009–2017) did not hold any public events at the White House,National Day of Prayer Task Force Knocks Obama White House, U.S. News & World Report, April 15, 2010, Dan Gilgof though he issued presidential proclamations regularly each year. On May 7, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many virtual prayer events were planned. President Trump issued an official proclamation. A national event was planned for the evening, to be co-hosted by the grandson of evangelist Billy Graham.
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Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis called for the first national day of fasting and public prayer for the Confederate States of America on June 13, URL "A Day of Fasting and Prayer, June 13, 1861 at St. George’s" The June 7, 1862, edition of Harper's Weekly featured a political cartoon depicting Davis praying in public on a street corner in Richmond, standing next to a poster declaring "A Day of Fasting
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