The U.S. Constitution guarantees the protection of the freedom of religion, and as such, a variety of different faiths, beliefs and practices are incorporated today into the melting pot that is America. May 3rd marks the 67th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer, an annual observance intended to give individuals the opportunity to stop, repent and mobilize as millions pray for the communities and leaders of the United States. Though this year will mark 67 official years of the observance’s existence, the U.S. is no stranger to the National Day of Prayer. The first nationwide call to prayer took place in 1775 as the colonies had just seceded from Mother Britain and were considering forming a nation.
Several unofficial calls to set aside a day for prayer were made throughout the decades, such as President George Washington’s call for a national day of prayer in November 1789 and President Abraham Lincoln’s designation of a day meant for “humiliation, fasting and prayer” in 1863. In fact, since the birth of America, only 10 presidents have not proclaimed national days of prayer of any sorts. In 1952, at the urging of the Rev. Billy Graham in the midst of the Korean War, a joint resolution was presented to Congress to institute an official National Day of Prayer. President Harry Truman signed this piece of legislation, which stated each president in the future should designate a National Day of Prayer on the day of his choosing.
The National Prayer Committee was formed in 1982 to become a liaison between governmental bodies and local Christian organizations and events. The law was subsequently amended to make the first Thursday of May the National Day of Prayer. Legally, the proclamation has run into issues.
In 2008, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed against the government in federal court. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb originally ruled in 2010 that the law was unconstitutional, as it was “an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function.” This was overruled by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011. However, as they stated that “a feeling of alienation cannot suffice as injury,” and “the President is free to make appeals to the public based on many kinds of grounds, including political and religious, and that such requests do not obligate citizens to comply and do not encroach on citizens’ rights.”
The National Day of Prayer Task Force has records that show a total of 1,419 state and federal calls for national prayer since 1775 at its origin, and the number only continues to grow.
It is not merely a day of prayer for Christians, though it is a primarily Christian observance. Many denominations honor the day, including Protestants and Catholics, and individuals of other religions, such as Muslims, Hindus and Jews. This year, if you have a moment in your day and wish to participate, take a moment to stop and say a prayer for those in your life and those leading the United States of America.
If you would like to get more involved, you can visit www.nationaldayofprayer.org to find out what events will be going on near you.