National days of prayer have occurred since 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the nation to join in a petition for divine guidance. Since then, 34 of 44 U.S. presidents have called for days of prayer during times of crisis, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
This has been the tradition of our nation from its founding.In 1952, both houses of Congress passed legislation establishing an official Day of Prayer. It was signed into law by President Harry Truman. In 1988, Congress passed an amendment to the earlier law designating the first Thursday of May as the annual National Day of Prayer.
- 1775: The first day of prayer was declared when the Continental Congress "designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation."
- 1783:"...the conclusion of the Revolutionary War marked a temporary end to the National Day of Prayer."
- 1795-FEB-19: George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
- 1813: President James Madison proclaimed a day of prayer.
- 1863-MAR-30: Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution of MAR-3 which called for a day of fasting and prayer during the Civil War (1860-1865).
- 1952-APR-17: A bill proclaiming an annual National Day of Prayer(NDP) was unanimously passed by both houses of congress. President Truman signed it into law. It required the President to select a day for national prayer each year.
- 1972: The National Prayer Committee was created. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a project of that committee.
- 1988: A bill was introduced to Congress which fixed the annual NDP at the first Thursday in May. The Senate bill, S 1378, was introduced by Strom Thurmond (R-SC); a matching House version was initiated by Tony Hall, (D-OH). It received broad bipartisan sponsorship and support, and became Public Law 100-307. It was signed into law by President Reagan on 1988-MAY-5. He commented:"On our National Day of Prayer, then, we join together as people of many faiths to petition God to show us His mercy and His love, to heal our weariness and uphold our hope, that we might live ever mindful of His justice and thankful for His blessing."
- 1993 to 1998: The concept of the NDP as a multi-faith event which recognizes the extensive diversity of religious expression in the U.S. was echoed by subsequent presidents in their proclamations.
- 1993: "Through prayer our people take a moment away from the concerns of everyday life to understand the greater power that gives us guidance. We come together in an act common to all religions."
- 1994: "I encourage the citizens of this great Nation to gather, each in his or her own manner, to recognize our blessings, acknowledge our wrongs, to remember the needy, to seek guidance for our challenging future, and to give thanks for the abundance we have enjoyed throughout our history."
- 1995: "I call upon every citizen of this great Nation to gather together on that day to pray, each in his or her own manner, for God's continued guidance and blessing."
- 1996: "And though our citizens come from every nation on Earth and observe an extraordinary variety of religious faith [sic] and traditions, prayer remains at the heart of the American spirit."
- 1997: "...let us uphold the tradition of observing a day in which every American, in his or her own way, may come before God seeking increased peace, guidance, and wisdom for the challenges ahead."
- 1998: "In every city, town, and rural community across our country, people of every religious denomination gather to worship according to their faith. In churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques, Americans come together to pray."
- 1999: According to some reports, all 50 U.S. state governors and several governors of U.S. territories proclaimed the National Day of Prayer within their jurisdictions.
- 2001: The 50th National Day of Prayer was held on MAY-3. Its organizers estimate that about 2.5 million people attended the approximately 40,000 events across the U.S.
- 2002: The National Day of Prayer Task Force reported that "...approximately 40,000 events were held nationwide. Local volunteers and coordinators held a variety of activities ranging from prayer breakfasts, Bible reading marathons, concerts of prayer, rallies, church prayer vigils, student flagpole gatherings and observances held in sports stadiums." President George W. Bush stated in his proclamation that the two purposes of the NDP were: "...to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the religious diversity our freedom permits..."
- 2003:The National Day of Prayer was held on MAY-1
- 2004: According to the NDPTF web site: "In 2004, approximately 40,000 events were held nationwide. Local volunteers and coordinators held a variety of activities ranging from prayer breakfasts, Bible reading marathons, concerts of prayer, rallies, church prayer vigils, student flagpole gatherings and observances held in sports stadiums." It is not known whether this is an estimate of the NDP events that it coordinated, or whether it is an estimate of the total number of NDP events across the U.S.
- 2006-MAY-04: The theme is "America, Honor God."
- 2007-MAY-03:According to Shirley Dobson, chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, the theme for the 56th annual National Day of Prayer is "America, united in prayer." It comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV): "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
- 2011 will the 60th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer.
