National Day of Prayer

Today, 2 May, is this year’s National Day of Prayer, the 62nd annual observance of this event. This year’s theme is “Pray for America” and is based on Matthew 12:21 (“In His name the nations will put their hope.”).

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, and it is a day in which people of all faiths are invited to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress (Joint Resolution 382 on 17 April 1952), and signed into law by President Harry S Truman (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64 - 17 April 1952).

The National Day of Prayer is part of the nation's heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through the country's history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. There have been 136 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting, and thanksgiving by the President of the United States from 1789 to 2010).

In 1988, the law was amended by Congress and signed by President Reagan to permanently set the day as the first Thursday of every May (Public Law 100-307). Each year since 1952, the President has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

In previous years, millions of people have united in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast, and it looks like this will be true this year as well. Events are scheduled in each state (including at least 18 in Rhode Island).

For President Obama’s National Day of Prayer Proclamation, visit:

President Obama: National Day of Prayer Proclamation

For more information about this observance, please visit:

National Day of Prayer