The National Prayer Day (36 USC Ã,çÃ, 119) is the annual observance day held on the first Thursday of May, set by the United States Congress, when people are asked to " God in prayer and meditation ". Every year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray today.
The modern law that inaugurated its annual devotion was enacted in 1952, although the early days of fasting and prayer were established by the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783, and by President John Adams in 1798 and 1799. Thomas Jefferson established a day of prayer and gratitude , but this happens when he serves as governor of Virginia.
The National Day of Prayer constitutionality was not successfully challenged in court by the Freedom of Religion Foundation after their first attempt was unanimously dismissed by the federal appeals court in April 2011.
Video National Day of Prayer
Histori
National Day of Prayer has the same roots as Thanksgiving; both are national proclamations that establish a day of prayer, but in the New England Colony under British rule, traditional celebrations in late autumn call for prayer and thanksgiving, while spring or summer celebrations call for prayer and fasting. Perseverance fell was founded by President Abraham Lincoln as the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. The precision of spring was founded by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 as National Day of Prayer.
Friction in 1768-1776 between American and British colonists led some American cities and colonies to declare the days of prayer. For example, Boston announced the day of fasting and prayer in September 1768, in protest against the British plan to put troops in the city. The Burgesses House Colony in Virginia set a day of fasting and prayer to take place on Wednesday, June 1, 1774, to protest the Boston Port Act, so that the people of Virginia would gather for a prayer led by the priest. Thomas Jefferson writes that "the influence of the day through the entire colony was like an electric shock," moving the Virginians to choose delegates to build their own government. The provinces of South Carolina, Maryland, and Georgia all observed the official days of fasting and prayer during 1774-1775.
The commemoration of the day of fasting and prayer was brought to all colonists by the Continental Congress in 1775. The congress issued a proclamation recommending "the day of public humiliation, siciness, and prayer" observed by the "British Colonies" on Thursday , July 20, 1775, "and to bless our rightful ruler, King George Third..." The text, written by John Witherspoon and John Hancock, instructs the colonists to pray for the return of "the just right and the privileges of the Colonies" "civil and religious". The proclamation for this purpose was sent to every city in the colonies. John Adams writes that popular response is satisfactory, that the special day is more observed than the practice of going to church on Sunday. After this success, Congress is determined to call for the day of fasting and prayer every spring, and the day of gratitude and praise every autumn.
In his role as Commander of the Continental Army, General George Washington acknowledged the day of "fasting, humiliation and prayer" proclaimed by the Continental Congress to be held on Thursday, May 6, 1779. To allow his soldiers to observe One day, Washington ordered a one- and "unnecessary labor". In March 1780, Congress announced the day of "fasting, humiliation and prayer" to be held on Wednesday, April 26, 1780.
Practice calls for national days of fasting and prayer abandoned from 1784 to 1789, although the days of thanksgiving are observed every autumn. On 3 October 1789, President Washington called for a national day of prayer and thanksgiving to be observed on Thursday, November 26, 1789; this is an extension of the usual tradition of gratitude in New England. President Adams continued the practice of proclaiming national prayer days in the spring and fall, but President Jefferson did not, because he regarded prayer as a matter of personal involvement rather than the state.
After James Madison, none of the next eleven presidents issued a proclamation of prayer. Thus, there is a period of 47 years, from 1815 to 1862, without the proclamation of presidency prayer.
In January-February 1952 during the Korean War, the desire for a united national prayer was expressed by Rev. Billy Graham, who said, "What a thrilling and glorious thing is to see our country's leaders now kneel before the Almighty God in" What a vibration which will sweep the country. What a new hope and courage will grip the Americans at this peril. "Percy Priest of Tennessee observes that Graham has issued a challenge for a national prayer day.People and Senate Members are introducing a joint resolution for the annual National Prayer Day," where people The United States can turn to God in prayer and meditation in churches, in groups, and as individuals. "On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer to be announced by every subsequent president on a date consistent with the choice.
In 1982 a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the "National Prayer Committee" was formed to coordinate and carry out a permanent annual prayer day 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 the struggle of the General of Washington in the Valley Forge to the present, this nation has sincerely sought and received divine guidance while pursuing the course of history.This opportunity gives our nation the opportunity to increasingly recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future. "
In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer will be held on the first Thursday of May. The two intentions expressed from the National Day of Prayer are that it will be a day when adherents of all major religions can unite in prayer and that one day may bring new reverence to God for all people in the world.
The Republican Government of Ronald Reagan and the government of George H. W. Bush (1981-1993) each held a special National Day of Prayer held at the White House only once during their reign. The Bill Clinton administration (1993-2001) did not hold such an event during his term, although he issued proclamation every year.
The Republican Government George W. Bush (2001-2009) made his first presidential action as the announcement of the National Day of Prayer, and he held events at the White House every year of his presidency.
Democrat Barack Obama (2009-2017) has not held a public event at the White House, although he issued a presidential proclamation regularly every year.
Republican President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a church service in observation of the National Day of Prayer, previously stated by Trump, to support victims of Hurricane Harvey living in the state of Texas, "to lift up and help them to suffer the consequences of this terrible storm. "
Maps National Day of Prayer
Obedience
The Freedom of Religion Foundation (FFRF) is suing against the appointment of the National Day of Prayer. On October 3, 2008, a Wisconsin-based organization filed a lawsuit in federal court in Madison, naming as defendant President George W. Bush; White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino; Governor of Wisconsin, Jim Doyle; and wife of evangelist James Dobson, Shirley Dobson, in his capacity as chairman of the Task Force of the National Day of Prayer. The Defense Funds Alliance (ADF) provides defense to Shirley Dobson while government lawyers ask US District Judge Barbara Crabb to drop the case, arguing that the group has no legal standing to prosecute.
On March 1, 2010 US District Judge Barbara Crabb declared that the FFRF lawsuit could be resumed because the plaintiffs had shown that they had "concrete injuries" that could potentially be corrected by legal action. Judge Crabb stated about those who support the federal law that sets out the National Day of Prayer, "adopting the views of defendants about standing will allow the government to have an unbound authority to undermine any religious group members without legal consequences." The federal government may declare 'Day National Anti-Semitism 'or even declare Christianity as the official religion of the United States, but no one will stand to prosecute since no one should' pass' the declaration. "On April 15, 2010, Judge Crabb ruled that the law establishing National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it is a "religious exercise that inherently does not serve a secular function." However, Crabb retained his decision pending the completion of the appeal.
The US Justice Department filed a notice to appeal the decision on April 22, 2010, and on April 14, 2011, three panel of Justice Court of the Seventh Circuit Court unanimously annulled the decision of Crabb. The Panel decides that the FFRF has no right to prosecute since the National Day of Prayer does not cause harm and states that "the feeling of alienation can not be sufficient as an injury." The Court further stated that "the President is free to appeal to the public on a variety of grounds, including politics and religion, and that the request does not require citizens to obey and not infringe on the rights of citizens." The federal appeals court also quoted the second inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln, who referred to God seven times and prayed three times.
See also
- Prayer Day
- The National Day of Prayer Task Force
- National Day of Reason
- National Prayer Breakfast
- See you at the Pole
- The Day of Great Prayer, a public holiday in Denmark was introduced in 1686 after the Reformation of the national church
References
External links
- Presidential Proclamation - National Day of Prayer
- Religion Tolerance.org of the National Day of Prayer
- US Court of Appeals Text For Seventh Circuit, April 14, 2011
- Text of Opinion and Order of Judge Crabb, April 15, 2010
Source of the article : Wikipedia