A Message from Bishop Deeley on the National Day of Prayer

Today, our nation observes the National Day of Prayer, a commemoration formalized by President Truman in 1952. The day encourages prayers of thanksgiving for our freedom of religion, prayers of hope for a day when a renewed respect for God can define us, and prayers of remembrance for that from which all freedom originates: a gracious and forgiving Lord. Religious faith and prayer have served as a constant inspiration and a driving force urging us toward freedom and justice since America was still an idea. They continue to guide us through our most difficult moments. George Washington proposed in his Farewell Address that protection of religion was essential for the success of the republic, which could not be sustained without religion. Over 220 years later, that is a truth that has been proven throughout our history. Teaching, ministering, and contributing to the needs of others generously, and showing mercy to those who need it, are the foundation of our nation and our lives as Christians, putting flesh on our prayers and our faith. Our freedom to pray, to worship, and to serve are gifts, but carry with them the awesome responsibility of fidelity to promoting the common good. We pray today, and every day, to our heavenly Father, that for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us, this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”