[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 86 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23921-23922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9162]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 86 / Thursday, May 5, 2005 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 23921]]


                Proclamation 7896 of May 3, 2005

                
National Day of Prayer, 2005

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Since our Nation's earliest days, prayer has given 
                strength and comfort to Americans of all faiths. Our 
                Founding Fathers relied on their faith to guide them as 
                they built our democracy. Today, we continue to be 
                inspired by God's blessings, mercy, and boundless love. 
                As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we humbly 
                acknowledge our reliance on the Almighty, express our 
                gratitude for His blessings, and seek His guidance in 
                our daily lives.

                Throughout our history, our Nation has turned to prayer 
                for strength and guidance in times of challenge and 
                uncertainty. The Continental Congress, meeting in 1775, 
                asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a new 
                Nation. Throughout the Civil War, President Abraham 
                Lincoln issued exhortations to prayer, calling upon the 
                American people to humble themselves before their Maker 
                and to serve all those in need. At the height of World 
                War II, President Franklin Roosevelt led our citizens 
                in prayer over the radio, asking for God to protect our 
                sons in battle. Today, our Nation prays for those who 
                serve bravely in the United States Armed Forces in 
                difficult missions around the world, and we pray for 
                their families.

                Across our country, Americans turn daily to God in 
                reverence. We ask Him to care for all those who suffer 
                or feel helpless, knowing that God sees their needs and 
                calls on us to meet them. As our first President wrote 
                in 1790, ``May the father of all mercies scatter light 
                and not darkness in our paths . . .''. As we face the 
                challenges of our times, God's purpose continues to 
                guide us, and we continue to trust in the goodness of 
                His plans.

                The Congress by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has 
                called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer 
                in our society and to honor the freedom of religion by 
                recognizing annually a ``National Day of Prayer.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 5, 
                2005, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask the citizens 
                of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or 
                her own faith, for the liberty and blessings we have 
                received and for God's continued guidance and 
                protection. I also urge all Americans to join in 
                observing this day with appropriate programs, 
                ceremonies, and activities.

[[Page 23922]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand 
                five, and of the Independence of the United States of 
                America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 05-9162
Filed 5-4-05; 9:15 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P