[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9441 of May 4, 2016

National Day of Prayer, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In times of steady calm and extraordinary change alike, Americans of all
walks of life have long turned to prayer to seek refuge, demonstrate
gratitude, and discover peace. Sustaining us through great uncertainty
and moments of sorrow, prayer allows us an outlet for introspection, and
for expressing our hopes, desires, and fears. It offers strength in the
face of hardship, and redemption when we falter. Our country was founded
on the idea of religious freedom, and we have long upheld the belief
that how we pray and whether we pray are matters reserved for an
individual's own conscience. On National Day of Prayer, we rededicate
ourselves to extending this freedom to all people.
Every day, women and men use the wisdom gained from humble prayer to
spread kindness and to make our world a better place. Faith communities
at home and abroad have helped feed the hungry, heal the sick, and
protect innocents from violence. Nurturing communities with love and
understanding, their prayer inspires their work, which embodies a
timeless notion that has kept humanity going through the ages--that one
of our most sacred responsibilities is to give of ourselves in service
to others.
The threats of poverty, violence, and war around the world are all too
real. Our faith and our earnest prayers can be cures for the fear we
feel

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as we confront these realities. Helping us resist despair, paralysis, or
cynicism, prayer offers a powerful alternative to pessimism. Through
prayer, we often gain the insight to learn from our mistakes, the
motivation to always be better, and the courage to stand up for what is
right, even when it is not popular.
Each of us is an author in our collective American story, and in
participating in our national discourse to address some of our Nation's
greatest challenges, we are reminded of the blessing we have to live in
a land where we are able to freely express the beliefs we hold in our
hearts. The United States will continue to stand up for those around the
world who are subject to fear or violence because of their religion or
beliefs. As a Nation free to practice our faith as we choose, we must
remember those around the world who are not afforded this freedom, and
we must recommit to building a society where all can enjoy this liberty
and live their lives in peace and dignity.
On this day, may our faiths enable us to sow the seeds of progress in
our ever-changing world. Let us resolve to guide our children and
grandchildren to embrace freedom for all, to see God in everyone, and to
remember that no matter what differences they may have, they, just like
we, will always be united by their common humanity.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on the
President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first
Thursday in May as a ``National Day of Prayer.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2016, as
National Day of Prayer. I invite the citizens of our Nation to give
thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our
many freedoms and blessings, and I join all people of faith in asking
for God's continued guidance, mercy, and protection as we seek a more
just world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of May,
in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA