A President Leads the Nation in Prayer

This afternoon, being the third Monday of the month, I presided at the weekly chapel service at Liberty Village, one of the senior communities in Peoria. I've been doing this for 11 years now, ever since a Zionite (and neighbor) moved there not long after it opened and thought her pastor ought to be involved.

When I arrived, a couple of the people there observed that they weren't sure if I would be there, since it was a holiday. I actually had to think for a second. Holiday? Oh yeah, President's Day. In responding I mentioned that I was old enough to remember when the holiday was Washington's Birthday, and fell on February 22. I'm still not used to "President's Day."

Afterwards while having a bite to eat, I took a look a TitusOneNine where I was not surprised that Canon Harmon had a couple of special entries for this national holiday. The second entry, though, stunned me. It probably shouldn't have been, since I am old enough, and historian enough, to recall that once upon a time we Americans had different expectations of the political order than we do now. Nevertheless...

Here it is in its entirety:

For Presidents Day 2013 (II)—Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s D-Day Prayer, June 6, 1944

“My Fellow Americans:

“Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

“And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

“Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

“Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

“They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

“They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

“Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

“And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

“Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

“Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

“And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

“And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

“With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

“Thy will be done, Almighty God.

“Amen.”

You can listen to the actual audio if you want here.

Imagine that, the President of the United States leading the nation in prayer. Imagine a President even thinking of doing that in 2013.

Hat tip Canon Kendall Harmon @ TitusOneNine.