When Congress Asked America to Fast, Pray, and Give Thanks to God

From 1776 to 1784 (during the years of the American Revolution), the Congresses of the United States issued sixteen separate spiritual proclamations, calling Americans to humble themselves, fast, pray, and give thanks to God. Few realize that during the American War of Independence, Congress issued spiritual proclamations to the thirteen states in which they asked citizens to seek the Lord in one of the darkest moments of the nation's history. Having been told for decades that America was birthed by deists, few Americans today can imagine that at one time Congress asked pastors to read their proclamations from their pulpits. In addition, Congress also asked that citizens cease their labor and gather into churches to observe the spiritual proclamations they issued. Citizens who truly wish to know what America's Founding Fathers were like must read the spiritual proclamations of Congress for themselves.

Because the sixteen spiritual proclamations issued by Congress during the American Revolution often combined elements of humiliation, fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving to God, only the dominant theme is listed beside the respective proclamations below. Under the influence of colonial leaders from the Northeast, the spiritual proclamations issued by Congress roughly matches the cycle observed by the New England Colonies, which included prayer and fasting proclamations in the spring with thanksgiving proclamations being issued in the fall. It is significant to observe that the spiritual climate of congressional delegates was initially set by the First Continental Congress when it began with prayer in September 1774.

Proclamation #1 – June 7, 1775: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #2 – March 16, 1776: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #3 – December 1776: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #4 – November 1777: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #5 – March 1778: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #6 – November 1778: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #7 – March 1779: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #8 – October 1779: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #9 – March 1780: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #10 – October 1780: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #11 – March 1781: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #12 – October 1781: Thanksgiving—British Surrender
Proclamation #13 – March 1782: Prayer and Fasting
Proclamation #14 – October 1782: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #15 – October 1783: Thanksgiving
Proclamation #16 – August 1784: Thanksgiving

Even as recent as WW II FDR could issue this prayer. Nothing like that would happen today.

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 good will 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 arrogancies. 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.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

In regard to your tag line, by a 220-210 margin the House of Representatives passed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, with only one Democrat voting in favor. So, with only one exception these Democrat legislators established a line for defense of abortion within their party that includes those born alive despite attempted abortion.

According to the logic for voting against this bill, an infant breathing air on its own outside the womb is not a fully human person. The medical personnel in attendance are not only absolved from any criticism in failing to provide care, but instead must intervene to kill the baby.

Now read the bill and to see if that not is a most reasonable interpretation. So maybe this why we just can’t all just get along.

H.R. 26: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr26/text?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=CC7BEBFFF32F48ADB9D0825ACEB90034

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