Note: Listen to the complete audio of the address above, or read the text provided below.
On the evening of D-Day, June 6, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt prepared to deliver a national radio address from the White House. Instead of his usual “fireside chat,” the 535-word, six-minute radio address, would be in the form of a prayer.
The prayer was a composition of the President’s own making, inspired by his worn copy of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, and crafted with the assistance of his daughter Anna and son-in-law John Boettiger over the preceding weekend.
The text was distributed in advance to the country’s newspapers, allowing Americans to recite it along with him.
As the Allied forces embarked on a monumental invasion, FDR’s profound words resonated across the United States, uniting the nation in a collective recitation of the prayer. This prayer was not only heard but also visually immortalized, as its text was extensively circulated and prominently displayed for the duration of World War II.
In this crucial moment, the President officially and publicly prioritized prayer in our response to the invasion. Following his lead, nearly every city in the country held gatherings to pray and seek God’s guidance. Throughout the day, major radio networks aired prayers from clergy, and Americans filled both small parish churches and large cathedrals, praying continuously.
The prayer, in its entirety below, honors the sacrifices of soldiers and their families, highlighting the crucial virtues of courage, faith, and justice. These touching words provided comfort to many, and the spiritual resilience born from prayer helped them endure and triumph over chaos and uncertainty. It signified a collective plea for guidance, valor, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The echo of the prayer extended well past the battlefields, stirring the souls of those who, at home, eagerly anticipated the safe return of their loved ones.
June 06, 1944 – Prayer Read by President on the Radio 9:57 PM
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.
The spiritual strength and collective prayer of our nation served as a vital resource. It was mobilized by President Roosevelt on that significant night in 1944, culminating in what would stand as the largest mass prayer in both United States and global history. Prayer would fortify our resolve during the war, enabling us to overcome adversity, instilling tranquility amidst turmoil, and fostering hope amidst despair.
