FDR's War Prayer

In light of the question asked of Barack Obama at last Monday night's Sojourners event --- concerning prayer and war -- I found this article in the LA Times interesting. Steve Padilla discusses the prayer FDR wrote as DDay was underway.

If you read the prayer you see a President sure of his cause -- and as Obama noted there was an apparent justness to that war that doesn't appear present in the current one. And the American people were listening -- 100 million gathered around radio's to hear the President of the United States lead them in prayer for the boys over there, fighting for the just cause.

Padilla includes quotes from Roosevelt biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin, Newsweek editor Jon Meacham, and for some reason Newt Gingrich -- I guess it's his new book. A link is also provided to the audio found at UCSB of all places.

The text is found here. And below is an excerpt of the prayer. What do you think?

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.