“Come! I Will Give You Rest”
The World Day of Prayer (WDP) is celebrated each year on the first Friday of March in nearly 170 countries. Founded in 1887 by Christian women in Canada and the United States, this day has been rooted from the beginning in an ecumenical spirit. Each year, women from a different country are invited to prepare the celebration and share their lived realities with the rest of the world.
A Prayer That Unites the Whole World
The WDP offers a unique experience: for 24 hours, people from diverse cultures and languages pray the same words, united in deep spiritual communion. This practice expresses a conviction carried by women for more than a century: prayer and action are inseparable and play an essential role in transforming the world.
2026: An Invitation from the Women of Nigeria
For the 2026 edition, the invitation to prayer comes from the women of Nigeria. Although many Nigerian women now hold important roles in political, scientific, and cultural spheres, many fundamental rights remain fragile, and women continue to carry heavy burdens in their daily lives.
The chosen theme is inspired by a passage from the Gospel according to Matthew (11:28–30): “Come to me… I will give you rest.”
Through this theme, the women of Nigeria express both their realities of fatigue, responsibility, and injustice, and their deep hope: to find rest for the soul through faith.
A Meaningful Work of Art
To accompany the celebration, Nigerian artist Gift Amarachi Ottah created a powerful illustration titled “Rest for Weary Women.” This artwork sensitively conveys Jesus’ invitation and women’s longing for inner healing, dignity, and peace.
Source: Gift Amarachi Ottah – “Rest for Weary Women”
Resources to Celebrate Together
WDP 2026 invites everyone to embody this word of Jesus, so that together we may become instruments of God’s rest in a troubled world.
A French-language resource document, provided by WDP France, is available and includes:
- the official poster and its symbols;
- guidance for preparing a celebration;
- meditations and reflections for workshops.
In addition, the International World Day of Prayer Committee, founded in 1968, offers comprehensive information in English on its website, along with two video resources to support the Nigerian women’s message.
The World Day of Prayer 2026 is an open invitation to all to gather, pray, listen, and act, in a spirit of solidarity and hope.