[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 125 (Thursday, September 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING MEMORY OF MOTHER TERESA

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                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2003

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of one of the most compassionate people to have walked the 
earth: Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
  I was not fortunate enough to personally know Mother Teresa, but I 
have been blessed to stand within twenty feet of this incredible woman. 
A few years ago, we presented Mother Teresa with the Congressional Gold 
Medal.
  Arriving early, I was able to sit near enough that I could see every 
detail of Mother Teresa's face. Though she was old and weathered, one 
thought struck me as I stared at this living saint, ``What a beautiful 
face.''
  Through her years in Calcutta she had seen illness and death, 
mourning and tragedy. She was rugged and aging, but, Mr. Speaker, she 
still possessed a perfectly beautiful face of love.
  Were she still with us today, Mother Teresa would have celebrated her 
birthday on August 27. This year, Pope John Paul II will honor the life 
and service of Mother Teresa by beatifying her on October 19.
  Mr. Speaker, to be honest, words cannot do this holy servant justice. 
I am convicted of my own inability to serve as selflessly as she did. 
This saint did the Lord's work on a daily basis, with no desire to be 
recognized, thanked or applauded.
  I am certain that when she went Home to meet her Maker, she was 
greeted at the gates of heaven by the Father, with arms open wide, 
saying to her, ``Well done, my good and faithful servant.''
  Each of us should seek to serve with even one-third of the heart that 
Mother Teresa had. She is an example to us all of what a difference one 
life can make to so many millions.
  Mother Teresa used to say, ``There is joy in transcending self to 
serve others.'' Mr. Speaker, to all of us in Congress, I truly pray we 
can find such joy--such pure and selfless joy.
  Happy Birthday, Mother Teresa. And may God bless the souls of those 
who still remain on this earth, seeking to carry on the tradition of 
servitude you left behind.

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