[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1925-E1926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2003

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mother Teresa 
of Calcutta, whose birthday was August 27. Pope John Paul II will be 
beatifying her on October 19 in Rome.
  As I reflect on her life of love and sacrifice, I am struck by the 
number of people's lives she was able to touch. Her work in Calcutta's 
slums illustrated her commitment to pulling people out of poverty by 
empowering them with self esteem and the hope that change is always 
possible.
  For 50 years, Mother Teresa brought dignity to the poor and unwanted. 
After finding a woman dying in front of a Calcutta hospital, she sat 
with the woman until she died. Soon after, she began a campaign for a 
shelter for people to die with dignity. Her life's mission was caring 
for the human castoffs the world wanted to forget.
  Her love brought hope to countless who were struggling on the brink 
of existence. In 1982, at the height of the siege in Beirut, she 
rescued 37 children trapped in a front line hospital by brokering a 
temporary cease-fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian 
guerillas.
  She recognized that, despite economic development efforts, there were 
people out there whose lives remained mired in the sorry circumstances 
of their birth. She opened schools, orphanages and homes for the needy, 
and turned her attention to the victims of AIDS as that disease 
increased in prevalence.
  Her notoriety speaks to the impact of her love and service. Her 
integrity and humility drew large crowds and invited great affection.
  As we remember the incredible work of an extraordinary woman, I hope 
that we are all challenged to live out the prayer that is inscribed on 
the wall of her Children's Home in Calcutta:

                         Mother Teresa's Prayer

     People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
     . . . Forgive them anyway.
     If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior 
           motives;
     . . . Be kind anyway.
     If you are successful, you will win some false friends and 
           some true enemies;
     . . . Succeed anyway.
     If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

[[Page E1926]]

     . . . Be honest and frank anyway.
     What you spend years building, someone could destroy 
           overnight;
     . . . Build anyway.
     If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
     . . . Be happy anyway.
     The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
     . . . Do good anyway.
     Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
     . . . Give the world the best you've got anyway.
     You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
     It was never between you and them anyway.

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