[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 PRAYER

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following 
prayer:
  Compassionate God, thank You for giving us another day.
  In an earlier national crisis, President Gerald Ford bound the Nation 
with these words: ``My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is 
over. Our Constitution works. Our great Republic is a government of 
laws and not of men. Here, the people rule. . . . Let brotherly love 
purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.''
  Much earlier, President John Adams felt that Americans were engaged 
in the best cause that ever employed the human heart, but feared 
success was doubtful not for want of power or of wisdom, but of virtue. 
We are now engaged in a similar challenge in a new world emerging.
  Inspire the men and women of Congress to bend their energies not to 
strengthen positions of privilege, but, to the extent possible, reduce 
privilege in favor of the common weal. For we are a Nation of laws, not 
men, and the responsibility of government is the benefit of all its 
citizens.
  May each American rise to our shared effort to remind ourselves that 
we are all responsible for the greatness of our Nation and to make the 
sacrifices necessary to emerge better in virtue and stronger in 
national well-being. With Your grace, O Lord, may it be so.
  And may everything done this day be for Your greater honor and glory.
  Amen.

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