[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15651]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 15651]]

            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Thursday, July 20, 2000

  The House met at 10 a.m.
  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  God, our Refuge and our Strength, there are people who suffer today 
amidst the blessings of this Nation. There are suffering people 
everywhere known to You alone. Help us to come to an understanding of 
suffering, the wisdom it brings, and the power it has to transform 
human lives.
  There are those who suffer the consequences of their own wrongdoing 
and faulty judgment. There are those who suffer at the hands of those 
they love and others in the hands of unjust oppressors, victims of war, 
abuse, illness, neglect and the death of a loved one.
  There are those who suffer routinely and endure criticism daily just 
for being good and working for what is right and just.
  But there are also those who, by Your Spirit, embrace suffering out 
of dedication to their country, their profession or their family. There 
are even those who embrace suffering out of love for You and You alone.
  May hope and forgiveness sustain those weakened by pain and may love 
and justice transform human suffering into joy.
  You are our Strength now and forever. Amen.

                          ____________________