[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17597]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 17597]]

          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Friday, September 21, 2001

  The House met at 9 a.m.
  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord God, ever faithful to Your covenant with Your people, and always 
loving to those who call upon Your Holy Name, be with us today and in 
the unfolding historic days ahead. In this land of liberty, we freely 
choose to be renewed in faith and place our trust in You.
  At this time of seeking justice, Lord, guide our President and the 
Members of this Congress. Confirm them and all Americans, military and 
civilians alike, to the noble task of performing daily work to the best 
of their ability.
  Already You have lifted this Nation from death and debris with 
stories of heroes and heroines, songs of revitalized patriotism and new 
depth of unity born out of love of family and love of country.
  With Your help, our grieving will never end but become fond 
remembrance. With Your help, our response to all forces of evil and 
injustice has just begun and will never cease.
  Emerging from clouds of dismay, You Lord, have brought about quiet 
resolve, a deeper respect for all humanity and a longing for lasting 
peace.
  Lord, may the words of Daniel Webster which are engraved above this 
Chamber now come to life in the flesh and bone of this country.
  Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its power, build 
up its institutions, promote all its great interests and see whether we 
also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be 
remembered.
  And with Your blessing, may this country itself become a vast and 
splendid monument, not of oppression and terror, but of wisdom, of 
peace, and of liberty upon which the world may gaze with admiration 
forever. Amen.

                          ____________________