[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 27575]]

          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Thursday, December 20, 2001

  The House met at 10 a.m.
  The Reverend Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi, Pastor, St. Patrick Catholic 
Church, Washington, D.C., offered the following prayer:
  Almighty God, we call upon You this cold December morning. You are 
Light of Lights and Light From Light. You are the Light who pierces the 
perennial darkness of our world, the darkness of our mind and soul, the 
darkness of a world at war. Because of You, O living and true God, we 
live, walk, and have our being. You are Emmanuel, God-with-us.
  We pray to You this day that passage from the Advent prophet Isaiah: 
``Let justice descend, O heavens, like the dew from above, like gentle 
rain let the skies drop it down. Let earth open and salvation bud 
forth; let justice also spring up.''
  We pray also for peace. Peace in our world begins with peace in our 
hearts. And peace in our hearts comes from You, Almighty Father. Draw 
near to us and grant us Your peace.
  Encourage us, O Lord, in this holy season in all our humble efforts 
carried out in Your life-giving name, O Prince of Peace and Light, Lord 
of Justice. Amen.

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