[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14966]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  Almighty God, blessed are You Lord of mercy. You exemplify all 
virtue, including patience, purity, kindness, and humility. We thank 
You for the many graces You have bestowed upon us and our country: the 
freedoms we enjoy, the liberty to assemble as we do here today, and the 
right to enact laws which govern this Nation of ours. You allow us to 
be witnesses of justice and truth. You fill our hearts with love. You 
enrich us with courage and enable us to work for the good of all.
  Through our Founding Fathers, these United States of America have 
been established as the protector of these rights and freedoms. You 
continue to bless us with men and women willing to serve these goals 
and this Nation tirelessly. God of truth, as this Senate meets yet 
again today may Your light of wisdom guide them and direct their 
deliberations that they may together always work peacefully and 
charitably. May they seek to promote national happiness. And as they 
discharge their duties this day may honesty and integrity rule their 
thoughts, words, and deeds.
  We pray that these Your sons and daughters entrusted by Your 
authority with our welfare may act with knowledge and understanding. We 
ask that the peace only You can truly give be ours both now and 
forever. Amen.

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