[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 5 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Pages 168-169]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

February 2, 2006

    The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm 
welcome. Laura and I are delighted to be here. This lovely personality 
said this morning, ``Keep your remarks short.'' [Laughter]
    I appreciate this prayer breakfast a lot, and I appreciate the 
spirit in which it was formed. Ike said he was living in the loneliest 
house in America--for what he got to say is, the rent is pretty good. 
[Laughter]
    It's great to be here with distinguished guests from all around the 
world. Your Majesty and Prime Ministers and former Prime Ministers, 
friends with whom I have the honor to work, you're welcome here. I 
appreciate the fact that people from different walks of life, different 
faiths have joined us. Yet I believe we share one thing in common: We're 
united in our dedication to peace and tolerance and humility before the 
Almighty.
    I want to thank Senators Pryor and Coleman for putting on this 
breakfast. I appreciate Senator Frist, Representative Blunt, 
Representative Pelosi, other Members of the United States Congress 
who've joined us on the dais and who are here for this breakfast. I 
thank the members of my Cabinet who are here. Get back to work. 
[Laughter]
    I find it interesting that the music is from Arkansas. [Laughter] 
I'm glad it is, because they know how to sing down there. [Laughter]
    You know, I was trying to figure out what to say about Bono--
[laughter].
    Bono. Careful. [Laughter]
    The President. And a story jumped to mind about these really good 
Texas preachers. And he got going in a sermon, and a fellow jumped up in 
the back and said, ``Use me, Lord, use me.'' And the preacher ignored 
him and finished his sermon. Next Sunday, he gets up and cranking on 
another sermon, and the guy jumps up and says, ``Use me, Lord, use me.'' 
And after the service, he walked up to him and said, ``If you're 
serious, I'd like for you to paint the pews.'' Next Sunday, he's 
preaching; the guy stands up and says, ``Use me, Lord, use me, but only 
in an advisory capacity.'' [Laughter]
    So I've gotten to know Bono. [Laughter] He's a doer. The thing about 
this good citizen of the world is, he's used his position to get things 
done. You're an amazing guy, Bono. God bless you.
    It is fitting we have a National Prayer Breakfast, because our 
Nation is a nation of prayer. In America, we do not prescribe any 
prayer; we welcome all prayer. We're a nation founded by men and women 
who came to these shores seeking to worship the Almighty freely. From 
these prayerful beginnings, God has greatly blessed the American people, 
and through our prayers, we give thanks to the true source of our 
blessings.
    Americans remain a prayerful people today. I know this firsthand. I 
can't tell you the number of times out there traveling our country, 
people walk up, total strangers, and say, ``Mr. President, I'm praying 
for you and your family.'' It is one of the great blessings of the 
Presidency and one of the most wonderful gifts a person can give any of 
us who have the responsibility to govern justly. So I thank my fellow 
citizens for their gracious prayers and wonderful gifts.
    Every day, millions of Americans pray for the safety of our troops, 
for the protection of innocent life, and for the peace we all hope for. 
Americans continue to pray for the recovery of the wounded and to pray 
for the Almighty's comfort on those who have lost a loved one. We give 
thanks daily for the brave and decent men and women who wear our 
Nation's uniform, and we thank their families as well.
    In this country, we recognize prayer is a gift from God to every 
human being. It is a gift that allows us to come before our Maker with 
heartfelt requests and our deepest hopes. Prayer reminds us of our place 
in God's creation. It reminds us that when we bow our heads or fall to 
our knees, we are all equal and precious in the eyes of the Almighty.
    In prayer, we're reminded we're never alone in our personal trials 
or individual suffering. In prayer, we offer our thanksgiving and 
praise, recognizing our lives, our talents, and all that we own 
ultimately flow from the Creator. And in these moments of our deepest 
gratitude, the Almighty reminds us that

[[Page 169]]

for those to whom much has been given, much is required.
    In prayer, we open ourselves to God's priority, especially His 
charge to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to bring aid to the 
widow or the orphan. By surrendering our will to God's will, we learn to 
serve His eternal purposes. Through prayer, our faith is strengthened, 
our hearts are humbled, and our lives are transformed. Prayer encourages 
us to go out into the world and serve.
    In our country, we recognize our fellow citizens are free to profess 
any faith they choose, or no faith at all. You are equally American if 
you're a Hebrew--a Jew or a Christian or a Muslim. You're equally 
American if you choose not to have faith. It is important America never 
forget the great freedom to worship as you so choose.
    What I've found in our country, that whatever our faith, millions of 
Americans answer the universal call to love your neighbor just like 
you'd like to be loved yourself. Over the past 5 years, we've been 
inspired by the ways that millions of Americans have answered that call. 
In the face of terrorist attacks and devastating natural disasters here 
and around the world, the American people have shown their faith in 
action again and again. After Katrina, volunteers from churches and 
mosques and synagogues and other faith-based and community groups opened 
up their hearts and their homes to the displaced. We saw an outpouring 
of compassion after the earthquake in Pakistan and the tsunami that 
devastated entire communities. We live up to God's calling when we 
provide help for HIV/AIDS victims on the continent of Africa and around 
the world.
    In millions of acts of kindness, we have seen the good heart of 
America. Bono, the true strength of this country is not in our military 
might or in the size of our wallet; it is in the hearts and souls of the 
American people.
    I was struck by the comment of a fellow who was rescued from the 
gulf coast and given shelter. He said, ``I didn't think there was so 
much love in the world.'' This morning we come together to recognize the 
source of that great love. We come together before the Almighty in 
prayer, to reflect on God's will, to seek His aid, and to respond to His 
grace.
    I want to thank you for the fine tradition you continue here today. 
I pray that our Nation will always have the humility to commend our 
cares to Providence and trust in the goodness of His plans.
    May God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 9:09 a.m. at the Hilton Washington Hotel. 
In his remarks, he referred to musician and activist Bono.