For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 7, 2002
President's Remarks at National Prayer Breakfast
Remarks by the President at National Prayer Breakfast
Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.
8:45 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much,
John. Laura and I are really honored to join you this
morning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Prayer
Breakfast. And Admiral Clark, whatever prayer you used for
eloquence, worked. (Laughter and applause.) I
appreciate your message and I appreciate your service to our great
country. (Applause.)
I want to thank Jon Kyl and Judge Sentelle for their words, and
CeCe for your music. I appreciate getting the chance to meet
Joe Finley, the New York City firefighter. He's a living
example of what sacrifice and courage means. Thank you for
coming, Joe. (Applause.)
I want to thank Congressman Bart Stupak. I really
appreciate the fact that my National Security Advisor, Condoleezza
Rice, is here to offer prayer. (Applause.) I
appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here. I want to say hello
to the members of Congress.
I'm particularly grateful to Lisa Beamer for her reading and for
her example. (Applause.) I appreciate her example
of faith made stronger in trial. In the worst moments of her
life, Lisa has been a model of grace -- her own, and the grace of
God. (Applause.) And all America welcomes into
the world Todd and Lisa's new daughter, Morgan Kay
Beamer. (Applause.)
Since we met last year, millions of Americans have been led to
prayer. They have prayed for comfort in time of grief; for
understanding in a time of anger; for protection in a time of
uncertainty. Many, including me, have been on bended
knee. The prayers of this nation are a part of the good that
has come from the evil of September the 11th, more good than we could
ever have predicted. Tragedy has brought forth the courage
and the generosity of our people.
None of us would ever wish on anyone what happened on that
day. Yet, as with each life, sorrows we would not choose can
bring wisdom and strength gained in no other way. This
insight is central to many faiths, and certainly to faith that finds
hope and comfort in a cross.
Every religion is welcomed in our country; all are practiced here.
Many of our good citizens profess no religion at all. Our
country has never had an official faith. Yet we have all
been witnesses these past 21 weeks to the power of faith to see us
through the hurt and loss that has come to our country.
Faith gives the assurance that our lives and our history have a
moral design. As individuals, we know that suffering is
temporary, and hope is eternal. As a nation, we know that
the ruthless will not inherit the Earth. Faith teaches
humility, and with it, tolerance. Once we have recognized
God's image in ourselves, we must recognize it in every human being.
Respect for the dignity of others can be found outside of religion,
just as intolerance is sometimes found within it. Yet for
millions of Americans, the practice of tolerance is a command of
faith. When our country was attacked, Americans did not
respond with bigotry. People from other countries and
cultures have been treated with respect. And this is one
victory in the war against terror. (Applause.)
At the same time, faith shows us the reality of good, and the
reality of evil. Some acts and choices in this world have
eternal consequences. It is always, and everywhere, wrong to target
and kill the innocent. It is always, and everywhere, wrong
to be cruel and hateful, to enslave and oppress. It is
always, and everywhere, right to be kind and just, to protect the lives
of others, and to lay down your life for a friend.
The men and women who charged into burning buildings to save
others, those who fought the hijackers, were not confused about the
difference between right and wrong. They knew the
difference. They knew their duty. And we know their
sacrifice was not in vain. (Applause.)
Faith shows us the way to self-giving, to love our neighbor as we
would want to be loved ourselves. In service to others, we
find deep human fulfillment. And as acts of service are
multiplied, our nation becomes a more welcoming place for the weak, and
a better place for those who suffer and griev
For half a century now, the National Prayer Breakfast has been a
symbol of the vital place of faith in the life of our
nation. You've reminded generations of leaders of a purpose
and a power greater than their own. In times of calm, and in
times of crisis, you've called us to prayer.
In this time of testing for our nation, my family and I have been
blessed by the prayers of countless of Americans. We have
felt their sustaining power and we're incredibly
grateful. Tremendous challenges await this nation, and there
will be hardships ahead. Faith will not make our path easy,
but it will give us strength for the journey.
The promise of faith is not the absence of suffering, it is the
presence of grace. And at ever step we are secure in knowing
that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces
character, and character produces hope -- and hope does not
disappoint.
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless
America. (Applause.)
END
8:54 A.M. EST
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