Congress Honors Mother Teresa

Partisan wrangling came to a halt and an unusual silence cloaked the Capitol Thursday - if only for an hour - as Mother Teresa came to Congress.

The 86-year-old Roman Catholic nun, on her first extended trip since a series of illnesses threatened her life last year, heard a steady stream of praise from lawmakers and other dignitaries as they celebrated the recent passage of legislation to honor her with the Congressional Gold Medal.

The award is Congress’ most prestigious civilian honor.

“You must pray for us that we continue God’s work with beautiful and with great love,” Mother Teresa said after House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., presented her a copy of the resolution, which authorizes the Treasury to mint the medal. The front of the medal will bear an image of her holding a child.