Former President George W. Bush says he turned to his faith when faced with tough times during his White House years.

Bush spoke at a gala on Saturday to benefit the Fort Worth Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas.

The former president also said he didn't see how he could be president without prayer.

"Every day," he said, "I tried to bring honor and dignity to the office," Bush told the crowd of more than 1,100, made up from parents, teachers and students at the school. 

The benefit for the school was sold out in 10 days after Bush accepted the school's invitation to speak.

"We're using this as an opportunity to honor a great American," Kelly Moore, the Christian school's president, said Friday.

Bush is currently writing a book about his decisions while in office.

The former president also said he will not be criticizing his successor in the Oval Office.

"There are plenty of critics in America," he said.

*Originally published March 2, 2010.