President George Washington's prayer and farewell address were read aloud Monday on the Senate floor. It's an annual tradition.

Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened Monday's session by reading Washington's prayer for the nation.

In that prayer, Washington sought God's protection and favor, "through Jesus Christ our Lord."

And in his 1796 farewell address, Washington wrote, "of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion, and morality are indispensable supports."

"Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle," he wrote.