Romney lauds a 'culture of caring'

Speaking in unusually personal terms, Governor Mitt Romney told an audience at an annual prayer breakfast yesterday that the heavy rainfall this week ''reminds us who's really in charge" and that American society has a ''culture of caring" that rises in the face of devastation.

''I think sometimes we think that because we're this high-tech state . . . that we somehow have everything under control," Romney said at the 44th annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast, which was held this year at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. ''But all that rain from the sky reminds us that that's not the case at all. It can bring us to our knees and bring us up short."

Romney has talked about faith and patriotism as he has prepared for a possible run for the White House in 2008. Yesterday, he praised the state and the country for responding to crises, including the floods this week in Massachusetts and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.

''What is it about America's culture and values that makes us such a successful nation and society? Part of that is we love liberty, we love our country, we're patriotic," Romney said. ''I believe it's also because we are a people who love God and look for a purpose greater than ourselves in life.

''Even for those who don't believe in God, they believe in a purpose-driven life," Romney said in his breakfast address.

The breakfast, which was coordinated by the Rotary Club of Boston, brought more than 150 community and business leaders, clergy members, and politicians together for two hours of fellowship and prayer or reflection and to discuss the condition of Massachusetts.

''I actually thought the point about addressing the nobler and more generous side of people and human nature was very inspiring," said Rabbi William Hamilton of Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline. ''The breadth of what he was saying was we are humbled by nature acting in these extremes and that our response to that gives us our dignity and glowing humanity. Whether it's rain or a hurricane, I think there are things in nature that give us a sense of perspective."

At the breakfast, Hamilton said that strength is revealed in the way people respond to trials.

''Experience is not what happens in the world," he said. ''It's what you do with what happens in the world."

In his speech, Romney said that the compassion and support of the citizens of America ''make this the greatest nation on earth."

The Rotary Club in Boston, plans to donate the proceeds of the breakfast to the Bird Street Community Center.

The center is a nonprofit organization that provides services and programs for youth and families in the Uphams Corner and Dudley Street neighborhoods.

''I thought the speech was very much on target with respect to what Rotary stands for and the meaning of the prayer breakfast," said Thomas Zellen, chairman of the breakfast. ''It was community-spirited."

Russell Nichols can be reached at rnichols@globe.com.