Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Anthony Azzarto, S.J.
Born: September 15, 1938
Entered the Society of Jesus: July 14, 1956
Ordained: June 12, 1969
Died: April 15, 2023
Rev. Anthony Azzarto, S.J.Greeting
Order of the Mass
Presider: Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J.Introductory Rites
Sprinkling with Holy Water
Placing of the Pall
Placing of Religious Symbols
Processional Hymn: Be Not Afraid
You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way
You shall speak your words to foreign men
And they will understand
You shall see the face of God and live
Refrain: Be not afraid
I go before you always Come, follow me and I will give you rest
And blessed are your poor
For the kingdom shall be theirs
Blest are you that weep and mourn
For one day you shall laugh
And if wicked men insult and hate you
All because of me
Blessed, blessed are you
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading (Isaiah 43:1-6)
• Paul Schaetzle, ’71
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 23)
Response: Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.
Second Reading (Philippians 1:3-11) • Grace Gualario
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel (Luke 24:13-35) • Rev. James Keenan, S.J.
Reflection • Jack Raslowsky, ’79
Prayers of the Faithful • Bill Lillis, ’80 & Jim DeAngelo, ’85
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Offertory Hymn: Prayer of St. Francis, arr. Ryan Cayabyab
Presentation of the Gifts • Sue Baber, Rich Hansen, Rosalie Romano & Teddy McCarthy, ’23
Holy, Holy (Mass of Creation)
Memorial Acclamation: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.
The Lord’s Prayer
Greeting of Peace
Lamb of God
Communion Hymn: One Bread, One Body
Refrain: One bread, one body, one Lord of all One cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many, throughout the Earth We are one body in this one Lord.:
Communion Hymn: Taste and See
Refrain: Taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Oh taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.
Communion Meditation: Suscipe (Take, Lord, and Receive)
Final Commendation
Prayers of Commendation • Rev. Chukwuyenum Afiawari, S.J.
Commendation Hymn: The Hand of God Shall Hold You
Refrain: The hand of God shall hold you, the peace of God enfold you, the love that dreamed and formed you, still surrounds you here today; The light of God beside you, above, beneath, inside you, the light that shines to guide you home to the loving hand of God.
Recessional
Recessional Hymn: On Eagle’s Wings
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord Who abide in His shadow for life
Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”
Refrain: And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you
And famine will bring you no fear
Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield.
Answering the call to be a “man for and with others” is a challenge in two parts. First one must commit to serve others, and whether they have needed a friend, a spiritual adviser, a cheerleader, or a voice calling out for justice, or simply a tie to stay in dress code, you have served thousands at Prep and beyond with distinction for nearly 60 years. But one must also be ready to stand with others—sometimes in spirit, often in person, at the peaks of joy and in the depths of despair. On the very best days, on the very worst days, and—crucially, because you have taught us to seek God in all things, to find the sacred in the simple, ordinary moments— on all the days in between, you have always been there, and you have always been “Our Pride and Our Glory.”
Tony Azzarto,
S.J.A Prep Legend • Inducted October 19, 2022
For walking with us always...
For reminding us of the sacred in us and around us...
For showing us what it means to be a person for others...
For teaching us the very best of what it means to be Saint Peter’s Prep...
Thank you, Fr. Azzarto.
As Kingfishers Catch Fire
Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.
I say móre: the just man justices; Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces; Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is — Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men’s faces.
In 2014, the Saint Peter’s Prep Library invited members of the faculty and staff to read their favorite poems on video for National Poetry Month. It came as little surprise that this was Tony’s selection, as he so often quoted the closing lines in homilies, when offering a prayer at graduation, and on so many other occasions—including, memorably, when he was inducted as a Legend of Prep last October.
