President Bush Attends Funeral Service for Tony Snow (Text of the President's Eulogy)

President Bush Attends Funeral Service for Tony Snow
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Washington, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: Archbishop Wuerl, Father O'Connell, Mr. Vice President, members of the Cabinet and my administration, members of Congress, distinguished guests; most importantly, the Snow family, Jill, Robbie, Kendall, Kristi and Jim, and other family members; former colleagues of Tony. Laura and I are privileged to join you today to pay our final respects to a cherished friend.

Tony Snow was a man of uncommon decency and compassion. He was a devoted husband, a proud and loving father, an adoring son, a beloved colleague, and a wonderful role model and friend.

In a life that was far too brief, he amassed a rare record of accomplishment. He applied his gifted mind to many fields: as a columnist, newspaper editor, TV anchor, radio host, and musician. He had the sometimes challenging distinction of working for two Presidents named Bush. As a speechwriter in my Dad's administration, Tony tried to translate the President's policies into English. (Laughter.) As a spokesman in my administration, Tony tried to translate my English into English. (Laughter.)

Tony always gave me good and candid advice. He was a man of profound substance who loved ideas, held strong beliefs, and reveled in defending them. He took very seriously his duty to inform the public about what its government was doing during historic times for our nation.

In the White House briefing room, Tony worked to build a relationship of candor and trust with the press corps. On his first day at the podium, he told the gathered reporters this: "One of the reasons I took this job is not only because I believe in the President, but because, believe it or not, I want to work with you." Tony was the first working journalist to serve as the White House Press Secretary for nearly 30 years. He knew the job of a reporter was rigorous. He admired the profession -- and always treated it with respect. And the presence of so many members of the Fourth Estate here today attests to the admiration and respect that he earned.

Of course, Tony's adjustment from commentator to spokesman was not seamless. Ann Compton of ABC recently recalled that when you asked Tony a question, he would sometimes get going, and she would have to stop him and say: "Tony, wait, I asked what the President thought." (Laughter.)

Tony brought a fierce and challenging intellect to his duties. And he displayed an engaging wit. When a reporter asked a rather labored question about Congress, Tony did not answer it. The persistent reporter pressed him: "Are you going to just evade that question?" With a smile, Tony quipped: "No, I'm going to laugh at it." (Laughter.)

I believe the reason Tony was so good at his job is that he looked at the world in a joyful way. He was a proud patriot who believed in America's goodness, and an optimist who knew America's possibilities. He believed strongly in the wisdom of the American people. And throughout his career, he took a special pride in being a vigorous and unapologetic defender of our men and women in uniform. He supported their missions, saw honor in their achievements, and found every possible opportunity to highlight their character and courage.

Tony Snow, the professional, is a hard act to follow. Tony Snow, the man, is simply irreplaceable. Everyone who worked with him quickly grew to love him. We will always remember his wry sense of humor and abundant goodness. We'll also remember he was just a lot of fun. After all, he played six different musical instruments and was a proud member of a band called Beats Working. He may be one of the few people in history to have jammed on the South Lawn of the White House and with Jethro Tull. (Laughter.)

We remember Tony's thoughtfulness. No matter how busy he was, this was a man who put others first. He would go out of his way to ask about people's families. He would check in with friends whenever he heard they were ill. He'd reach out to others, sometimes strangers, who were struggling with cancer. Even when he was going through difficult chemotherapy sessions, he sent inspirational e-mails to a friend whose son was suffering from a serious illness.

We remember Tony's resilient spirit. When he received a second diagnosis of cancer, he did not turn to despair. He saw it as another challenge to tackle. He found comfort in the prayers he received from millions of Americans. As he told the graduates here at Catholic University last year, "Never underestimate the power of other people's love and prayer. They have incredible power. It's as if I've been carried on the shoulders of an entire army. And they made me weightless."

Most of all, we remember Tony's love of his family. There was no doubt for Tony Snow that his family was first. When Jill reached a milestone birthday, Tony had a huge celebration. He later said that he and Jill danced that night as if they were teenagers. He said he was the most fortunate man in the world to have shared love like that. So, today, Jill, our hearts are with you, and we thank you for giving Tony such a special life.

For Robbie, Kendall, and Kristi, you are in our thoughts and prayers, as well. We thank you for sharing your dad with us. He talked about you all the time. He wanted nothing more than your happiness and success. You know, I used to call Tony on the weekends to get his advice. And invariably, I found him with you on the soccer field, or at a swim meet, or helping with your homework. He loved you a lot. Today I hope you know that we loved him a lot, too.

I know it's hard to make sense of today. It is impossible to fully comprehend why such a good and vital man was taken from us so soon. But these are the great mysteries of life -- and Tony knew as well as anyone that they're not ours to unveil.

The day Tony was born was also the day that many of his fellow Catholics pay tribute to Saint Justin. Justin was also a gifted thinker and writer, and a powerful witness for the Christian faith. Because of his beliefs, he suffered many times of trial, and in the year 165 A.D. he was arrested. Before he received a sentence of death, he was asked: "If you are killed, do you suppose you will go to heaven?" Justin replied: "I do not suppose it, but I know and am fully persuaded of it."

Tony Snow knew that, as well. That brought him great peace. When talking about the struggle he waged so admirably, he said that no matter how bad times may sometimes seem, "God doesn't promise tomorrow, he does promise eternity."

And so today we send this man of faith and character and joy on his final journey. Tony Snow has left the City of Washington for the City of God. May he find eternal rest in the arms of his Savior. And may the Author of all creation watch over his family and all those who loved him, admired him, and will always cherish his memory.

Thanks, Kristinn, for letting us feel a little bit physically closer to his family and friends.

May God May The Angels
Lead You Into Paradise
Funeral Song for the Rite of Commital

http://www.jabulanimusic.com/index.htm

May the angels lead you into Paradise.

May the martyrs come to greet you on the way.

May they lead you home to the holy city,

to the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Composer’s Reflection
Since early times, in Christian tradition In Paradisum deducant te angeli or May the angels lead you into paradise has been part of the Christian funeray tradition. It is sung at the Rite of Committal, which takes place after the communion rite in the Requiem Mass. It may also be sung during the procession from the church, and at the Rite of Commendation at the place of burial. But is this merely fine poetry, or do the the images have actual meaning?

References to Angels are common throughout the later Scriptures, after the return from Babylonian Exile. The concept of angels, unkown in pre-Exilic Judaism, was acquired from Persian tradition, when Alexander, the benign Emperor, defeated Babylon and allowed those who wished to return from their captivity to Jerusalem. These heavenly beings or figures became symbols of God’s power, extensions of God’s presence. The angel who appeared to Mary at the annunciation may be understood as the appearance and personification of the invisible God.

The Martyrs were not only the heroes but the life blood of the Early Church. Those who were martyred for the Faith in the great persecutions sweeping through the rapidly growing community gave rise to the phenomenon of pilgrimages, the sites of martyrdom regarded as especially holy places; these soon became the great basilicas which established the geographical presence of Christianity as it spread further and further away from the Holy Lands. The martyrs found immediate favor in God’s sight. The imagery of their welcoming the recently deceased into the heavenly community is another symbolic reference to the divine embrace.

Devout Jews lived in hope of a restored Jerusalem. Those who returned from Bablyonian Exile in 584 BC found the temple in ruins, the holy places a heap of weed-strewn rubble, with birds nesting among the stones and remaining ledges and arches. A post-Exilic theology emerged which evolved into an early December Feast of the Dedication, to commemorate the eventual rebuilding of the Temple. But it also anticipated the return of the Lord at the endtimes, not as mighty conqueror but as Shepherd, to reunite the scattered tribes of Israel, restored in a single land ruled by God alone. Their city would surmount a land abundant with flowing waters. This dream of restoration of good fortunes (which probably never existed but which nurtured a desire for the future) became enshrined in the vision of a new, gleaming and indestructible City, with the golden temple as its jewel.

The mention of Lazarus in the arms of Abraham alludes to the story in Luke 16:19-25, where the beggar Lazarus, whose life was spent in poverty, disease, and misery, died and went directly to heaven. He would no longer be poor. This image reflects the Jewish belief of the endtimes as days of limitless prosperity, where all would live together in harmony and peace.

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