Sunday, August 26, 2007

A song for Mother Teresa

I've been reading about the new autobiography due out about Mother Teresa and her very dark night of the soul. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1655415,00.html For some reason this song popped into my head. I think was the lines about "broken hallelujahs." These are the original Leonard Cohen lyrics. These are the last two verses which are rarely heard now since they were subsequently changed by later artists, but these are the best, imo.

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah


You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

7 comments:

MaryD said...

I haven't read the World article yet, but I've read some other stuff. It makes me so sad that these letters of hers which she didn't want to be made public, are. I know I can vent sometimes and say things that I feel at the moment. But my feeling it does not make it the truth, it's just how I feel at the time... and I'd hate to have those ventings be a subject for someone's analysis years later! KWIM? I hope somehow the impact of these letters will be such that Mother Theresa isn't cringing in heaven... may God use this for good in the lives of people... I'm just sharing a tangental thought to your post here... not saying that "you" are dissing MT's letters, but I do feel sad that the church decided they should be public! feel free to delete if it's not the kind of comment you want here!
Blessings,
Mary

MaryD said...

oh i see it is a Time/world section article... i'm reading now!

carrie said...

It is sad that this was made public if she didn't want it, but I guess none of us are nearly as in control as we think. I actually wish she'd brought it up publicly while she was alive. I think it would have made things much clearer if she could have talked about it openly.

Thanks for reading along!
Carrie

Dena Braves said...

It's an incredible song. Thanks for reminding me about it.

carrie said...

Hi Dena! Thanks for reading. How'd you find my blog? I looked at your profile and I love your taste in music!

Roz said...

Carrie, I followed the link from your excellent comment on Internet Monk. I like your clear expression and careful thought and respect the attentive way you're investigating God's will for your life. AND you like Clapton and In This House of Brede You're so my kind of woman.

I reverted to the church after a 15-year stint in my late husband's Presbyterian church, so you're asking yourself a lot of the questions I addressed then. God bless your journey.

carrie said...

Thank you for the kind words, Roz. I appreciate your comments. I was just thinking about rereading In This House of Brede. I should have known I'd was interested in the Catholic church when I was so drawn in by the description of the convent in this book. It was the first time I "got" the purpose of cloistered nuns.