Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley - doctrinal?

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Why? One preposition can make a huge difference, as evidenced by the original post.
 
Because, hopefully, hymns are not the only source of catechesis in a parish, and parishoners know that making song lyrics work is a tricky buisness.
 
Changing one word can render a Baptism invalid, can render the Eucharist invalid. Words have great power.
 
Loud-living-dogma said:
Good idea to insult people when you’ve run out of ideas.
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How is pointing out the fact you made an absurd non sequitur insulting you?

You went from me admonishing you to not misinterpret things by applying an overly literalistic hermeneutic to saying “well in that case then nothing matters at Mass and anything goes.” That is a textbook non sequitur.

How in the world does “try not to misinterpret hymns” become “nothing we say in Mass matters and anything goes?”

Lastly, you went from a non sequitur to an ad hominem. Accusing me of insulting you and saying I’ve “run out of ideas” (far from it) could easily be construed as an ad hominem attack on me.
 
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Seriously. You asked “why does it matter”?

Do you not think it matters – the content of the songs we sing at Mass? I am flabbergasted.
 
No, I asked why the particular wording you suggested matters, considering that the present wording of this particular hymn can already be easily understood in an orthodox Catholic manner.

I’m not crazy about this hymn myself - but to claim it’s heretical is simply unfair.
 
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Spyridon said:
No, I asked why the particular wording you suggested matters, considering that the present wording of this particular hymn can already be easily understood in an orthodox Catholic manner.
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If it is the case that the wording can be understood in an orthodox Catholic manner, why would the OP be bothered to the point of not singing, and creating a thread here? I think we can easily make the case that the wording leads to an idea that is contrary to Scripture.
 
Loud-living-dogma said:
it is the case that the wording can be understood in an orthodox Catholic manner, why would the OP be bothered to the point of not singing, and creating a thread here? I think we can easily make the case that the wording leads to an idea that is contrary to Scripture.
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Because people erring in interpretation of Sacred words is nothing new and is widespread.

Do you think the OP is the first person to ever come on CAF after being troubled by something he read in the Bible or heard at Mass, only to find out he was only troubled because he was interpreting it in a literalistic fashion?
 
I don’t see a problem with spirituals at Mass. We’ve been singing “Were you There?” at Passion Week services for as long as I can remember and it’s never been an issue.

I think most people who know anything about Jesus understand that “by himself” refers to His human loneliness during His passion. If we want to quibble over details, He wasn’t technically “by himself” the whole time since
  • He had God the Father with Him at all times (despite this, in his great anguish He felt abandoned by the Father at the point of death)
  • He had an angel comforter in the Garden
  • His mother was sharing in His passion both spiritually when he was being tried and scourged and crowned with thorns in a place where she couldn’t go, and physically when he was carrying his cross and being crucified, as she was there
  • His apostle John was also at the foot of the cross with His mother
  • At one point He had Simon of Cyrene helping to carry His cross
  • He met the women who were crying for Him on the way to Calvary
  • He was crucified with two thieves, one of whom was supportive to Him
However, that’s not really the point of the song. The point is mental loneliness in carrying your burden, which most people I think can figure out.
 
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As the OP, The second verse implies that I’m always alone in my journey. That is not true! I know I am responsible for my actions and sin, but I also know that Christ is with me each step of the way.
 
Well hate to burst your bubble, but the hymns in the Gather hymnal have been signed off on by the Bishops.
If we can “get” parables, we can “get” poetic writing.
 
Music contains poetry. Surely you’re read poetry that contains figurative language? no?
 
Gather Comprehensive on my desk right now.

There is no Imprimatur and nor Nihil Obstat. I’ve been in charge of sourcing and purchasing hymnals for parishes, I’ve never seen either in a hymnal.
 
It’s on the approved list of publishers for Hymnals. Me too, BTW
 
All of this is much ado about nothing. People write hymns, people sing hymns, They are all for the glory of God.
 
Hey -
You hymnal-buyers - -have you ever talked to the pastors about “singing the Mass”, not “singing AT the Mass” - - i.e. singing the actual texts that (most parishes) don’t sing, the Propers, etc?
 
Tulitas said:
All of this is much ado about nothing. People write hymns, people sing hymns, They are all for the glory of God.
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Yeah - who cares if they are misleading or poorly-written? It’s just sinking into everyone’s brains with every repetition…

I personally can’t stand it when I read a Bible passage, and I get some inane “hymn” in my brain, that’s been planted by the evil Catholic music cartel “Ask and you shall receive!” “On this Holy Mountain” etc.
 
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