Posted on 12/04/2006 7:52:47 PM PST by Pyro7480
'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
By John-Henry Westen
NEW YORK, December 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A review of New Line Cinema's The Nativity story by Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the United States, points out that the film, which opened December 1, misinterprets scripture from a Catholic perspective.
While Fr. Geiger admits that he found the film is "in general, to be a pious and reverential presentation of the Christmas mystery." He adds however, that "not only does the movie get the Virgin Birth wrong, it thoroughly Protestantizes its portrayal of Our Lady."
In Isaiah 7:14 the Bible predicts the coming of the Messiah saying: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel." Fr. Geiger, in an video blog post, explains that the Catholic Church has taught for over 2000 years that the referenced Scripture showed that Mary would not only conceive the child miraculously, but would give birth to the child miraculously - keeping her physical virginity intact during the birth.
The film, he suggests, in portraying a natural, painful birth of Christ, thus denies the truth of the virginal and miraculous birth of Christ, which, he notes, the Fathers of the Church compared to light passing through glass without breaking it. Fr. Geiger quoted the fourth century St. Augustine on the matter saying. "That same power which brought the body of the young man through closed doors, brought the body of the infant forth from the inviolate womb of the mother."
Fr. Geiger contrasts The Nativity Story with The Passion of the Christ, noting that with the latter, Catholics and Protestants could agree to support it. He suggests, however, that the latter is "a virtual coup against Catholic Mariology".
The characterization of Mary further debases her as Fr. Geiger relates in his review. "Mary in The Nativity lacks depth and stature, and becomes the subject of a treatment on teenage psychology."
Beyond the non-miraculous birth, the biggest let-down for Catholics comes from Director Catherine Hardwicke's own words. Hardwicke explains her rationale in an interview: "We wanted her [Mary] to feel accessible to a young teenager, so she wouldn't seem so far away from their life that it had no meaning for them. I wanted them to see Mary as a girl, as a teenager at first, not perfectly pious from the very first moment. So you see Mary going through stuff with her parents where they say, 'You're going to marry this guy, and these are the rules you have to follow.' Her father is telling her that she's not to have sex with Joseph for a year-and Joseph is standing right there."
Comments Fr. Geiger, "it is rather disconcerting to see Our Blessed Mother portrayed with 'attitude;' asserting herself in a rather anachronistic rebellion against an arranged marriage, choosing her words carefully with her parents, and posing meaningful silences toward those who do not understand her."
Fr. Geiger adds that the film also contains "an overly graphic scene of St. Elizabeth giving birth," which is "just not suitable, in my opinion, for young children to view."
Despite its flaws Fr. Geiger, after viewing the film, also has some good things to say about it. "Today, one must commend any sincere attempt to put Christ back into Christmas, and this film is certainly one of them," he says. "The Nativity Story in no way compares to the masterpiece which is The Passion of the Christ, but it is at least sincere, untainted by cynicism, and a worthy effort by Hollywood to end the prejudice against Christianity in the public square."
And, in addition to a good portrait of St. Joseph, the film offers "at least one cinematic and spiritual triumph" in portraying the Visitation of Mary to St. Elizabeth. "Although the Magnificat is relegated to a kind of epilogue at the movie's end, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is otherwise faithful to the scriptures and quite poignant. In a separate scene, the two women experience the concurrent movement of their children in utero and share deeply in each other's joy. I can't think of another piece of celluloid that illustrates the dignity of the unborn child better than this."
See Fr. Geiger's full review here:
http://airmaria.com/
A subtle point of "for I know whom I have believed" is that he is speaking of the Person Himself, not merely what has been said about the Person or what he has observed of the Person. Paul knows Him.
The perfect reply to hate is love:
Aaah, that was Paul. You caught me. I merely plagiarized.
Thank you for your encouragements.
And you both are natty dressers.
It bears repeating, for it is the absolute truth! p> Thank you so much, my dearest sister in Christ, for your very kind words!
But as Christians and believers in the triune God of all creation, we will be judged by Christ's righteousness and not our own. That is the glorious gift of His justification of us. Through nothing in ourselves we have been forgiven of our sins and acquitted of our trespasses because Christ has taken on the job of standing in our place and paying the debt for our transgressions.
If we think a sin, even if we do not physically carry it out, we will be held accountable.
Yes, that is completely true. Accountable for every sin we ever commit or think.
And still He shoulders the punishment for every one of them.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." -- Hebrews 10:5-10"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
This is the magnificent distinction of grace that sets Christianity apart from every religion on earth for all time -- someone else pays the tab, God Himself.
God is love.
The perfect reply to hate is love:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. - Matt 5:44-45
Great Holy Spirit wisdom, as usual.
IIRC, Winkie sp? Pratney has a teaching . . . about how we need to respond with an opposite attitude, tone, Spirit when assaulted etc.
But it's hard for most of us. Why? I think part of it is CONTROL. It means giving up CONTROL. And most of us born and reared amidst divorce; ATTACHMENT DISORDER generating childhood; etc. have major spiritual and psychological challenges overcoming the insecurities fostered by such. The result is generation after generation of CONTROL FREAKS.
That makes it hard to LET GO AND LET GOD. But abandoning our security, our all to God is the ONLY way we CAN LOVE others regardless. . . . especially, our enemies.
OTHERWISE, we are compulsively convined that the only way we can protect ourselves from pain is to be CONTROLLING and aggressive etc. Trouble is, it virtually always results in MORE PAIN--especially long term.
God's way is not always pain free. But it is certainly less painful than any other way.
One of the pains tends to be fear of LOSS. We can fear losing power, influence, access, substance, sanity, belonging . . . But IF ALL those are NOT secure in JESUS, IN GOD, BY HIS SPIRIT, then there is not hope with any of them anyway. And IF we are secure in JESUS regardless . . . then there need be no anxiety, fear.
I'm not always there either, on all issues in all situations. Mercifully, God has enabled me to love my enemies. And, it has made a lot of difference.
Abandonment to God can be scary. Not abandoning will end up far scarier.
Truly, no mortal man could atone for his own sin, and no mortal man is without sin. Jesus' atonement for us is complete, nothing can be added to it.
Thank you, Jesus!
I used the term "musing" in characterizing my comments on how I believe the Great White Throne Judgment will go, because I do not have a clear leaning in the Spirit in any particular direction. Nevertheless my musing is that being "known" to Jesus (having our names recorded in the book of life from the foundation of the world) assures our passage into the new heaven and new earth. The price has been paid in full by Jesus.
Further, I muse that we will suffer loss for squandering His gifts, loss of heavenly treasure. Conversely, I muse that we may gain heavenly treasure for pure thoughts and deeds. The purpose of the treasure would not be for vainglory, but rather for Him.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Rev 21:22-27
Great post as usual AlamoGirl. You needn't worry about that, God will Himself give you lots to bring.After all, everything we have comes from Him. It's like giving a child an ice cream cone, and then you ask her for a bite. Some extend it cheerfully, others refuse, totally forgetting who gave it to them. People who worry over works, (not you) need to trust in Him more.
What a marvelous analysis of the root of the problem, e.g. control and our reluctance to relinquish it.
In the times of tribal Israel, when all the tribes had to appear before the Lord-- the beginnings of public worship-- the people all dressed in their finest clothes. Even the worst of them went happily before the Lord, celebrating. Did they fear judgment and punishment? No, they rejoiced for they knew that God would forgive them. We too can have that assurance.
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