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/
That's not to say there aren't miracles. Every breath of life for God's children is a miracle of grace. Every illness that is healed is by His hand. Every step is by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." -- Isaiah 30:21
As I get older, I literally find myself stepping back like when taking a photograph, and in doing so my point of view widens to include more. Everything is by and through and for Jesus Christ, whether we acknowledge that truth or not. (But life is profoundly happier when we do acknowledge it.)
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." -- Colossians 1:16-17"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
That is so inclusive, so thorough and absolute, who can ignore it?
And the resurrection proved it all true. Aren't we just the most fortunate of men and women?
-A8
I didn’t arrange it.
God did.
He made it fairly clear in Scripture:
THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE.
Straightforward Scripture.
That's for God to know. I trust Him when He says my children are covered by the blood of Christ.
That's more than enough for me.
I realize RCs need the incantations of men and magisteriums, the magical baptizing water and secret rituals to give them the assurance I've found in Scripture.
As God wills.
"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call." -- Acts 2:39
Amen.
I did not say that God doesn't do miracles today. What I said was that we don't need miracles. Christians walk by faith and not by sight. We rest in God's promises, not in anything else.
(#14,819): A8: So no Calvinists have reprobate children?
(#14,824): Dr. E: That's for God to know.
First you say that God has given believing Calvinists the assurance in Scripture that their children are elect. But then you say that only God knows whether Calvinists have reprobate children. If only God knows whether Calvinists have reprobate children, then Calvinists can have no assurance that their children are elect. But if Calvinists can have assurance that their children are elect, then they must know that their children are not reprobate. So which is it?
-A8
And Mark 16:17 is followed by Mark 16:20...
"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
So the Lord gave special abilities to the Apostles in order that the word would be confirmed and go forth with power and strength.
But just like pastors today do not presume to forgive sins, as in the RCC error of the priestcraft, so, too have those Apostolic gifts served their purpose and passed away.
All we need now is the clarity of the resurrection and the leading of the Holy Spirit, all discerned in Scripture.
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." -- Ephesians 2:4-7"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Baptism IS salvific: "Whereunto baptism being of the like form [visibly related to water], now saveth you also" (1 Peter 3:21)
Since when prayers to the Holy Ghost are occult? Do you pray?
Your mileage may vary, or in some cases, never make it out of the garage of the magisterium. (You should check to make sure they're putting grace in that tank and not lies.)
What does being a "member of the covenant" have to do with election and reprobation? If nothing, then my question "Which is it?" remains unanswered.
-A8
lol. You know, I see you posting all over the forum that people haven't "answered your question."
At a certain point, that becomes a pretty obvious ploy of the weaker side of a debate.
As God wills.
Unless the persons involved are in fact avoiding answering the question.
If only God knows whether Calvinists have reprobate children, then Calvinists can have no assurance that their children are elect. But if Calvinists can have assurance that their children are elect, then they must know that their children are not reprobate. Your reply does not designate which of those two propositions is true. And therefore my "Which is it?" question remains answered.
-A8
How is creation outside of time? No matter what a "day" is, we are given specific time delineations as to what occurred when. (As was discussed on the Luther thread, my view is that the literal timeline is handed down in Gen. 1, from God's POV.) I don't see how God could have highlighted days passing unless He wanted it known that time had commenced at this point.
My point was that God didn't leave anything undone (His work is perfect, complete).
Yes, after 6 "days", His creation work was perfect and complete, i.e. it wasn't so after the third day. As that work was within time, so was His later work with the Incarnation and everything else.
Of all the Christians, you as a Reformed Baptist should believe that no matter how much God intercedes in your life on a daily basis from your perspective, all that is just playing out what has been determined to happen, your perception notwithstanding. Your future is a done deal, FK.
Yes, true enough (my perception notwithstanding), and it does play out within time. I agree with you that God transcends time and is not subject to it. Nevertheless, as one of God's creations, time does exist. I presume that this fact makes it "real". I'm just saying that God has chosen to operate within this creation, as opposed to creating "things" and then leaving them alone by not operating within time.
That is because Protestant pastors do not have valid orders. And therefore they cannot follow John 20:21, "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
-A8
The greatest miracle in the world is that God would rescue a wretched sinner like me who has given God no reason whatsoever to do anything concerning me except to judge me guilty of all His Law and condemn me to the everlasting darkness of hell, and did so by making the greatest sacrifice of His Son, who suffered the humiliation and punishment I justly deserve.
That is the great false dichotomy. It is like saying that Jesus must be either God or man. It tosses aside verses like "work out your salvation in fear and trembling" and "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman".
-A8
Even then the smells and bells aren't enough, for the Roman Catholics cannot know for sure if they are in a state of grace or not, or whether their works are enough or not.
They may trust a priest's absolution after confession, but even that isn't a surety, for they know there are sins they have left unconfessed and not covered by penance.
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