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/
Back there somewhere I wrote
It used to just amaze me. I mean I get thrilled when I pull a lamb -- and once, this is cool, I had one that wasn't breathing, tongue blue and lolling out. I held it so that I knew the airway was open and breathed into its mouth - no lip-lock necessary, D.G., and watches as its tongue turned pink and then finally it started breathing - and ten minutes later was on the teat doing what comes naturally.
I helped deliver my daughter, and then I had to give her injections. After that I got my flock of sheep, and giving them injections and doing ovine obstetrics was not half so scary.It can sometimes be pretty involved, as in, "Hmm, is this a front leg or a back leg .... okay, it's a front leg, where's the other one? Now, can I pull on both legs AND keep the head from flopping back?" Of course one thing we don't tell the non-shepherds is that on some cold nights you thank good that the womb of a ewe is nice and warm and comfortable on the hand.
And when you pull a lamb and it breathes and bleats and you put it in front of mama's face and she begins to clean it off and they talk to each other. Man, THAT is living! But my point which I lost was that to have the incredible privilege of being there when one of God's lambs starts breathing and bleating and talking to God, it's pretty amazing.
INDEED.
Thanks much for your story.
Congrats.
Kosta: "have you taken your medication today? Use English in correspondence. It goes a long way."
It's a Star Trek TNG reference (mostly). Truth be told, I happen to be a total Star Trek "geek". :) Anyway, in a recent post Hosepipe drew a comparison from your view that God does not make choices to the fictional alien race called "Borg". I think it is essentially correct. The individual humanoid Borg drones have zero individuality of their own, their race operates solely by the directive of the hive "mind", sort of like insects, but much more sophisticated. :) Anyway, as fascinating as I am sure this is to you :), the point is that automatons without choice are not sovereign. You are describing to us a God without choice. This challenges God's sovereignty.
I just wanted to let you know that today I'm headed south for some vacation with the family unit. So, I'll be offline for a little more than a week. I ask your prayers for safe travels, and I pray that all of you are doing well. God Bless you all.
Have a good vacation. You’ll be missed.
Blessings,
Peace, provision, safety, love, joy, fun, intimacy . . . God’s best in your travels.
South, huh? Things aren’t hot enuff on Free Republic?
God bless all y’all on your travelsand keep you safe and if, in some calamity, you don’t make it to your home, may He bring you to His.
As to Him being "driven" by possibilities or uncertainties, I really don't even know what you mean by this
To put it succinctly: God is never in a dilemma. God is absolutely certain about everything. Ergo, He is never in a position to "choose."
Does God ponder "Should We do this or that?" Implying that God must pick among choices that are somehow forced upon Him is anthropomorphism par excellence — making God fit our image — which seems to be very prevalent among Protestants.
That explains it. Thanks.
The Father hears only pure prayers, Harley D.
All of our prayers are pure. It is the Holy Spirit's job to help us to pray.
The Western Church has no idea how to be prepared for what’s coming. We are weak and helpless and we’d better start praying and asking the Holy Spirit to empower us because if we don’t, we’re toast. Times are going to be pretty horrific in the US and we’re just a bunch of weak sissies when it comes to tribulation like we’re going to see. I pity our young people who don’t have a clue how to stand firm and persevere through trials. God help us all.
But you and FK keep avoiding the question: why do reformed pray?
Your prayers will change nothing since everything is predestined. Your prayers are not your prayers but robots doing what God tells them to do. Which makes prayers meaningless. Nothing that you do will change what was predestined. That includes praying (works).
The Western Church has no idea how to be prepared for what’s coming. We are weak and helpless and we’d better start praying and asking the Holy Spirit to empower us because if we don’t, we’re toast. Times are going to be pretty horrific in the US and we’re just a bunch of weak sissies when it comes to tribulation like we’re going to see. I pity our young people who don’t have a clue how to stand firm and persevere through trials. God help us all.
= = =
INDEED.
THX
That time in prayer is the fulfilling of the will of God.
We're not avoiding the question. You're not listening.
We pray so that we know if we're in the will of the Father. Paul prayed three times for his problem to be removed from him and God told him no. Paul prayer was answered and he knew what was God's will. David prayed to know what would happen if he stayed in town with Saul chasing him. God told him the people would turn him over. He got out of there.
God leads and guides His people by our prayer. If we fail to pray God leads and guides just as much but probably not in the way that is most comfortable for us to bring us back to Him. We know His will through prayer. Thus, we can pray that IF we are thrown into a fiery furnance, whatever happens, God's will will be done.
And for the Faith to accept and understand that it is GOD'S will, not our will, which is to be done. That's really the hardest part, isn't it, HD!
For me, as Kosta well knows because he knows me, it seems that the more successful we become, in the world's terms, the more educated we are, the more our pride keeps us from saying, like Greeks peasants do, "Ο Θεος ειναι!" Its up to God! I've never been even remotely good at that. I know better; I can control things; things will work out the way I want them to!
My whole life has been one continuing example of how I can't control much of anything which is really important beyond my own actions. Not that that stops me from trying to control others and situations around me, let me assure you! The example is there for me to see and yet I still look for MY will to be done. To an extent, as a lawyer, I can control clients and the course of litigation and perhaps that's where the problem lies because those particular skills don't translate so well in non-legal situations. The same applies with educators, doctors, all sorts of professionals, I suppose.
Anyway, I keep telling myself, more than simply at communion time on Sundays, that I am the chief among sinners, +John Chrysostomos' claim to the contrary notwithstanding. I keep hoping that maybe that will break down some of that pride I have so that when I do pray "Thy will be done", I can really mean it.
To tell you the truth, the past few years on FR communicating with virtually all the Christians here has taught me at least a little humility, though nowhere near enough.
To tell you the truth, the past few years on FR communicating with virtually all the Christians here has taught me at least a little humility, though nowhere near enough.
= = =
I suspect we could get a group together to construct a special program just for increasing your humility! LOL.
Hardly Harley. You and FK keep repeating the same nonsense (based on what the Reformed theology teaches). But you are not answering the question.
It was you who once said that we are who, where, and what we are because God wants it so. Your prayer, asking for guidance, whatever, did nothing to predetermine where, who and what you will be.
Reformed theology teaches that you have been a finished product before you were born, destined to either hell or heaven, and that nothing you do changes or affects what will happen to you.
Praying is work. Do you think your work is necessary for God to lead you? +Paul didn't say pray; he said believe. Is faith not enough for your salvation, HD? Is faith in God and trust that He is just and merciful not enought to lead you?
Do you think not praying will change your destiny, change who you are, where you are and why you are? Do you think "knowing" what the Father wants from you is necessary for your salvation? Obviosuly not! Since you were "saved" before you were even born, right? And can your "knowing" what the Father wants change that? Obviously not!
If God is always sovereign, why would your prayers affect anything? In your theology they don't and they can't. Is it His will that matters or your "knowing" His will that matters? Obviously, only His will counts; your knowing His will (even if that were possible) changes zilch where you will end up.
So, once again, why do the Reformed pray?
We must never associate our actions with God's will. That is a sure path to perdition.
Fundamentalists of all creeds say God "talks" to them and "tells" them what to do. So, in their minds they meet God's justice, 'cause God "told" them so.
They do not deny their will; they elevate their fallen will to a divine will and claim they are doing "God's" work.
If you learned any humility in talking to Christians, as you say you did, you didn't learn it from the Reformed, Calvinist rendition of the Lord's Prayer called "MY will be done."
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