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'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 12/4/2006 | John-Henry Westen

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/


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholics; christmas; mary; movie; nativity; nativitystory; thenativitystory
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To: Forest Keeper
Earlier, I broke the back of sola scriptura on the rack of absurdity.

It is too horrible to go back at look at...put your hand to the plow and don't look back, brother

2,441 posted on 12/20/2006 8:52:12 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: P-Marlowe
LOL.

The strange places this can be taken appear limitless. Do Catholics think Mary menstruated? Did she go through menopause? Did she have any hormones at all?
2,442 posted on 12/20/2006 8:53:18 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: P-Marlowe; Forest Keeper; kosta50; Kolokotronis; jo kus; annalex; redgolum; xzins; Quester; ...

You guys are very quickly making this into an "Adults Only" thread. I had to disenable my Parental Control just to get to the site.

By the way, has their been any discussion on Phil. 2:5-8, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

John 17:5, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

From Matthew Henry, "That Jesus Christ in his state of humiliation divested himself of this glory, and drew a veil over it; though he was still God, yet he was God manifested in the flesh, not in his glory. He laid down this glory for a time, as a pledge that he would go through with his undertaking, according to the appointment of his Father."

Mary was the mother of Jesus (His human nature, not His Divine nature) the nature He voluntarily took on to bring redemption to fallen man and the world according to the plan of the father.


2,443 posted on 12/20/2006 8:53:51 AM PST by blue-duncan
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To: adiaireton8

LOL It doesn't appear to be sinking in...


2,444 posted on 12/20/2006 8:54:13 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: kosta50

Absolutely. That is why we know the whole Red Sea deal was really done by the great, great, great etc, GrandFather of Doug Henning


2,445 posted on 12/20/2006 8:56:00 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: TomSmedley
This factoid comes from another thread

Jewish tradition mentions that, although the people had to abstain from sexual relations with their wives for only three days prior to the revelation at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:15), Moses chose to remain continent the rest of his life with the full approval of God. The rabbis explained that this was so because Moses knew that he was appointed to personally commune with God, not only at Mount Sinai but in general throughout the forty years of sojourning in the wilderness. For this reason Moses kept himself "apart from woman," remaining in the sanctity of separation to be at the beck and call of God at all times; they cited God's command to Moses in Deuteronomy 5:28 (Midrash Exodus Rabbah 19:3 and 46.3).

Brother Anthony M. Opisso, M.D.

2,446 posted on 12/20/2006 8:56:08 AM PST by Diva
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To: bornacatholic

Oh. I see. So the New Testament isn't Scripture.


2,447 posted on 12/20/2006 9:00:26 AM PST by Blogger
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To: Blogger
Of course you disagree with Carson.

I knew you would.

Anyone who disagrees with your personal opinions is wrong. And, that includes Scripture, Jesus, Church Fathers, Saints, Ecumenical Councils, Catechisms, Systematic Theologians like Augustine and Aquinas, and men like St John of the Cross etc etc.

You are the Christian Cheese, so to speak :)

2,448 posted on 12/20/2006 9:01:06 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: bornacatholic

Where DA Carson would speak contrary to Scripture, I would reject it. If the Apostle Paul Himself were to speak Contrary to Scripture, I would reject it. So would the Bereans.


2,449 posted on 12/20/2006 9:03:31 AM PST by Blogger
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To: Blogger
It is easily seen your response is a total non sequitur.

PLease feel at liberty to try and respond to what I posted.

2,450 posted on 12/20/2006 9:03:34 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: bornacatholic

Is the New Testament Scripture or not?


2,451 posted on 12/20/2006 9:04:19 AM PST by Blogger
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To: annalex
Both Catholicism and Orthodoxy teach the eternal existence of the Holy Trinity

Along with every major Protestant denomination.

A correct understanding of the Trinity is the foundation for any ecumenicism at all. Anyone who disavows the "eternal existence of the Holy Trinity" is not a member of the holy catholic church, as ordained by God for His glory.

But from various discussions on FR and in the news, it seems like the Trinity is going to be a battlefield of the 21st century. I appreciate the RCs and Orthodox holding firm to Scriptural orthodoxy here.

2,452 posted on 12/20/2006 9:05:14 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Blogger
Post for me the verse which Teaches the Bereans were referring to the New Testament.

Post for me the SOLE New Testament Verse which refers to that which was written by a Catholic and sent to a Catholic Church and which was, later, Canonised by the Catholic Church.

2,453 posted on 12/20/2006 9:07:47 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: Blogger
I suspected knew you wouldn't be able to answer and so I anticipated you'd try and change the topic

C'est la vie

2,454 posted on 12/20/2006 9:09:42 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: All

I gotta jet. I'll check back later to see if you-know-who has responded :)


2,455 posted on 12/20/2006 9:10:48 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; annalex
But from various discussions on FR and in the news, it seems like the Trinity is going to be a battlefield of the 21st century. I appreciate the RCs and Orthodox holding firm to Scriptural orthodoxy here.

I agree with you.

2,456 posted on 12/20/2006 9:11:30 AM PST by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Blogger
"'And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;' that is, on the faith of his confession." (A Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church, Oxford: Parker, 1844; Homilies of S. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 54.3)

Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444 A.D.) wrote: "Now by the word 'rock,' Jesus indicated I think the immovable faith of the disciple." (Commentary on Isaiah IV.2, M.P.G., Vol. 70, Col 940.)

Amen. Good post.

2,457 posted on 12/20/2006 9:16:36 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: wmfights; spunkets
The earliest approved is to St. Catherine of Siena in 1347.

www.apparitions.org

The earliest known is to St. James the Great in AD 39, then to Pope Liberius (352), then to Richeldis de Faverche (1061), then to St. Dominic, instituting the Rosary prayer in 1214, then to Saint Simon Stock, instituting the Brown Scapular, in 1251.

Of especial importance to the Americans is the apparition to Juan Diego, 1531, in Villa Guadalupe.

Wikipedia



Our Lady of Guadalupe

2,458 posted on 12/20/2006 9:25:08 AM PST by annalex
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To: bornacatholic
My answer to you is Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:15-17 (King James Version) 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 3 15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16As also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction.

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Per these verses, one sees that 1)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righeteousness. 2)Per Peter, Paul's letters were Scripture. 3)Per Paul, the gospels which contain the account of Christ's rising from the dead were Scripture.

Considering that the account of the Bereans is getting towards the END of Paul's ministry and the New Testament books circulated widely in the early church, it is not unfathomable that they were also looking at New Testament Scripture when comparing what Paul was verbally telling them in person. You have NO Scripture to indicate that they weren't. Likely, they were.

10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

They standard set by the Bereans is that everything is to be tested by Scripture. They didn't wait for some church council to interpret it for them. They took the advice of Jesus and "search(ed) the Scriptures). They didn't have to wait for a church bureaucracy to do anything, for as John said in 1 John. Speaking to the "little children", John said "1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."

Of course, some still require teaching because they refuse to dig into the word and find out for themselves. They are either too lazy or have been duped into thinking they can not understand it on their own. As the writer of Hebrews said: Hebrews 5 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil
2,459 posted on 12/20/2006 9:27:02 AM PST by Blogger
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To: bornacatholic

I responded alright. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1748533/posts?page=2459#2459

The Roman Catholic church as an all encompassing organization wasn't around until after the close of the writing of Scripture. It had no preeminence until much later. Tradition is the only thing that tells you Peter was Pope. But Tradition is often quite wrong.


2,460 posted on 12/20/2006 9:29:54 AM PST by Blogger
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