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/
Thank you.
I am not a Lutheran, but I'm not indignant over being considered same. Lutherans are OK.
You don't think Methodists are boring. Hillary's one and so is GW Bush. They keep things hopping.
I don't think we're boring, unless someone thinks schizophrenia is boring! :>)
Where the other than normal things take place, they are mentioned.
Nothing is mentioned in this instance. It says simply that "she gave birth."
Anything other than the normal meaning of those words would be an addition to the text.
Indeed! Catholics are not bound by the fiction of 'sola scriptura'. Tradition is something in *addition* to Scripture.
-A8
The argument from silence is a fallacy. And that is especially true when further information from Tradition is available.
-A8
Horse crackers.
There is no argument from silence. I"M the one taking the words at their dictionary meaning.
YOU are the one adding some non-perforated hymen, hocus-pocus to a perfectly understandable sentence.
Give me the earliest date for when the argument "Her hymen wasn't broken in birthing Jesus" was made.
But she gave birth to God in human form. The whole event is supernatural, although I am inclined in your direction since why else the nine-months in the womb if not to disguise himself. In any case. at one point in the script Mary and Joseph are wondering when he will reveal himself to them in all his power. Artistically, I would have used one of those newborns who from be beginning look you right in the eye, so that you know there is someone there.
Holy Cow! Do Catholics believe THAT?
That's what they're telling me. My wife was raised in a 50% Catholic family, and she says she's never heard of that before. Very first time was when I asked her. Dr.E says she got the same response.....a bunch of blank looks.
But these guys says it's ancient history, rock solid law, magisterial, magical, abra cadabra, etc. etc.
And they call "sola scripture" fiction???
They've got it on good authority from a rabbi who did hym-inspections.
Same guy who was the rabbi on "Men in Tights."
There was no seed and no conception, unless you subscribe to Mormon interpretation of Luke 1:35 that the "Holy Ghost shall come upon thee" and "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee," — words Mormons interpret as "carnal relationship."
Do Messrs Bauer, Gingrich and Danker, Thayer and Strong also of the opinion that Lot was of the same womb as Abraham?
Are they of the opinion that the children positively identified as children of Mary Cleopas just happen to match by name the alleged children of Virgin Mary?
Are they comfotable with the thought that Mary had a sister named Mary?
Superstition remains a superstition. It will cease to be that when a line on the Scripture is discovered that says "scripture is sufficient for all mattrers of faith".
It is, of course, highly expedient for reformers with no other qualification than a burning desire to redefine Christianity.
More precisely he is saying that her virginity "remained inviolate" following the Nativity, but this is all that is being argued at the moment: that per St. Augustine Jesus was not only conceived miraculously but also born miraculously.
Would it be your contention that St. Augustine did not believe in the Blessed Virgin's perpetual virginity even though he believed in her virginity following giving birth?
It's partially a money decision. Keisha Castle-Hughes is an international star from "Whale Rider." Not too many other girls in her age group fit that description. When you're spending $35 million on a movie, plus P&A, you need some names.
However, I am always wiling to, like OJ, make a stab or two first.
U a fan of Anselm?
I understand how it is others do not accept what we Teach. I really don't understand why our authorities ought be charged with malign or self-interested intent.
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