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/
Good post, Blogger! You have a great way with words.
"Protestantism has many who have lost their way too; just as Catholicism does and undoubtedly just as Orthodox does."
Not we Orthodox. We never get lost...nooooooooo, not us! Never! :)
Yup. And some people do claim to know it all, don't they? I hope they won't be disappointed on judgement day.
Ho hum.
Do you read the Bible, Kosta? Your question implies you doubt the efficient working of the Trinity.
""No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." -- John 10:18
I just don't see how you teach: 'this is how to find the whole truth' and 'results will vary' at the same time.
Most Sola Scriptura Protestants are in agreement there [on the divine nature] as well.
Where do I find that if I'm a Protestant? And if you say, in the Bible, y'know I'm gonna refer you to your "the biblical God is more complex" post and ask you how you arrived at your interpretation.
thanks for your reply..
First, we dont' have the "whole truth" just what God decided to reveal to us. Personally, I think the whole truth is beyond our comprehension so God gave it to us in a bite sized chunk to chew on until we get to heaven.
If you are a Protestant, most churches have some sort of written statement of beliefs that they hold to. Many use creeds such as the Apostles Creed. Some just have a statement of faith. If it isn't printed, you ask. Rarely are there surprises in a statement of faith.
And if one wishes to go deeper and fuller?
Keep this up and you'll need Depends.
For example if I wished to find more about the divine nature that Sola Scriptura Protestants are in agreement on..
Same problem applies.
Do you even read the short-winded ones?
I see paragraph breaks in the post you were sniping at. So, I guess I'll just let you go back to Dr. Seuss.
:)
We don't have a problem with Sola Scriptura.
If you say so.
Still, I don't see how you can teach: 'this is how to find the truth that God decided to reveal to us' and 'results will vary' at the same time.
I'm curious if, as in your example, a Protestant Church holds to the Apostles' Creed, do they include the Communion of Saints in it?
I have no idea about kids hip lingo. Been out of the country for 15 years; back 4 and not that close to that many teens. College students tend to try and sound a LITTLE more educated in their speaking to their profs.
I'm just being often silly me.
LOL.
The pointedly, directly, brazenly personal assaults are not that big a deal to me. It's just that so many RC folks scream bloody murder at the faintest whiff of such stuff . . . and then . . .
Perhaps sometime The Lord will show you His work with me on the issue of pride.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.