Note the position of the fingers.
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/
I forget the word for it, but the globe reigned by the cross represents sovereignty of Christ.
The rest later. Enjoy the weekend.
I like these threads. There is no requirement to stay on topic.
We still haven't gotten to the Purgatory doctrine.
"Tsk, tsk. And to think that Joseph get's relegated to selling homes."
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But take a step back, Alex. What do we need to know or do that is NOT in Scripture? What?
The issue is not "growth of understanding." It is communication through the words used.
"Mary mother of Jesus the Christ" is simply more clear than is "Mary mother of God."
Anytime one speaks clearly, then understanding is enhanced. "Mary mother of Jesus the Christ" would have been more understandable then, too.
"I always get nervous when Catholics post references without any scripture."
Why? I don't! :)
I believe it's called an "orb" as in Sceptre and Orb, and yeah, it's a sort of ornament of sovereigns. Somewhere I have a coronation commemorative prayer book with a picture of the crowned queen holding that stuff.
ping to 7586
Note the position of the fingers.
No, this is. It was stolen from us Orthodoxers by the Crusaders in the sack of Constantinople and ended up in England where it has been lately a subject of much back and forth between the gay and straight wings of the Anglican Communion (for all the good it will do them; the instructions are in ancient Syriac). Even Protestants know that, PM! It is not for sale in any online Catholic bookstore:
Rotflol!
Not fair....I was eating a Subway!
"Anytime one speaks clearly, then understanding is enhanced. "Mary mother of Jesus the Christ" would have been more understandable then, too."
Why do you suppose so many uneducated Christians have had no problem whatsoever with it for nearly 1700 years? Perhaps because they were taught what it means by their priests?
Now pronouncing it "aright" is a different matter entirely Padre. My personal favorites among innovative pronounciations are "Thayoughtickus" and "Thayotokios" (the former said with a broad Oxford accent)! :)
Note the holy hand basket and the urim and thummim mystical reading glasses.
Nobody said anything about uneducated. The issue is clear communication.
I could say, "My name is Xzins."
OR
I could say, "My name is the name my momma gave me."
Both are true. The first is clear; i.e., less encumbered with a further requirement to decipher/interpret/translate/etc.
In sum, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line.
I always knew Barbie was a blonde.
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