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/
ahh more gnoscism; read learn know KNOWLEDGE and you're saved.
gnostism at its finist.
protestants hate scripture.
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I guess that would explain why I kept held it close in my bed as a teddy bear in Jr High, High School and even some in college.
Perfectly clear.
Perfectly off the wall.
This is where St. John is now: the Kingdom of Heaven, praying for you.
hey even the devil quotes scriptures and knows them well... he probably has em near his bedside too.
Well I'm sure the dead saints weren't offended.
they were VENERATING them
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Hogwash. They didn't do either though it's mere hair splitting to distinguish between veneration and worship anyway.
The oxen were merely God's ordered supports for the Old Testament Baptismal font. He tends to be precise when He wants to. The Jews were smart enough to know better than to think of the oxen as anything special, spiritually.
My gnostic knowledge of the 12 oxen comes from a study of the Hebrew scriptures, in Hebrew. Where does your "veneration" of them originate?
really are they in hebrew script?
lighting incense to statues of angels ain't venerating all of the sudden?
I will likely respond to your posts. I'll TRY to remember to backspace your screenname out of the addy window and insert someone elses. But I won't guarantee 100% compliance. I'm . . . still human . . . . maybe you noticed.
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Are you starting a MORE fun one to substitute?
What about it? What I am trying to say, I am not here to help various Protestant groups sort out their differences. They all have some problem with the Catholic Church and with our dear sister Orthodox Church, so I defend them both. That is what I am sacramentally confirmed to do. Now, that entire miscellany of protestantism has two root heresies, sola scriptura and sola fide, and a few satellite ones. I concentrate on these.
Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
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NOTE: the Spirit of Jesus was wise beyond words.. Semantics and Parseing Peace into Division and Parsing Division into Peace is wall against truth.. Because, There is a time to Divide and time for Peace.. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.. which includes BOTH..
I did.
Since when pointing out a heresy is offensive language?
is father not a term for parent? is it not a term Christ uesed for Joeseph even knowing Joeseph was not his biological father?
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SCRIPTURE: CHRIST HIMSELF: CALL NO MAN FATHER . . .
Magesterical and kawaii:
is father not a term for parent? is it not a term Christ uesed for Joeseph even knowing Joeseph was not his biological father?
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But the Protesties are the twisters in the wind???
Dear lurkers, please avoid being confused . . . consult Scripture and Holy Spirit and clarity will come.
Adieu
Personally i think they have a deep problem with Christianity and that it's because they are inspired by Satan and that's why they've separated Christianity into more than 20,000 confessions in the span of a few hundered years. I think their root heresy is selfishness and self centeredness over the word of God.
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