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/
Man, am I glad I KNOW I will have eternal life--eternally!
Thanks, but no thanks. I already know what the church is.
"However, the Bible teaches that all are born with original sin."
Another one of those non-patristic ideas you guys got from the Latins! :)
Sorry, but we don't PLAY church where I worship. It's real, my dear.
stupid one...
The verse I referenced which you so conveniently forgot to include, clearly says that the angel and not God heard the prayer, and then he carried it before God. Spin it anyway you wish that it what it says. We've got people posting praying to Mary, praying to angels, praying to the dead, to just about everyone except God,and no wonder. No wonder we are confused and not sure why you believe as you do. I also suspect most of you inherited your faith from your families and are not what Jesus called "born again". This is the likely result of your confusion.
Gee, really? Where is it?????
Isn't that the truth. That's sad, too.
Inspired yes, dictated by God no. There is a difference.
I never read those threads. I'm not a Hobbit fan. Sniff.
Beats me, I can't even figure out "what" it is
There's only hope in Jesus Christ, mercat. We can ALL be saved if we ask Him to redeem us. Love, Mxxx
Geez. Count me out for Day 3, will ya, huh? (smile) I'm weary.
"Another one of those non-patristic ideas you guys got from the Latins! :)"
Thanks, I was looking for someone to blame it on. I fought those dam- Latin teachers all the way through high school and college and they responded to my low view with equally low grades. But I learned a valuable lesson; don't speak ill of the dead, the person who holds your paycheck or the one who gives you the final grade.
Scripture commands us to pray, that is all the reason we need. Prayer is also always good for the one praying, regardless of the answer.
I have no problem with those good and often martyred saints. But I don't think God makes a distinction between us and them. There are a lot of people who are being martyred for their faith every day. We also may be in line for that. Hope I'm ready and don't wimp out (phew).
Seeing as how I did read the text, but you chose not to post it, please refrain from these types of ad hominem attacks.
"I fought those dam- Latin teachers all the way through high school and college and they responded to my low view with equally low grades."
See, that explains it all. If you had studied Greek, God's language (don't argue this one with me; my great grandmother KNEW this), instead of proto French, well, you'd have ended up in a "better place"! :0
John 10:28, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
The verse says they shall never perish which is translated can never be lost. The verse is parallelism in form;
they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
They reinforce the same idea; you can't be lost.
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
19:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
19:11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
19:19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
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