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/
Of course it doesn't. Those verses are written to believers who know full-well their redemption has been bought and paid for in full by Christ, and not through their own righteousness.
Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:8-10" For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Here Paul very clearly tells us none of our own good works saves us, but that all the good works we perform were ordained by God "that we should walk in them."
The RCC relies on the magisterium to give out gold stars for good works accomplished while Scripture tells us the only good work that saves anyone is the work of Christ upon the cross.
Pray for discernment.
-A8
lol. You know, I see you posting all over the forum that people haven't "answered your question."
At a certain point, that becomes a pretty obvious ploy of the weaker side of a debate.
As God wills.
Certain patterns do arise rather quickly don't they?
Ditto! And it was all God-none of me. If He never gave me another thing, could I really complain?
As I said, you toss aside "work out your salvation" with your false dichotomy: either all Christ or all man.
-A8
Genuine miracles do take place today, for the same reasons they did in the Apostolic mission, to verify the Word preached, and in answers to prayers as God so chooses for His own Purpose and Glory.
Indeed. And since most RCs believe they will end up in purgatory at their death, they must also judge Christ's work on the cross insufficient to cleanse them and God's grace not strong enough to save them in order to spare them this time-out in Nowheresville.
A most unsatisfying philosophy.
So He created time in order to be able to create? Did God know the world "before" He created it? If so, then His knowledge is not the same as existence but some idea that has to be created (in time)?
Yes, after 6 "days", His creation work was perfect and complete, i.e. it wasn't so after the third day
Then God is subject to time.
You speak of what you do not understand.
-A8
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." -- Philippians 2:13
-A8
God honored, required folks to walk by faith from at least as far back as Abraham.
Certainly those who have great faith--a gift--though--without dramatic miracles . . . evidently have the greater reward.
But as a collection of human critters, the race NEEDS miracles now as much as any time in history. All the more so with atheism; secular humanism etc. convincing so many millions that God does not exist.
Also, God is infinitely an UNidiot. He is not about to allow satan and his goons all the counterfeit miracle working power.
I suppose it depends on the definition of need. I contend that human nature has not changed and that therefore the need for a great number of humans to believe God's Almightiness by demonstration of His power . . . has not changed. All the more so when satan is all cocked and ready to support the global government with counterfeit miracles.
If you believed that Christ has justified His flock, you would not seek absolution from other men, you would not bow down to the stock of a tree, you would not pray to any other mediators between men and God but Christ Jesus, and most especially you would know the answer to all your questions is Christ risen from the cross, as told to us in Scripture.
"Be not afraid, only believe." -- Mark 5:36
-A8
Sorry, dear sister, but I consider that a bald faced inference, assumption extrapolation devoid of any significant clear or remotely clear foundation in Scripture AT ALL.
There is JUST AS MUCH NEED for God's worth to go forth in the demonstration of His power as ever before.
God speaks IN SCRIPTURE of the LAST DAYS WHEN
There will be a form of Godliness but DENYING THE POWER thereof. The perspective you espouse is, imho, a grand deception from the pit of hell.
Particularly crucial in regions where demonic forces are so overtly manifesting--the GOSPEL IN POWER AND MIGHT AS WELL AS LOVE AND TRUTH IS ESSENTIAL. That's one of the reasons Pentecostalism has spread so rapidly in recent times in South America where demonic forces are not at all foreign to the masses.
Telling folks to "READ THE BOOK" when demonic forces are thrashing their daughter around like a rag doll is beyond insensitive and foolish--it's cruel and UNBiblical.
God equipped THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL AND BELIEVERS INDIVIDUALLY to deal with such situations FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH AGE. Denying that is denying Scripture and God's plan.
It's also denying freedom and healing to masses of bound and beleagured folks. God is not well pleased with wimps failing to manifest His truth, His Love AND His power. Cowards have a place in the lake of fire along with liars, homosexuals and murderers.
The Great Commission is NOT: GO FORTH AND CREATE COUNTLESS BOOK CLUBS!
The Great Commission INCLUDES casting out demons, healing the sick and raising the dead. Denial of that is denial of Scripture and of the whole of the Great Commission.
I don't doubt that. But when you talk about Catholic doctrine, you almost immediately construct a straw man, which shows that you don't understand it.
If you believed that Christ has justified His flock, you would not seek absolution from other men,
That is a non sequitur. You are using your Calvinistic conception of justification, and imposing it on Catholic theology. Moreover, Christ Himself is the one who told His Apostles in John 20:21, "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sin of any, they have been retained." Christ is referring to the authority of the keys of the kingdom of heaven. The merits of Christ's work come to us through the Church. That is why Christ's work on the cross is not incompatible with seeking absolution from the Magisterium according to John 20:21.
-A8
Absolutely. Any "miracle" that takes place should be miracles that focus our attention on the word of God. It is through God's word that faith is established and Christians grow. Anything that seeks to focus our attention away from God's word is questionable at best.
I'm reminded of God's instruction:
Indeed. And since most RCs believe they will end up in purgatory at their death, they must also judge Christ's work on the cross insufficient to cleanse them and God's grace not strong enough to save them in order to spare them this time-out in Nowheresville.
A most unsatisfying philosophy.
Not only does purgatory deny the sufficiency of the Blood of Christ, but the so called "sacrament of penance" also reveals a lack of trust in the precious Blood of Christ to have paid the full penalty for sin, by having some which must be atoned for in penance by humans.
Where the Roman Catholic religion makes its fatal error is incorrectly acknowledging the nature of sin, as well as the Infinite Holiness of God. Roman Catholicism ultimately makes man responsible for his own salvation.
Failure to recognize the state of unregenerate, fallen humanity as James so clearly illustrates, leads to man reaching up to God to prove his worthiness, when it is impossible for humanity that is infinitely guilty of all God's Law:
James 2:10
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Hell is for those who want to set things right with God by their own efforts, for it will take all eternity to try to remove even one sin, which is infinitely sinful to an Infinitely Righteous and Infinitely Holy God.
The RCC erroneously thinks they're the same thing.
They are not. Christ alone justifies the ungodly.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." -- Romans 4:4-5"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
You seek to take the credit that is rightly due God alone, even in the face of being given massive amounts of Scripture to the contrary.
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." -- Romans 1:21
As God wills.
Sad but true. It is so much easier to put all our sins at the foot of the cross and know that we have been forgiven of every one of them.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." -- Hebrews 10:9-14"Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
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