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/
With some very ugly consequences indeed, Dr. E.
Love Hebrews, and good post.
What psychological defense mechanism might be at work here? Maybe an inability to control one's own lust? Maybe difficulty in maintaining Chastity?
I wonder why it is Advent results in such attacks upon Mary, the Theotokos, if it does not, at least in part, suggest some disorder in the lives of those wishing to dethrone Mary and drag her down into the dirt. And why attack her pepetual Virginity? Might it suggest a thorn in the flesh of those unable to control their own passions?
In any event, it seems an odd practice for a Christian to engage in these activities as a way to celebrate Advent - which is a time of penance and preparation, not attacks upon the Mother of Our Lord and Saviour.
Prepare the Way of the Lord - attack His Mother.
In some profound way, sexuality images God. "In the image of God created He him. Male and female created He them." Believing she was a true and faithful wife to Joseph in no way impugns Mary's holiness. Rather, treating her husband in a righteous way is the holiest thing a wife can do. And how, when I honor the mother of Jesus for doing right by her husband, am I "dragging her in the dirt?" Is God's provision for our procreation dirty? A regretful afterthought on God's part?
The helenisticand anti-biblical horror of sexuality makes a totem out of repudiating a vital component of human experience, and of God's image in humanity. The BVM of mariolatry, like little blue Krishna, is a neutered subhuman.
Some Protestants refuse to accept the fact that in the Mediterranean and Balkan cultures the term "brothers" and "sister" is used for first cousins. In Serbia, for instance, the first counsins are considered "brothers" which is to say "the same blood," so that no possible marriage could take place between them. In fact, the Serbian language doesn't even have a word for a "first cousin."
It's this kind of nonsense that comes out of beliefs based on sola scriptura heresy, imo, taken out of context of the historical, geographic, cultural and lignuistic setting of the Gospels, and misinterpreted in the present-day mindset and New World culture, based on a translation of a translation.
Similarly, that egalitarianism is what is behind 'sola scriptura'. No one can know more about Christ and the gospel than can I. We must all be equal. And the way to do that, is to say that everything we need to know is in the Bible and is equally perspicuous to all. We don't see all that uniquely Catholic stuff about Mary in the Bible, and therefore, we reject it.
And finally, we have no concept of the relation between virgnity and holiness. Holiness is "imputed". So in the mind of the Protestant, it is irrelevant to Mary's holiness whether Mary had sexual relations with Joseph after Jesus was born, (just as in their mind the same thing is irrelevant to Mary's holiness *before* Jesus is born, except for the divine stipulation that sex take place in the context of marriage). In the mind of the Protestant, the Catholic claim that Mary remained a virgin perpetually, implies that there is something sinful or at least less than pleasing-to-God about sex in the context of marriage. And in that sense, the doctrine is offensive and off-putting, for we know that sex in the context of marriage is fine with God.
-A8
-A8
In your view, did Christ fail to express part of his humanity, in failing to engage in sexual relations? Or do you simply think that since he was *fully* human, therefore he must have had sexual relations?
-A8
Not really, not if the movie is trying to be "authentic."
Can anybody really look at these photos and actually complain about the physical appearance of Mary in this film?
She doesn't look like an Israeli woman. Not close up. Maybe to you she does. The Jews of that era had distinct racial features (skull size), and cannot be compared to modern-day Isralei women.
This fact motivated a gorup of British scientists to render the "most likely" image of what Jesus supposedly looked like
And, BTW, Josph's beard is too manicured. Pious Jews do not manicure their facial hair.
While this is in the wrong season, I do so love this poem because it does show how we as Catholics view the love that was overflowing in the Holy Family. I still tear up every time I read it....
"Limbo"
The ancient greyness shifted
Suddenly and thinned
Like mist upon the moors
Before a wind.
An old, old prophet lifted
A shining face and said:
"He will be coming soon.
The Son of God is dead;
He died this afternoon."
A murmurous excitement stirred all souls.
they wondered if they dreamed-
Save one old man who seemed
Not even to have heard.
And Moses standing,
Hushed them all to ask
If any had a welcome song prepared.
If not, would David take the task?
And if they cared
Could not the tree young children sing
The Benedicite, the canticle of praise
They made when God kept them from perishing
In the fiery blaze?
A breath of spring surprised them,
Stilling Moses' words.
No one could speak, remembering
The first fresh flowers,
The little singing birds.
Still others thought of fields new ploughed
Or apple trees
All blossom-boughed.
Or some, the way a dried bed fills
With water
Laughing down green hills.
The fisherfolk dreamed of the foam
On bright blue seas.
The one old man who had not stirred
Remembered home.
And there He was
Splendid as the morning sun and fair
As only God is fair.
And they, confused with joy,
Knelt to adore
Seeing that He wore
Five crimson stars
He never had before.
No canticle at all was sung.
None toned a psalm, or raising a greeting song,
A silent man alone
Of all that throng
Found tongue-
Not any other.
Close to His heart
When embrace was done,
Old Joseph said,
"How is your Mother,
How is your Mother, Son?"
-Sister Mary Ada
The Reign Of Mary -Vol. XXV, No
Very good point! I hope we get more movies like this, too. I'm telling everyone I know...
beautiful - thank you for posting that
Agreed. I saw it with my daughter. If your familiar with the biblical accounts, there is no surprise in the movie, but it is a reminder of why he came, and we all need constant reminders of this.
Anyone, ANYONE, who finds nit picky things to criticize about the movie has missed the point completely.
C.S. Lewis said that in all of his boarding school experience, the only affection he ever saw was that of the homosexuals. I'm not by any means advocating that homosexuality is not sinful, and more than that it is a very distorted version of human sexuality, but I understand the point Lewis was trying to make.
Why? Because no one can possibly know more than you think can be known by a fellow human being?
-A8
Thanks, brother. I think that an excellent explanation. I truly don't "get it" when it comes to the protestant mindset re Mary
The exception tests the rule. Our Lord was unmarried, which is a permissable, but generally less desirable, option. He wasn't defauding a spouse in a sham marriage, the sin some (not I!) accuse Mary of committing. (Did you ever see the movie Green Card? )
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