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/
Explain please?
Well for starters, I won't call her "Most Holy" as the scriptures say there is none good but God and all our righteousness is as filthy rags. So there is only one "Most Holy" and it wasn't Mary.
(Isaiah 6:3 KJV) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
(Revelation 4:8 KJV) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
(Daniel 9:24 KJV) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
More Nestorianism.
-A8
Guess Peter and Paul were Nestorians. Quick, you better anathematize them!
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Titus 2:13
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Romans 5
1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
I can't help what you believe.
How is having faith in Christ "Nestorianism"?
But Scripture doesn't specifically say underworld, I don't think. So, I withdrew that part of the description.
Yes, Paradise was the part of Hades where the righteous went. Old Testament Saints, have you. Who were saved by faith in the Messiah to come.
Apparently so. * Sigh *
When what you say is wrong. I will counter it.
Yes, Jesus left. Yes He will return. But, as God He isn't bound by space and time. He is here even now. You can't get away from him. He isn't on some planet someplace. He is right here.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me" (Psalms 139:7-10).
And lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:18).
"Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?" (Isaiah 66:1).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4).
"Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalms 16:8).
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee...For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel..." (Isaiah 43:2,3).
So YES. Jesus left and will return again some day. But, as God, He is here with us now. His return will be physical. Yet His presence is here even now.
The ministering aspect of the Holy Spirit is what is active on earth right now. Jesus "withdrew" Himself in order that the Spirit might minister. Does not mean that Jesus as God went away. God doesn't leave us. He doesn't forsake us. He is a prayer away as they say, and not even that. He's with us when we can't even pray.
It is not "having faith in Christ" that is the problem. It is separating Christ and His Body (the Church), such that the believer thinks he can trust in Christ while distrusting in the Church.
-A8
Doesn't help when you claim to be an oracle of God.
When the Church violates scripture, I not only distrust it I stand against it. The Bereans were praised for comparing what Paul himself said with Scripture. Guess they were being Nestorians as well.
I've noticed no one has answered your #1885. I wonder why.... ;-)
I never claimed to be an Oracle. But even if I had, where is the contradiction with Scripture?
1 Corinthians 12
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
You still can't substantiate your claim that in this matter you are guided by the Spirit.
The predicate of that sentence grounds the initial clause.
-A8
Very well.
#1 Catholics do not have a monopoly on Mary and while they may complain, they have no right to demand of Protestants that Mary be portrayed in all movies in the Catholic way. If she was portrayed in a biblical way, they shouldn't take issue.
#2 Catholicism presents a faith plus works gospel. As such, it has a false gospel. We do not have these conversations because of any insecurity on our part, but because we care enough to try to steer you away from serious error.
#3 Mary was the Mother of Jesus and a blessed woman. She was not deity. She wasn't close to deity. She wasn't above other humans. She was blessed. In Catholicism, Mary is elevated to Christ-like status. She is the mediator. Co-redeemer. Advocate. These teachings are heresy no matter how they are framed.
There is ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN and that is Jesus.
We have one advocate before the Father- Jesus.
Christ alone is our redeemer.
Do not ascribe to human beings Titles which belong to Christ alone. Even humans who happen to have been His earthly mother.
As to making a movie about Jewish beliefs- uh- NEWSFLASH-- this movie wasn't about Jewish beliefs nor the Catholic Church. It wasn't about the Greek Orthodox Church. It was about the INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST AS TOLD IN SCRIPTURE. It may have some non-biblical parts in it. I don't condone those. But whereas it reflects Scripture's portrayal of all characters involved - all true Christians should embrace it.
Where did I make such a claim?
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