It is worthy to bless Thee, the Virgin
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/
Hub? God can be "understood?"
Fox News is an insult to intelligence. Your statement only proves it.
-A8
With all due respect, your theology is not known to Christianity. Please reveal what denomination, chruch, sect, whatever you belong to. Otherwise any meaningful discussion is pointless.
That's what I suspected. Thanks.
False. Spunkets is neither Catholic nor Orthodox.
I think after this post, that I'd have to number you among the spunkets:
Blogger: Mother of God doesn't really mean one who gave God his beginning.
A-8: Yes it does.
????
Then how do you respond to this? (post 2399)
Spunkets was [apparently] claiming that the Second Person of the Trinity came into existence at the annunciation. The Second Person of the Trinity, however, is eternal. But nevertheless, the Second Person of the Trinity did have a beginning, through His human nature. His human nature is not eternal.
-A8
The actual MIGCM movement is only a couple months old. The extent of this "movement" involves a "couple of islands" in the Philippines. But, as Blogger, puts, it this was new worthy for Fox News (no surprise there).
Blogger, a little history will tell you that life on earth for early Christians was not what it is to our society which is in love with the world.
Being martyred was an honor for the earliest followers of Christ. You are interpreting John's longevity as a "reprieve" and a reward. He lived that long in order to complete the Christian canon, to witness the last Revelation, to fulfill his apostolic ministry.
Your theories may be self-pleasing but they are not necessarily true just because they "make sense."
Blogger, appoligies for including your name in #2412 previous post. Honest mistake.
Jesus dwelt in the house of Mary and Joseph, thus apparently making it a Holy of Holies. Were all visitors vaporized at the doorstep? Wouldn't the ordinary human Joseph have been killed instantly, and contrary to scripture? :)
In addition, if Mary's womb was a Holy of Holies, then wasn't it made unclean every month during Mary's period? It seems to me that if a pass can be granted there, then a pass can be granted for the BLESSINGS of Mary's other children.
Then it was a different group.
There is also an anti pope (I think the blind Spanish one) who claims similar things.
(1) That was A8 not spunkets. I was referring to spunkets.
(2) Spunkets couldn't possibly be Catholic or Orthodox in his beliefs. He is making up his own theology, using the "sola scriptura" method, "in the wilderness" (by his own admission).
The ingredients to deduce the concept of the Holy Trinity are in the scripture, just like the Mariology is. It is not formulated in the scripture in the same direct way in which, for example, the Incarnation is formulated. You still need to engage your analytical and synthetical skills to form the concept, and as the first four centuries of Christianity especially show, you may get it wrong.
came here to teach and it is the same with the Holy Spirit.
Partly true, but do not then proclaim that every truth a Protestant community of faith holds up is inspired by it. However, the scripture teaches two things about it:
The teaching of the Holy Spirit is clear and unambiguous:
the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. (John 14:26)The teaching of the Holy Spirit is is available sacramentally through the "unction" of confrimation (chrysmation):
let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him (1 John 2:27)
Just like the self-ordained women "priests." There will always be a few (literally speaking) Catholics and Orthodox who will try to remake their Church in thei rown image. We are talking a fraction of the Body of Christ. Any publicity such as Fox news graced this particular group with is too much, and undeserved. It only gives them more prominence than there is.
Both Catholicism and Orthodoxy teach the eternal existence of the Holy Trinity, Spunkets.
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