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/
No creature is sinless. All men sin. That's why all men and women, including Mary, need a savior.
"No doubt, you believe that the only reason the Holy Spirit controlled the creation of the Canon under the auspices of the evil Catholic Church was so that it would be ready and waiting for when the TRUE believers came along 1,200 years later and set everything right.
Am I close?"
_________________________________
Not even in the same ball park.
I don't have the Book of Leo in my bible.
It is on my astrological chart, though. :>)
I do not believe the living can, or should seek to, communicate with the dead. However, when we are assembled around our God's throne in worship, I sometimes sense that our visible congregation is joining in praise with the church of all the ages. For "all live unto Him."
What Mormons believe has nothing to do with this discussion about Mary.
But you often fall back on the Mormons to stabilize any point you're trying to make. Perhaps you should find a Mormon and argue it with him.
The point is, Sola Scripture proclaims that no truth important to faith formation is to be found outside of the scripture. If that were true, then Sola Scriptura would be itself a doctrine found in the scripture, but it is not, -- no basis in fact.
On the other handm the "faith once delivered to the saints" is a historical fact undergirding the Holy Apostolic Tradition.
I'll wait to see this movie for free when I can get it on DVD thru my library. I refuse to pay money into the coffers of Hollywood for something that insults scripture (ex: showing Mary with an attitude).
Just to clarify: We do not agree that St. Augustine had a correct understanding of Romans 3:23 if his interpretation is that almost all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. :-)
It was the Catholic Church which wrote the New Testament. She knows its meaning must fully and most accurately.
Yes, I have children. I am a very lucky man.
Have a blessed Advent.
my nephew died at birth. what was his sin?
Exactly. You just defined veneration of saints in relation to the mediatorship of Christ.
The "C"atholic Church did NOT write the New Testament.
I realize that.
Then who did?
Remember this review was written by someone who didn't like the movie because of its depiction of the Scriptural refutation of Mary's "perpetual virginity.".
It may resonate with a Buddhist, but the difference is that we know Who saved us, and Who liberated us from the bondage. The Buddhist don't.
Your nephew shared the imprint of the original sin we are all born into.
And I believe dying infants are redeemed by Christ.
That's exactly right, Dr. E.
I'll say it again, the priests, all three had nothing in the tank here, and they couldn't really, because it would take breaking their vows to fill that tank. They had nothing to offer. The Monsignour was so discombobulated and at a loss as to what to say that he told my Mother his death might have been good because she never know how he was going to grow up, sort of implying that he might lead an untoward life. It was so stupid. But it happened mostly because he had nothing to offer, really. The Pentecostal minster's response came from deep, deep inside and it was really comforting to my Mom because it was truly a grief observed and understood.
If I seem overly attached to Patrick it's because he was the baby, we looked exactly alike and he loved me in a special way because I'm the only girl in the family.
By the way, when my Mom was pregnant with my younger brothers, I prayed that they wouldn't be girls. Selfish, I know. Just knew I held a position of privilege and didn't want to let it go. :) And, anyway, God did answer my prayers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.