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'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children
LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 12/4/2006 | John-Henry Westen

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/


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholics; christmas; mary; movie; nativity; nativitystory; thenativitystory
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To: annalex
She was sinless because she had a Savior.

No creature is sinless. All men sin. That's why all men and women, including Mary, need a savior.

401 posted on 12/06/2006 10:16:36 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Antoninus

"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.


402 posted on 12/06/2006 10:16:46 AM PST by wmfights (Romans 8:37-39)
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To: bornacatholic; P-Marlowe; blue-duncan; Dr. Eckleburg

I don't have the Book of Leo in my bible.

It is on my astrological chart, though. :>)


403 posted on 12/06/2006 10:17:55 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: AlbionGirl; wmfights; blue-duncan; Forest Keeper; Dr. Eckleburg; HarleyD
In fact, Luke 11:28 is the scriptural basis for veneration of Mary, as she is the model for these who hear and keep the Word.
404 posted on 12/06/2006 10:19:12 AM PST by annalex
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To: AlbionGirl
Thank you for letting me speak of him, it does my heart good, especially at this time of the year.

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."

405 posted on 12/06/2006 10:21:25 AM PST by TomSmedley (Calvinist, optimist, home schooling dad, exuberant husband, technical writer)
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To: adiaireton8
Just what the Mormons said to defend the Book of Mormon. Same gnosticism, different sect

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.

406 posted on 12/06/2006 10:21:30 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Wallace T.

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.


407 posted on 12/06/2006 10:21:41 AM PST by annalex
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To: TomSmedley

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).


408 posted on 12/06/2006 10:22:27 AM PST by Ciexyz (Satisfied owner of a 2007 Toyota Corolla.)
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To: Antoninus
Well, we can agree on one thing--St. Augustine had a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of Scripture than either you or I

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. :-)

409 posted on 12/06/2006 10:22:27 AM PST by alnick
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To: xzins
Neither do you have the book of blue-duncan :)

It was the Catholic Church which wrote the New Testament. She knows its meaning must fully and most accurately.

410 posted on 12/06/2006 10:22:50 AM PST by bornacatholic
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To: AlbionGirl

Yes, I have children. I am a very lucky man.

Have a blessed Advent.


411 posted on 12/06/2006 10:22:58 AM PST by annalex
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

my nephew died at birth. what was his sin?


412 posted on 12/06/2006 10:23:26 AM PST by Nihil Obstat (viva il papa)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
And to whom are we to make our prayers and thanksgivings? To "the one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Exactly. You just defined veneration of saints in relation to the mediatorship of Christ.

413 posted on 12/06/2006 10:23:59 AM PST by annalex
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To: bornacatholic

The "C"atholic Church did NOT write the New Testament.


414 posted on 12/06/2006 10:25:04 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; AlbionGirl
I don't think the minister's reaction was due to any overly-emotional "alter call" type of experience.

I realize that.

415 posted on 12/06/2006 10:25:25 AM PST by annalex
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To: xzins

Then who did?


416 posted on 12/06/2006 10:26:22 AM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: Ciexyz
showing Mary with an attitude

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.".

417 posted on 12/06/2006 10:26:59 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: TomSmedley
more like Buddhism than Christianity

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.

418 posted on 12/06/2006 10:27:16 AM PST by annalex
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To: Nihil Obstat

Your nephew shared the imprint of the original sin we are all born into.

And I believe dying infants are redeemed by Christ.


419 posted on 12/06/2006 10:29:14 AM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
I think the minister's tears were because he had children of his own and he was experiencing AG's mother's pain along with her.

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.

420 posted on 12/06/2006 10:29:28 AM PST by AlbionGirl
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