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/
I don't understand the question, please elaborate. Both Russian I (one that looks like inverted N) and russian OO (that looks like a dancing Y) derive from Ypsilon via different routes, yes.
All those that believe are temples of the Holy Spirit ... even those which Paul had to warn to avoid sexual immorality.
Believe what? The Mormons believe in Christ too; so do Gnostics and Jehova's Witnesses. There are many beliefs. I am sure +Paul had only one belief in mind: one that is Catholic in nature and Orthodox in faith.
I, of course, would say Apostolic.
And not all who say or think or even believe they believe really believe. They some people act, God only knows what they believe in! The Apostle is saying that those who truly believe what the Church believed from 33 AD onward, everywhere and always since then, are temples of the spirit. But I assure you these are far and few inbetween because there is no likeness of Christ evident in 99.999% of the people I have met, staring with me.
How sad for you.
You know no love, no peace, no joy, no meekness, no temperance, no goodness, no gentleness, no faith, ... either in yourself ... or in your fellow believers ?
i was still being toungue in cheek about y = u.
Honestly I don't know much about how Kyrill and Methodius came up with Cyrillic from Greek...
Also Acts. But it is not "to the contrary". The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ to the apostles, and they give it to us. It is a dangerous conceit that we can receive it from Christ directly as if we were apostles. Exceptionally we could, but ordinarily we get it from the Church. To presume that we have it because we feel it, or because we read the scripture a lot, etc. is prideful.
Yes. Absolutely.
There's some Orthodox who would argue it's 'conceit' that said anyone recived it from CHRIST directly. ;p
Filioque etc.
" Your statement is, of course, very inaccurate. We hold that all three atonement theories have complementary merits. They are: (1) atonement as ransom paid the Devil; (2) atonement as pedagogical lesson of love; (3) atonement as delivery of satisfaction ot God for the offense of Adam.
The Orthodox strongly prefer (1) and have sympathy with (2). (3) is the latest, developed post-Eastern Schism by St. Anselm, and that the Protestants inherited from us."
Yup, you've got it. #1 is particularly interesting since some see that as a sort of atonement/payoff, perversely, to God! In fact, it was history's biggest scam on the Evil One. What did +John Chrysostomos say?
" Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
"
"Well said."
Thank-you! (bow, bow)
Did Christ set up a bureaucracy in Matthew 16:18? Did he sent out bureaucrats in Mark 16:15?
Just an advice. Blasphemy only hurts the blasphemer.
The Church teaches what the Holy Spirit tells her to teach. Parts of it is scripture. Parts are not. Deal with it. Isn't you the one claiming the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Do you now claim that He indwells in you alone?
Hail Mary, full of grace
blessed art though among women
and blessed it the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray to us sinners now and in the hour of our death, amen.
I don't tell you what you do. Don't tell me what I do.
The Church forbids necromancy because it violates the first commandment.
Exactly so, -- and the bondage of death was destroyed in Our Lady by her savior. We only dispute when.
This was a lot more fun when we were discussing protestant silliness...
"The Catholic belief is that original sin is removed through the grace of God at baptism, and holiness can be achieved through faith by grace."
I understand this to be, indeed, the belief of the Latin Church insofar as it relates to Baptism. It is of course not found among the Eastern Fathers. When did this belief first arise in the West? With +Augustine?
"Filioque", the way we understand it, was a necessary temporal response to a particular form of arianism emerging at the time in Spain -- very far from Constantinople. In hindsight, the unity of the Church was more important, but the Latin Church was doing what is pastorally should do, albeit lacking in consiliarity.
But look what the Holy Spirit has wrought! You were spared the Reformation! You witness for the Church of the Seven Councils! Rejoice!
I guess it could appear there's some mechanical device behind the offering of Scripture other than a knowledge of Scripture. But I assure you, if you were to read the Bible you'd find the same verses I find.
What is it about "one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" that Catholics don't get?
"This was a lot more fun when we were discussing protestant silliness..."
LOL...and frankly far more important too.
I don't know. My Catholic gut says it arose with "Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". This sweeping "every one of you" suggests more than personal sin to be wiped clean with baptism. But I understand that you are looking for patristics.
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.