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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: HarleyD; Mad Dawg; kawaii; Kolokotronis; kosta50; D-fendr; Blogger; P-Marlowe; jo kus
Do you believe God required a sacrifice and that Christ was our substitution on the cross who paid our penalty?

This is a vulgar restatement of patristic theology of atonement. Were I speaking to a child, I would perhaps let it be, in hopes to correct him later in life. No, God definitely does not want a sacrifice, and the description of the mystery in these crude transactional terms is incorrect. It is also not what St. Anselm wrote. I will check with St. Anselm before getting into this further.

5,581 posted on 01/12/2007 8:39:14 PM PST by annalex
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To: monkfan

Most protestant sects embrace Anselm of Canterbury's barbarous theory of the substitutionary atonement as the sole explanation of Our Lord's saving death. Phrases like 'he paid the price,' are common among them, with not a hint of "trampling down death by death" evident in their thinking.


5,582 posted on 01/12/2007 8:41:08 PM PST by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know. . .)
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To: Quix; All; Alamo-Girl; .30Carbine; Marysecretary; DarthVader

Do you have to be so loud?

If the Church teaches that anything is necessary for salvation, then it is, and for most of it we also have scripture that says the same thing. Baptism and Eucharist in particular are necessary for salvation, 'cause the Bible tells me so.


5,583 posted on 01/12/2007 8:41:50 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex; HarleyD; Mad Dawg; kawaii; Kolokotronis; blue-duncan; D-fendr; Blogger; xzins; jo kus
I will check with St. Anselm before getting into this further.

So are you channeling St. Anselem? Is he verbally answering your prayers?

5,584 posted on 01/12/2007 8:44:03 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Quix
Puzzling.

The first part of Hail Mary is a compilation of direct scripture quotes. The request for her prayer in the end reflects her adoption of us at the foot of the Cross as Christ was dying, for us sinners.

5,585 posted on 01/12/2007 8:45:02 PM PST by annalex
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To: Quix

sh-sh. Take it easy.


5,586 posted on 01/12/2007 8:46:06 PM PST by annalex
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To: Quester
But God has blessed me to see His work in myself ... and others

But God has also blessed me to see in myself a sinner.

Yes ... there are a lot of negatives which run through our lives ... but God is still working

Ever so patiently and lovingly.

5,587 posted on 01/12/2007 8:47:16 PM PST by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: Quix

And the king on earth asking Timothy in heaven to intercede to Christ is different how?


5,588 posted on 01/12/2007 8:48:18 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex; HarleyD; Mad Dawg; kawaii; Kolokotronis; kosta50; D-fendr; Blogger; P-Marlowe

If God does not want a sacrifice, why do you present sacrifices to him every Mass? I was told on this thread that the difference between Veneration of Mary and Worship of God was that you offer sacrifices to God. Why are you doing something that God "definitely does not want"?


5,589 posted on 01/12/2007 8:50:29 PM PST by Blogger
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To: Kolokotronis

Have read substantial portions.

But it is a problem--though for some reason, less of one in some literal books than on a screen.


5,590 posted on 01/12/2007 8:54:04 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: Kolokotronis

Nevertheless, hereon, it's easy enough to do the loving thing.

Especially if one wants folks to read what one posts.


5,591 posted on 01/12/2007 8:54:36 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: xzins

INDEED! PRAISE HIS NAME.


5,592 posted on 01/12/2007 8:55:05 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: samiam1972

Okay. Don't buy into it. Stick with your man-made religion.
= = = =

GRRRR.

I'm going to try and avoid several lines of outrage over pots and kettles.

My "religion" is merely my relationship with God. It is exceedingly founded in Scripture and prayerfully increasingly led of Holy Spirit.

That is more than sufficient, for me.

Thank you very much.

I welcome all prayers by earnest Christian believers to Christ Himself in my behalf.

God's best to you and yours, too.


5,593 posted on 01/12/2007 8:57:05 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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Comment #5,594 Removed by Moderator

To: annalex

Or just explain when, in your view, why intercession by Timothy on behalf od a king, commended by St. Paul in 1 Timothy 2, should stop should Timothy die.
= = =

I did. Still waiting for a response.

Though I'm pretty used to RC folks not responding to my points.


5,595 posted on 01/12/2007 8:58:11 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: Kolokotronis

Thanks for your post.

I particularly like:

"So much we have said of Christ; the greater part of what we might say shall be reverenced with silence."


5,596 posted on 01/12/2007 8:59:26 PM PST by D-fendr
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To: annalex

. True. Prayer is all a saint does. He is free from any other concern than for the children of God on earth.
= = = =

Not according to the many Heavenly visitor reports I've read.

Methinks one ought to check their sources. I have multiple sources indicating very similar things and not a hint of the situation you described.


5,597 posted on 01/12/2007 8:59:28 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: Blogger; HarleyD; Mad Dawg; kawaii; Kolokotronis; kosta50; D-fendr; P-Marlowe
why do you present sacrifices to him every Mass?

Because we want to.

Good night, and enjoy the weekend. I'll do some study of Cur Deus Homo.

5,598 posted on 01/12/2007 9:00:12 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex

What other purpose does a life of a saint have but to listen and pray?

= = =

As I understand it, there are dozens of other activities which attract/command their attention.

Reportedly, many are so enraptured with God and the Heavenly realm, they pay no attention to goings on, on earth and are of little pracitical use in Heaven for several earth years of their being in Heaven. Of course, such reports are annecdotal. But a vast myriad of them are congruent with each other.


5,599 posted on 01/12/2007 9:01:27 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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To: wmfights

The Apostles did not appoint the next generation of leaders, the individual churches picked their leaders based on the qualities and gifts they exhibited. There really is no direct linkage between current leaders and the Apostles.
= = = =

INDEED--HISTORICAL FACT.

In convenient for those building enormous bureaucratic edifices supposedly on a strict 'passed down' authority . . . but facts are often disturbing to lots of folks

WHO WILL ACCEPT THEIR REALITY AND VALIDITY.

. . . . particularly before God makes things painfully clear at our point of death.


5,600 posted on 01/12/2007 9:03:14 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIShe ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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