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/
Blogger!
Paragraphs are our friends.
PREVIEW helps.
So, the RC edifice has been without internal debate for
1600 years?
I think NOT!
LOL
GUFFAWS TO THE MAX.
A link will suffice, though I have lots of them on the topic. But thanks for the thought.
I was in four different Protestant Churches in my younger years and have spent a good deal of time in a fifth in my later years.
Certainly I've had a great deal of teaching on what the scriptures mean.
Believe me, these churches were far far from the same. If you asked me which one is the True Christian Faith and teaching? How can I say? They're different, some very different.
But on essentials, they were likely very similar. Practice, secondary doctrines, yes - we can be quite different. But who God is (at the basic level), what salvation is, what Christ did - more similar than different.
Off to rest my mortal eyes. Goodnight to all.
By the way, our requirement is the Nicene though we also use the Apostles at times.
I was taught the Creed's history, what each part means in detail and freely chose to sign that I accepted this teaching of the Church and held it to be true before I was confirmed.
I signed as a free agent.
But you accept it as a matter of faith.
Good night, thanks for the discussion and God bless..
And here with that big IQ you tout I'd have figured you knew the defintion for said japanese word...
Much better.
Thanks tons.
Yeah . . . a left or right caret--especially both with a URL or image or some such is enough to do it. imho. what little I know.
I'd have to say 'No'. If I'm understanding your definition here of faith. I didn't choose to accept the Creed. I studied it. I studied the history of it and the Church. I studied scripture. I reflected on my own personal spiritual experience - at this point in my particular path I relied quite heavily on it.
Off topic though it may be, that's my particular case. On topic, there was a clear teaching, I had many long discussions with Priests and teachers speaking authoritatively - as deep or as broad as I wished to know - This is What The Church Believes.
Sorry, I should gotten off the thread and waited.
g'night again...
On the first one:
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:28-32
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matt 22:28-32
The parables and metaphors are excellent examples:
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Matthew 13:10-16
Even though it does not contain doctrine of the atonement?
Original challenge at 5966:
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:14-15
Look up Heb 8...whoever the author of that book is, he is saying the same thing about the "House of Israel" just two chapters before yours. Not saints, but the unbelieveing Jews.
So much for predestination and God-given faith.
First, I havent debated predestination on the thread. And if you had followed my previous postings on the subject, you might have noticed that I aver predestination and free will are not mutually exclusive. Both are true because God has spoken both prophesies and commandments.
Secondly, the question what is a saint? was not narrowed to Christian versus Jew. The definition I gave was from Psalms.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the father except by Him. (John 14:6) But Jesus is from the beginning (John 1) and therefore, it doesnt mean that mortals who physically lived before Jesus was enfleshed cannot be saints.
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, [then] the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. Jer 31:35-37
For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. Romans 11:16-28
Another set of wonderful "hidden" verses of scripture..
Hiding "some of" the power of God.. overtly sneaky I'd say..
Amazing, this God, that can speak.... and UNdesignated "material" then designates itself into designated "material".. That can speak a solar system into place or human eyes where none were before... Lttle wonder the devils tremble at that power..
And they know(the devils) that this one is grooming for a "wife"...
They would be idiots not to fight these two forces coming together..
The Bride and the Groom..
Tickets to the marriage feast are a universal honor..
Just to attend as a guest of either of them is a delicious thought..
Oh my, what will the two of them build together?..
What will they do together after the wedding?..
There must be much planned to happen, else why a wedding?...
Maranatha Jesus..
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