'The Nativity Story' Movie Problematic for Catholics, "Unsuitable" for Young Children

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 12/4/2006 | John-Henry Westen

[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/

[1000 silverlings]

This sets up the model where the Mother of God is attentive to our needs and asks Christ with confidence that His grace be directed at us.

This actually sets up the model for believers to listen to Jesus and no other. In other words, do as He says, not as I said. You are reading Mary's mind and ascribing to scripture inferences that are neither cited nor backed up by corraborating scripture.

[ScubieNuc]

she overstepped her role, and Jesus rebuked her

No such thing is recorded in the scripture.

Rebuke in the following examples may be too harsh of term, but you definately see Jesus declining to ellivate Mary to a special status.

Matt. 12:46-50 ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Luk 11:27&28 ¶ And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed [is] the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Sincerely

[annalex]

Your friends are attacking the Church!

They don't know what they are doing. We should pray for them. I do. "Lead all souls into heaven especially those who have most need of thy mercy".

[annalex]

I am reading John 2. The episode is there for a reason.

[D-fendr]

Maybe just nodding off occassionally? :)

If I'm your patient and you start attributing some fantasies to me that I don't have, I'm gonna be thinking... "so this is what he means by projecting..."

[Forest Keeper]

Gal 5:6 : 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Christ never taught that. This is where +Paul is literally building a new religion.

Sure Christ taught that. Right through Paul. The Bible is either infallibly correct or it is not.

We have here the authority Moses claims from his encounter with God on Mt Sinai, and +Paul who claims his authority from an encounter to Damascus. +Paul is saying the Law is worthless. That was "new" Judaism.

Paul is saying that the Law is worthless toward salvation, not that it has no value. Christ said the Law had great value. Was David saved because he kept the Law, or because of his faith?

[annalex]

In these episodes Christ point to us that she is a model for all, as all who "hear and keep the Word" are likewise praiseworthy. It is the same theme as in our adoption by her at the Cross, and supporting scriptures for it.

[Alex Murphy]

I want to know the terms of the guarantee. If it turns out not to be Lourdes water, do I get my sins back or what?

I want to know why it was necc. to make the Mary figure glow-in-the-dark, and to have her suspended in the Lourdes water. Does she suddenly start glowing, a.k.a. functions like a dosimiter (radiation monitoring device) if the vial springs a leak?

Check out these other fine Lourdes Water Products while you're at it. You can even buy it by the liter! I dunno why, but this reminds me of Vermont maple syrup that you buy in those log cabin-shaped tins. I wonder if you get your deposit back for returning the empty bottle?

Available in ready-mix concentrate and full-strength formulas. Comes with a free sprayer.

[D-fendr]

Or.. Maybe not projection.

Maybe he's describing what he thinks his fantasies would be if he were me.

In which case, I would start thinking.. "Six months, two thousand bucks and this is what he thinks he knows about me?"

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I don't think "rebuke" is too strong a word. Perhaps it's not even strong enough.

Christ was declaring to all the world that from now on his mother and brothers would share the exact same status as all believers -- "whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. ."

After that rebuke, it's clear we are to kneel to none but Christ.

[1000 silverlings]

It's there for a reason alright. No one goes up to the Lord and makes demands, not even his mother. When he did decide to perform the miracle, it was on his and the Father's terms, no one elses.

[ScubieNuc]

Your answer reminds me of the Pharisees in Mark....

Mark 8:15-18 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and [of] the leaven of Herod.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, [It is] because we have no bread.

And when Jesus knew [it], he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?

I've seen your postings, and I know that we are 180 degrees out, so I wont waste anymore bandwidth on this thread debating you. It would just be a waste of time.

Sincerely

[Dr. Eckleburg]

In these episodes Christ point to us that she is a model for all, as all who "hear and keep the Word" are likewise praiseworthy.

So would you kneel to me, seeing as how I am a believer?

And if that's too much a stretch, how about yourself? Should we kneel to you because you "hear and keep the word" and are "likewise praiseworthy?"

[annalex]

whosoever shall do the will of my Father

Which, as we know is a tall order: one is to give every possession away, and follow Christ not stopping to bury his own father. These people are now in Heaven, with Mary the Mother of God, praying for you, while you have the ugliness of heart to call them corpses.

[Quix]

Now, now, SL,

you should know that logic and theology are not supposed to get within 100 galactic clusters of one another.

How shameful.

/sar

[D-fendr]

[annalex]

seeing as how I am a believer?

Wish I could. See my previous post.

[Quix]

Yes and no.

Perhaps the RC edifice has somewhere back in the libraries and catacombs . . .

and explanation about how Christ often shows Himself in visions and visitations and THE FATHER very VERY rarely.

There's some difference going on . . .

Of course, one can pretend otherwise.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

LOL. Cheap at half the price.

[Quix]

Yes and no.

But I did NOT get that memo on that particular take on it.

All at the foot of the Cross with our sins, yes.