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/
Kinda par for the course.
BTW, I thought the test was spot on!
imagine that folks who identify themselves as PROTESTants throwing around the word contentious. (noting that indeed the Protestants choose the term themselves).
BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL . . . SIREN . . .
STRAW DOG ALERT NUMBER 9,999,999,667
Just started reading, very interesting and eye opening.
It is very interesting isn't it? Down to the statues in churches with the mother and child.
RATS.
I hate reading such stuff. But that one sounds too fitting and good to pass up.
Thanks.
well at least you live up to the protestant tradition of denying scripture; 282 words at a time.
just imagine if it were statues of cows! why it'd be just like that CALF in the Old Testament right?
Please post the scripture you mentioned yesterday that said God commanded the Israelites to worship the oxen, sorry "venerate" in Solomon's temple. After I have that, I will reply , thanks in advance.
Maybe the scripture you referenced but have trouble locating, has 282 words in it too?
ICor. 6:19
Acts 10:44
ICor. 15:10
Gal. 2:20
Heb. 13:5
These verses might be helpful if you really want to look into this.
There is no question they certainly were affected by it.
I have asked them to show me where I am misrepresenting any group, but doubt I'll get an answer....
Starting flame wars, you say? I could teach you a thing or two. All I have to do is post a news article without commentary, and I'm accused of all sorts of nefarious things. Never mind what happens when another Catholic posts the very same material (a poster who, by comparison, was exceptionally kind to me). It's all about the person, not the material.
My showing up is merely enough to start a flame war.
It really is a very interesting read. I highly recommend it and would be interested in what you think about it.
My showing up is merely enough to start a flame war.
= = =
Tell me about it. Join the club.
Though, we probably both could confess awareness that we are both very intense personalities and tend to use very forceful language.
But then . . . so did Jesus and Paul . . . at least on occasion! LOL.
Nice rationalization, don't you think?
Deut18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
I don't think that either one of us have a DESIRE to start a flame war or even participate in one.
Sometimes we may be tooo tenaciously fierce about our perspectives when backing off would be more loving wisdom.
Oh, Argh.
OK,
Next time you're on Amazon.com . . . I'll FREEPMAIL you my ID there to send me the wish list name etc.
Mostly because I respect you so highly.
Thanks for noticing! That's just about the nicest thing anyone's said about me this week.
| "Sooner or later, I get on everybody's nerves..." - Jack Burton, from the film Big Trouble In Little China |
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