 |
| Mary of Nazareth: The birth of Jesus. Photo Credit – Photo Courtesy of Ignatius Press |
Who is My Mother?
From
the cross, Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother. Mary, the mother of our Lord, has appeared to the faithful over the
centuries, consoling and instructing us. She knows us and loves us as our tender
mother. But do we know her? We encounter
Mary through her brief appearances in the scriptures, through the stories of
saints who experienced visions of her, and especially through recitation of the
rosary. St. Juan Diego left us his tilma
with her image. St. Bernadette and the
children of Fatima gave us her messages to repent and to pray the rosary. And yet, “Mary is a mystery,” as the character
of her father Joachim says in the new Ignatius Press release of the motion picture
Mary of Nazareth.
Just as
the prayer of the rosary reflects on the mysteries of the life of Jesus and his
mother, Mary, Mary of Nazareth illuminates those mysteries in
the medium of film as I’ve never encountered in other portrayals of the Blessed
Mother. This artistic representation of
Mary has been hailed by movie critics and Marian experts alike. As I watched the film, my love and admiration
for both Mary and Joseph grew deeper, and I got to know my heavenly mother.
Ordinary Things
In Mary of Nazareth, Mary’s mystery shines in the ordinary. Just before Joseph’s marriage proposal, she
sits on a rock in a garden with the sheep. The Angel Gabriel arrives while Mary is making bread. Jesus and the twelve arrive while Mary picks
carrots. Again, Mary is making bread as
Jesus instructs his apostles to be salt and light.
As Mary
(Jung) does these ordinary things throughout the film, the viewer is captivated
by her joy and serenity. After she
returns from assisting Elizabeth with the birth of John the Baptist, the
villagers treat her with disdain for her out-of-wedlock pregnancy. When Mary and her mother, Ann (Antonella Attili),
go to pick olives, the other women leave, harrumphing and looking at her with
contempt. Another young woman in a
similar situation may have gotten angry, insulted, or depressed by their harsh
treatment. Mary clearly recognizes their
disgust, but she remains serene, gathering the fruit. She knows the child she carries is not the
son of man and she has committed no sin.
She trusts the Lord, who through the angel told her to “Rejoice!” and so
she does. In fact, she rarely stops smiling
throughout the film, so deep is her joy.
Relationships
The
original film was 200 minutes, while the Ignatius Press version is edited to
153 minutes. As a result of the editing,
some viewers may miss the connection between Mary (Jung) and Mary Magdalene (Paz
Vega). Another reviewer who viewed
the full-length Maria de Nazaret explained that the two women
were close friends as girls. Mary’s path
in life begins with a childhood spent in the temple, learning about the Lord.
Magdalene’s path leads her to Herod’s court and a pursuit of worldly desires which
nearly ends in her stoning. The reunion
of the women set against the backdrop of Jesus’ teaching the parable of the
prodigal son shows the Gospel message of mercy and love in a profound, telling
way. Mary’s and Magdalene’s friendship reminds
us of Mary’s humanity.
Of
course, many reviewers have discussed the relationship between Mary (Jung) and
Jesus (Andreas Pietschmann). Their interaction
reveals a closeness, particularly before the Last Supper, that reveals much
about Our Lady’s role in salvation history.
These talented actors capture the emotion and tenderness between mother and
son in each scene they share.
The
relationship that most deeply touched my heart was between Mary (Jung) and
Joseph (Luca Marinelli). We hear in
Matthew’s gospel that Joseph, “a just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to send her away quietly” (Mt 1:19) when Mary was found to be with
child “before they came together” (Mt 1:18). Joseph loves Mary. Rather than focus on his righteousness,
Joseph tells Mary the information about her pregnancy is too much. He says, “I’m
just a man.” The turn of phrase here—the double meaning of “just” emphasizes
his humanity. This man chosen by God to
raise his son and protect his mother cannot believe the news, but he refuses to
bring harm, shame, and death to his beloved.
At the moment of his deepest grief, the angel appears in his dream, and,
through the gift of God’s grace, Joseph begins to live a similar joy to that of
Mary.
There Is My Mother!
You don’t
want to miss a moment of this film! We know the highlights of Mary’s life—we
reflect on them in the Mysteries of the Rosary.
In Mary of Nazareth, the story we know so well comes
to life, in all of its tender humanity. This movie will change your life. You will have a new appreciation for the joys
and sorrows of Our Lady—you will get to know your mother.
Evangelization Tool
Currently,
Ignatius Press is offering Mary
of Nazareth through sponsored screenings. The San Damiano Youth Group from the Basilica
of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee, Massachusetts, will be hosting a screening at 7:30
p.m. on January 18, 2014. Tickets are
$10 and the fundraiser will help defray the costs of the group’s annual summer
camp and retreat. The San Damiano Youth Group
hosted Restless Heart: The Confessions
of St. Augustine last January as a Year of Faith movie event and is excited
to share this latest Ignatius Press release with the Diocese of Springfield.
No comments:
Post a Comment