The film initially seems enticing to watch, because who wouldn’t be curious with who Jesus as a child, what He was like, and the things he did? And if you are Catholic, I suggest that you don’t watch it for many reasons. First, it’s based on Anne Rice novel, titled “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt”. And who is Anne Rice? Anne Rice is an ex-Catholic who has written the pornographic novel versions of “Sleeping Beauty”. In the last decades, her novels were pulled off from various shelves of many stores and libraries on different countries, because it’s considered as ‘pornography’. I read excerpts of her writings many years ago, and it sounded cheap, women were used as sexual objects, and the writing is just awful, just like it’s just written by ordinary fans, or which you call as ‘fanfiction’. I find it hard to categorize if it’s ‘thriller’ or ‘fantasy’ because for me, it’s simply a pornographic material. Officially, it’s classified as “erotic novel”.
(Warning: Immodest book cover) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sleeping_Beauty_Quartet…
Back then, it was so popular because it’s only that time they read such pornography stories in the market, when there was still no internet. The last time I checked, Anne Rice has NOT converted, or repented her sins, for just last year, the Sleeping Beauty trilogy became a quartet; she just released the fourth installment of her pornographic Sleeping Beauty series. Why would you trust a porn writer, who spreads and sells lustful thoughts, to write about Jesus?
To this day, she “Several years later she distanced herself from organized Christianity, citing disagreement with the Church’s stances on social issues but pledging that faith in God remained “central to [her] life.” However, she now considers herself a secular humanist.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice
Next, it’s not Catholic. It’s mostly promoted for Born Again people. In the director’s interview, he said that he combined many info from “different denominations” although, with “some Catholic elements” on it.
From the director, ‘s interview… http://www.ncregister.com/daily…/interview-cyrus-nowrasteh/…
“Did you have both Catholic and Protestant advisers on the film?
Yes, we did. And it wasn’t that one had more weight than the other. We just had to decide what we believe and accept, and also what works for the story. You are trying to marry two or three different agendas, for lack of a better word — a dramatic agenda, and, also, we have to navigate a little bit of a minefield with all the different denominations. We don’t want to offend; we don’t want to contradict anything in the Bible. It’s quite a dance, making a movie like this.
We have had really consistent cross-denominational support on this movie. I have not heard any evangelicals say that it’s too Catholic of a movie. I’ve had Catholics come up to me and say, “We love it! It’s for us.” I think people are bringing their own views and interpreting it through that prism. And I think that’s a good thing. We’ve actually been surprised at the extent of the evangelical support of the movie, because we were concerned about that. But there has been very little pushback.”
End of excerpt.
The director clearly said it himself that there are only “some Catholic elements, “cross-denominational support” and has “Protestant advisers”. Also, the Catholic Church has solid dogmas that won’t ever change. But these filmmakers “just had to decide what we believe and accept, and also what works for the story.” (In other words, they just choose the Jesus teachings according to their own personal liking and preference, and what would make a ‘good fiction movie’).
I just want to remind you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that reading or learning other denominations’ own teachings about the Christian faith is the start of confusions and heresies. This would be like attending the prayer meetings of Dating Daan or Iglesia ni Manalo, or other ‘Christian’ fellowships. We’ve got our beautiful Catechism of the Catholic Church. However, the devil can deceive you by learning from the Protestants’ interpretations or teachings. Even though the director claims that some Catholics say “We love it! It’s for us,” in the mind of the filmmakers, well, it’s for other denominations; and certainly not made for Catholics. Supporting this film would be like believing some of the weird teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons, which is considered heretic.
“The Passion of the Christ” which is one of my most favorite movies, that Mel Gibson based on Catholicism (a very, very, Catholic film) and if I remember it correctly, from Marian or private apparitions to a Saint. While on the other hand, this “The Young Messiah” isn’t based on our doctrine. Intentionally or not, it wouldn’t be similar to our teachings and might confuse you.
That’s saddening that some Catholic news, and somebody (not a priest) from Radio Veritas promote the film, when it’s non-Catholic. When the Catholic-based “The Passion of the Christ” was shown, other sects, cults, or denominations DID NOT watch it because they don’t believe in the passion and sufferings of Christ. They hate the Holy Week. For them, we Catholics repeatedly “kill” Christ during the Eucharist, since we shouldn’t remember whatsoever any details of His sufferings because “He is risen”. How ungrateful it is to the God who sacrificed His life for us. Non-Catholics don’t support anything Catholic at all. But here are other Catholics, supporting a non-Catholic doctrine. Ridiculous.
Lastly, NOBODY (among us living people or those who lived in the past) has ever known the details of Jesus growing up as like as a child, among us living people or in the past, that’s why we should not watch this fictionalized story. Who are these filmmakers to invent the childhood stories of God? The only stories we are taught of Him was the one when He was born, and when He was lost and found in the Temple.
In the Bible, the last thing it ever said about Him as a child was on Luke 2:52, “And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.”
Some of the scenes are historical facts. But how can an average moviegoer distinguish history from the filmmakers own inputs?
I already see one of the dangers this film “The Young Messiah” causes. “Viewers’ Choice Philippines’” says on their post,
“As revealing… As intense as “The Passion of the Christ.”
Imagine yourself as a 12 year old kid with mighty powers.
What would you do?”
*** It’s not revealing because it’s Fiction.
*** We can’t imagine having Jesus’ “mighty powers” because His are “Supernatural” which ONLY GOD HAS.
*** It sounds as if the film depicts Jesus already performing ‘mighty powers’. Jesus never performed miracles or powers as a child, because His First ever miracle was on The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12).
From the film’s own page here, their advertisement says, “How Do You Explain God to His Own Son?”
*** Just plain silly. The Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are ONE and the same God. Jesus since the beginning of time has always known His Father and Himself that they are “One God Forever and Ever”. No one was needed explaining to Him about His Own Self. Since His birth, He already knew Himself.
To ASSUME what Jesus did would be FICTION and again, would be DANGEROUS for our Catholic faith. Unless I hear it from an approved Marian Apparition, or from the writings of a Saint, or declared by our Pope, I wouldn’t dare believe it.
At the end of the day, Catholic can choose to watch it. Warn you though, it would really be dangerous for your faith.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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