Elizabeth: Are you frightened?

Mary: Yes. A husband has been chosen for me. The law says I must remain pure for a year. How is he to believe this?

Elizabeth: Stay with us, then. We will pray for guidance.

Mary: Elizabeth, why is it me God has asked? I am nothing.

Elizabeth: Oh, child.
Anna: An angel told you this? That you will bear the son of God? Mary...

Mary: Elizabeth had a baby, even in her old age.

Joaquim: Elizabeth has a husband!

Anna: Women have been put to death for this. They could stone you in the streets.

Mary: Father, I have broken no vow.

Joaquim: You have broken every vow, Mary! Was it one of those soldiers? Was it?

Mary: I have told the truth. Whether you believe it is your choice, not mine.
Joseph: If I claim this child as mine, it will be lying. I would have broken a law laid down by God.

Mary: I would never ask you to lie.

Joseph: If I say this child is not mine, they will ask what I'm going to do. If I accuse you...

Mary: There is a will for this child greater than my fear of what they may do.
Joseph: "And you shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who will save his people from their sins." I know. Mary, God showed me. An angel came to me in my dream.

Mary: You believe me?

Joseph: I believe you. The child will need a father. I will declare him as my own.

Mary: People will not look at you the same. They will not look at us the same.

Joseph: You are my wife. I am your husband. That is all anyone need know.
Mary: You've never really told me of your dream.

Joseph: My dream?

[pause, he is teasing her and also contemplating his response]

Joseph: No.

Mary: Please, tell me.

Joseph: An angel came to me. He told me the child within you had been conceived by the Holy Spirit and that I should not be afraid.

Mary: Are you afraid?

Joseph: Yes.

[laughing]

Joseph: Are you?

Mary: Yes. Do you ever wonder when we'll know?

Joseph: Know what?

Mary: When he is more than just a child. Will it be something he says? A look in his eyes?

Joseph: I wonder if I will even be able to teach him anything.
Mary: I have broken no vow.
Mary: A husband has been chosen for me, how is he to believe this?
Mary: You believe me?

Joseph: Yes, the angel came to me in my dream.
Mary: How do we raise such a child?

Joseph: I wonder if I will even be able to teach Him anything.
King Herod: I will end this threat to my rule.

[Herod then sends all his guards to kill any child under 2 years old - or any woman carrying a child]

Townswoman: No, not my child.
[a man tries to steal their money]

Joseph: What comes with us, stays with us.
Mary: [about the child, Jesus] He is for all mankind.
Melchior: How many days have you come with us on this journey?

Gaspar: One hundred and four.

Melchior: And how many days have you complained about it?

Gaspar: One hundred and five.

[Melchior looks at him confused]

Gaspar: ... I am counting tomorrow.
[repeated line]

Balthasar: If I am correct... and I usually am.
King Herod: I once had a wife who betrayed me. Two sons did the same... before your time.

[pause]

King Herod: Where are they now?

Antipas: No more.
Mary: [places hand over stomach for a moment and then runs over to Elizabeth] He's moving!

Elizabeth: [smiles] Mine too.
Gaspar: You forgot the map.
Joseph: [Villagers are glaring and glancing sullenly at them as they leave] They're going to miss us.
Mary: My child. You will have a good and decent man to raise you. A man who will give of himself before anyone else.

The Nativity Story Quotes

Extended Reading

The Nativity Story short comments

Gabrielle 2022-04-11 09:01:08

His birth was a marvelous deliverance
Guillermo 2022-04-10 09:01:09

I watched it in literature class before Christmas, and the foreign teacher was very black-hearted and didn't give subtitles. If you are not familiar with this story, you may be confused. The filming is beautiful and serious, especially faithful to the original story, so it is better to treat it as a documentary rather than a movie. Virgin Mary's cast looks like Heath!