Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Saints

Vocabulary Lesson: “Easter,” “Pascha”

April 22, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Why, you may ask, do Christians call the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead “Easter”? Good question. Apparently Christians are capable of getting their knickers in a knot about this: the word itself derives from an old English word, “Eostre,” which is the name of a pre-Christian deity. What? Were those rascally medievals trying to […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Saints, Theology, Vocabulary Tagged With: Church year, Easter, Pascha, resurrection, Venerable Bede

The “YES!” that Changed Everything: The Annunciation of the Lord

March 25, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

There are a few moments on which the history of the world swings like a hinge. People my age remember exactly where they were when the Twin Towers fell. For Christians the real hinge moments are long before our own lives: Jesus’ death on the cross on Good Friday; his rising from the grave Easter […]

Filed Under: Faith, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Annunciation, Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, BVM, Faith, Luke 1:26-38, Obedience, Virgin Mary

Saint Patrick of Ireland: Role Model for Real Christians

March 17, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

People are really into St. Patrick. Many wonders can be attributed to his celebration: Every year the water in the kids pool at our YMCA turns green in his honor. On his night the Irish bar across from my house draws an amazingly large attendance, no matter how cold it is. But his greatest modern miracle: […]

Filed Under: Saints Tagged With: Breastplate of Saint Patrick, Love your enemies, Patrick of Ireland, Saint Patrick, St. Patrick

Three Cheers for St. Brigit of Kildare!

January 31, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 11 Comments

If St. Brigit were here she’d pour you a pint of her own good ale while you read about her. February 1 is her feast day and I wanted to celebrate three fine qualities of this second patron of Ireland. First Cheer: To a Remarkable Leader of the Church Brigit (ca. 454 – ca. 524; […]

Filed Under: Monasticism, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Beer Brigit, Bishop Brigit, Brigid of Ireland, Brigid of Kildare, Brigit of Ireland, Brigit of Kildare, Church Brigit, Ireland, St Brigid, St. Brigit, women in Church history

The Lesson Every Christian Needs to Learn from St. Thomas Aquinas

January 27, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Tomorrow the Western Church commemorates St. Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274). What should we learn from this Doctor of the Church? A lot. For generations he was required study for Roman Catholics preparing for priesthood — no small influence there. He was also the whipping boy of the Reformation — Luther and Calvin disliked him a lot, […]

Filed Under: Saints, Theology Tagged With: Benozzo Gozzoli, Christian arguments, Christians, St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Summa Theologica, theology, Thomas Aquinas

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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