Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Saints

St. Leo the Great on Christmas

December 25, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

“Christian, remember your dignity Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason […]

Filed Under: Saints

Yes, Children, There Is a Santa Claus. Really.

December 6, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 21 Comments

When I was a pastor, one Sunday in Advent I called the kids forward for the children’s sermon. I told my three-to-seven-year-old congregation Today I’m going to tell you the truth about Santa Claus. Usually the kids were pretty wriggly. This time the parents were squirming. Here is what I told them. Long, long ago, […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Saints Tagged With: Advent, Bishop Nicholas, Children's Sermons, Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus

Why I Love St. Teresa of Avila

October 17, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

It is my Breviary that most often reminds me of various saints being commemorated by the Church around the world. So when I have a day or two when something bumps my attention away from praying the Divine Office, someone I love as dearly as St. Teresa of Avila can sneak by completely unnoticed. Her […]

Filed Under: Prayer, Saints Tagged With: Jesus, Prayer, Saints, Teresa of Avila

Spiritual Discernment: Meet St. Ignatius of Loyola

July 31, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

Number one on my list of Tough Guys for Jesus: St. Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556).  His leg was smashed by a cannon ball when he was a soldier. He endured surgery to set the bones — long before the day of anesthetics. Here’s where the tough guy points rack up: The bone didn’t set […]

Filed Under: Prayer, Saints, Theology Tagged With: Consolation, Desolation, Discernment of Spirits, Examen, Examination of Conscience, Ignatius of Loyola, Prayer

Feast Day of St. Benedict of Nursia

July 11, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I was about to set off to university. My friends and I headed north for a week of camp sponsored by Young Life — it was at the extraordinary Malibu Club on Princess Louisa Inlet in British Columbia. They called the camp “College Prep” and the message was clear: We’d been Christians in high school, […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism, Saints Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, community, Malibu Club, Mission, Monasticism, Prayer, Solitude, Young Life

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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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