Doctor of the Church

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Doctors of the Church
)

Isidore of Seville, a seventh-century Doctor of the Church, depicted by Murillo (c. 1628) with a book, which is a common iconographical attribute for a doctor
Hildegard von Bingen
was an eleventh-century Doctor of the Church, depicted by Marshall with a book, the common iconographical attribute for a doctor

Doctor of the Church (Latin: doctor "teacher"), also referred to as Doctor of the Universal Church (Latin: Doctor Ecclesiae Universalis), is a title given by the Catholic Church to saints recognized as having made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their research, study, or writing.[1]

As of 2024, the Catholic Church has named 37 Doctors of the Church. Of these, the 18 who died before the

Great Schism of 1054 are also held in high esteem by the Eastern Orthodox Church
, although it does not use the formal title Doctor of the Church.

Among the 37 recognised Doctors, 28 are from the West and nine from the East; four are women and thirty-three are men; one is an abbess, three are nuns, and one is a tertiary associated with a religious order; two are popes, 19 are bishops, twelve are priests, and one is a deacon; and 27 are from Europe, three are from Africa, and seven are from Asia. More Doctors (twelve) lived in the fourth century than any other; eminent Christian writers of the first, second, and third centuries are usually referred to as the

Ante-Nicene Fathers. The shortest period between death and nomination was that of Alphonsus Liguori, who died in 1787 and was named a Doctor in 1871 – a period of 84 years; the longest was that of Irenaeus
, which took more than eighteen centuries.

Some other churches have similar categories with various names.

Before the 16th century

In the

doubles throughout the Latin Church is contained in his sixth book of Decretals (cap. "Gloriosus", de relique. et vener. sanctorum, in Sexto, III, 22).[2]

In the

three Hierarchs". In the Menaea for that day it is related that the three Doctors appeared in a dream to John Mauropous, Bishop of Euchaita, and commanded him to institute a festival in their honour, in order to put a stop to the rivalries of their votaries and panegyrists.[2]

This was under

Alexius Comnenus (1081–1118; see "Acta SS.", 14 June, under St. Basil, c. xxxviii). But sermons for the feast are attributed in manuscripts to Cosmas Vestitor, who flourished in the tenth century. The three are as common in Eastern art as the four are in Western. Durandus (i, 3) remarks that Doctors should be represented with books in their hands. In the West analogy led to the veneration of four Eastern Doctors, Athanasius of Alexandria being added to the three hierarchs.[2]

Catholic Church

The Four Great Doctors of the Western Church were often depicted in art, here by Pier Francesco Sacchi, c. 1516. From the left: Saint Augustine, Pope Gregory I, Saint Jerome, and Saint Ambrose, with their attributes.

The details of the title Doctor of the Church vary from one

autonomous ritual church
to another.

Latin Church

In the

Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Athanasius of Alexandria) in 1568.[4]

To these names others have subsequently been added. The requisite conditions are enumerated as three: eminens doctrina, insignis vitae sanctitas, Ecclesiae declaratio (i.e. eminent learning, a high degree of sanctity, and proclamation by the church).

supreme pontiff or by a general council.[2]

The decree is issued by the

ex cathedra decision, nor does it even amount to a declaration that no error is to be found in the teaching of the Doctor. It is, indeed, well known that the very greatest of them are not wholly immune from error. Previously, no martyrs were on the list, since the Office and the Mass had been for Confessors. Hence, as Benedict XIV pointed out during his pontificate, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Cyprian of Carthage were not called Doctors of the Church.[2]
This changed in 2022 when Pope Francis declared Irenaeus of Lyons the first martyred Doctor.

The Doctors' works vary greatly in subject and form. Augustine of Hippo was one of the most prolific writers in Christian antiquity and wrote in almost every genre. Some, such as Pope

Therese of Lisieux wrote works of mystical theology. Athanasius of Alexandria and Robert Bellarmine defended the church against heresy. Bede the Venerable wrote biblical commentaries and theological treatises. Systematic theologians include the Scholastic philosophers Anselm of Canterbury, Albert the Great, and Thomas Aquinas
.

In the 1920 encyclical Spiritus Paraclitus, Pope Benedict XV refers to Jerome as the church's "Greatest Doctor".[5]

Until 1970, no woman had been named a Doctor of the Church. Since then four additions to the list have been women:

Benedictine
nun.

Traditionally, in the Liturgy, the Office of Doctors was distinguished from that of Confessors by two changes: the Gospel reading Vos estis sal terrae ("You are the salt of the earth"), Matthew 5:13–19, and the eighth Respond at Matins, from Ecclesiasticus 15:5, In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os ejus, * Et implevit eum Deus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus. * Jucunditatem et exsultationem thesaurizavit super eum. ("In the midst of the Church he opened his mouth, * And God filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding. * He heaped upon him a treasure of joy and gladness.") The Nicene Creed was also recited at Mass, which is normally not said except on Sundays and the highest-ranking feast days. The 1962 revisions to the Missal dropped the Creed from feasts of Doctors and abolished the title and the Common of Confessors, instituting a distinct Common of Doctors.[citation needed]

On 20 August 2011, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would soon declare John of Ávila a Doctor of the Church.[7] It was also reported in December 2011 that Pope Benedict intended to declare Hildegard of Bingen as a Doctor of the Church, though she had not yet been canonized.[8] Pope Benedict XVI declared Hildegard of Bingen a saint on 10 May 2012, clearing the way for her to be named a Doctor of the Church,[9] then declared both John of Ávila and Hildegard of Bingen Doctors of the Church on 7 October 2012.[10]

John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, signed a joint declaration which said that the division between the two churches was due to historical misunderstandings, not a real difference in Christology. Further, Gregory had been recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church since it received the Armenian Catholic Church into full communion.[12]

List of Doctors

(For earlier authorities on Christian doctrine, see

Ante-Nicene Fathers
) * indicates a saint who is also held in high esteem by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

No. Image Name Titles Born Died Promoted Activity Notable writings
1. Gregory the Great* One of the four Great Latin Fathers 540 (c.) 604 1298
OSB
 Dialogues, Libellus responsionum, Pastoral Care, Moralia in Job
2. Ambrose* One of the four Great Latin Fathers 340 (c.) 397 1298 Bishop of Milan
Exameron
, De obitu Theodosii
3. Augustine of Hippo* One of the four Great Latin Fathers; Doctor gratiae
(Doctor of Grace)		 354 430 1298 Bishop of Hippo (now Annaba) De doctrina Christiana, Confessions, The City of God, On the Trinity
4. Jerome* One of the four Great Latin Fathers 347 (c.) 420 1298 Priest, monk Vulgate, De Viris Illustribus
5. Thomas Aquinas Doctor angelicus
(Angelic Doctor);
Doctor communis
(Common Doctor)		 1225 1274 1567 Priest, Theologian,
OP
Summa Theologiae, Summa contra Gentiles
6. John Chrysostom* One of the four Great Greek Fathers 347 407 1568 Archbishop of Constantinople Paschal Homily, Adversus Judaeos
7.
Basil the Great*
 One of the four Great Greek Fathers 330 379 1568
Caesarea
 Address to Young Men on Greek Literature, On the Holy Spirit
8. Gregory of Nazianzus* One of the four Great Greek Fathers 329 389 1568 Archbishop of Constantinople On God and Christ: The Five Theological Orations and Two Letters to Cledonius
9. Athanasius* One of the four Great Greek Fathers 298 373 1568 Archbishop of Alexandria On the Incarnation, The Life of Antony, Letters to Serapion
10. Bonaventure Doctor seraphicus
(Seraphic Doctor)		 1221 1274 1588
OFM
 Commentary on the Sentences of Lombard, The Mind's Road to God, Collationes in Hexaemeron
11. Anselm of Canterbury Doctor magnificus
(Magnificent Doctor);
Doctor Marianus
(Marian Doctor)		 1033 or 1034 1109 1720
OSB
 Proslogion, Cur Deus Homo
12. Isidore of Seville* 560 636 1722 Archbishop of Seville Etymologiae, On the Catholic Faith against the Jews
13. Peter Chrysologus* 406 450 1729 Bishop of Ravenna Homilies
14. Leo the Great*[13] Doctor unitatis Ecclesiae
(Doctor of the Church's Unity)		 400 461 1754 Pope Leo's Tome
15. Peter Damian 1007 1072 1828 Cardinal
OSB
 De Divina Omnipotentia, Liber Gomorrhianus
16. Bernard of Clairvaux Doctor mellifluus
(Mellifluous Doctor)		 1090 1153 1830 Priest, OCist Sermones super Cantica Canticorum, Apologia ad Guillelmum, Liber ad milites templi de laude novae militiae
17. Hilary of Poitiers* Doctor divinitatem Christi
(Doctor of the Divinity of Christ) 		300 367 1851
Bishop of Poitiers
 Commentarius in Evangelium Matthaei
18.
Alphonsus Liguori
 Doctor zelantissimus
(Most Zealous Doctor)		 1696 1787 1871
CSsR (Founder)
 The Glories of Mary,

Dogmatic Works: Moral Theology, The Council of Trent, The Histories of Heresies and their Refutation, Truth of the Faith

19. Francis de Sales Doctor caritatis
(Doctor of Charity)		 1567 1622 1877
CO
 Introduction to the Devout Life, Letters of Spiritual Direction
20. Cyril of Alexandria* Doctor Incarnationis
(Doctor of the Incarnation)		 376 444 1883 Archbishop of Alexandria Commentaries on the Old Testament, Thesaurus, Discourse Against Arians, Dialogues on the Trinity
21. Cyril of Jerusalem* 315 386 1883
Archbishop of Jerusalem
Catechetical Lectures
, Summa doctrinae christianae
22. John Damascene* 676 749 1890 Priest, monk Fountain of Knowledge, Octoechos
23. Bede the Venerable* Anglorum doctor
(Doctor of the English)[14]		 672 735 1899 Priest,
OSB
 Ecclesiastical History of the English People, The Reckoning of Time, Liber epigrammatum, Paenitentiale Bedae
24. Ephrem*[15] 306 373 1920 Deacon Commentary on the Diatessaron, Prayer of Saint Ephrem, Hymns Against Heresies
25. Peter Canisius 1521 1597 1925 Priest,
SJ
 A Summary of Christian Teachings
26. John of the Cross Doctor mysticus
(Mystical Doctor)		 1542 1591 1926 Priest, mystic, OCD (Reformer) Spiritual Canticle, Dark Night of the Soul, Ascent of Mount Carmel
27. Robert Bellarmine 1542 1621 1931
SJ
 Disputationes de Controversiis
28. Albertus Magnus[16] Doctor universalis
(Universal Doctor)		 1193 1280 1931
OP
 On Cleaving to God, On Fate
29. Anthony of Padua Doctor evangelicus
(Evangelical Doctor)		 1195 1231 1946 Priest, OFM Sermons for Feast Days
30. Lawrence of Brindisi Doctor apostolicus
(Apostolic Doctor)		 1559 1619 1959 Priest, Diplomat, OFMCap Mariale
31. Teresa of Ávila[17] Doctor orationis
(Doctor of Prayer)		 1515 1582 1970 Mystic, OCD (Reformer) La Vida de la Santa Madre Teresa de Jesús, The Way of Perfection, The Interior Castle
32. Catherine of Siena 1347 1380 1970 Mystic, TOSD The Dialogue of Divine Providence
33. Thérèse of Lisieux Doctor amoris
(Doctor of love)		 1873 1897 1997 OCD The Story of a Soul, Letters of Saint Therese
34. John of Ávila 1500 1569 2012 Priest, Mystic Audi, filia; Spiritual Letters
35. Hildegard of Bingen 1098 1179 2012
OSB
, physician, philosopher		 Scivias, Liber vitae meritorum, Liber divinorum operum, Ordo virtutum,
36. Gregory of Narek[18] 951 1003 2015 Monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian Book of Lamentations
37. Irenaeus of Lyon*[19] Doctor unitatis
(Doctor of Unity)[20] 		130 202 2022 Bishop, theologian, Martyr Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, Against Heresies

Proposed Doctors

In October 2018, on the occasion of the canonization of

Oscar Romero, martyred Archbishop of San Salvador, José Luis Escobar Alas, the current Archbishop of San Salvador, petitioned Pope Francis to name Romero a Doctor of the Church.[21]

In October 2019, the Polish Catholic Bishops Conference formally petitioned Pope Francis to consider making Pope John Paul II a Doctor of the Church in an official proclamation, in recognition of his contributions to theology, philosophy, and Catholic literature, as well as the formal documents of his papacy.[22]

In January 2023, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco proposed that Pope Benedict XVI be declared a doctor of the Church "as soon as possible", in view of his theological intelligence and contribution to the formation of current doctrine of the Catholic Church, such as the new catechism.[23][24] In January 2024, Archbishop Georg Gänswein also spoke in favor of the pontiff's canonization and his elevation to the status of doctor of the church.[25]

In November 2023, the

USCCB voted to support a petition by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales for the Vatican to name John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church.[26] The epithet Doctor amicitiae (Doctor of Friendship) has been suggested for St. John Henry Newman.[27]

Other recognised Doctors

In addition, parts of the Catholic Church have recognised other individuals with this title. In

Congregation for the Causes of Saints considers this declaration an informal one.[31]

Scholastic epithets

Main article: Scholastic accolades

Though not named Doctors of the Church or even canonized, many of the more celebrated doctors of theology and law of the Middle Ages were given an epithet which expressed the nature of their expertise. Among these are Bl.

John Duns Scotus, Doctor subtilis ("subtle doctor"); Alexander of Hales, Doctor irrefragabilis ("unanswerable doctor"); Roger Bacon, Doctor mirabilis ("wondrous doctor"); William of Ockham, Doctor singularis et invincibilis ("valuable and invincible doctor"); Jean Gerson, Doctor christianissimus ("most Christian doctor"); and Francisco Suárez, Doctor eximius ("exceptional doctor").[32]

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

The

Isaac the Elder, Pope Leo I, John of Damascus, Cyril of Alexandria, Cyril of Jerusalem, Epiphanius of Salamis and Gregory of Nyssa.[33][34][35]

Chaldean Catholic Church

The

Isaac of Nineveh, and Maruthas of Martyropolis.[36][37][38][39]

Eastern Orthodox Church

The

Theologian): John the Evangelist, Gregory of Nazianzus and Symeon the New Theologian.[41]

Russian Orthodox Church

Russian Orthodox Church commemorates on 19 July feast of Three Holy Russian Hierarchs: Demetrius of Rostov, Mitrophan of Voronezh and Tikhon of Zadonsk.[42]

Armenian Church

The Armenian Apostolic Church recognizes the Twelve Holy Teachers (Vardapets) of the Church

They also recognize their own saints

Yeghishe, Movses Khorenatsi, David the Invincible, Gregory of Narek,[45] Nerses III the Builder, and Nerses of Lambron as "Doctors of the Armenian Church" or the "Armenian Doctors".[46][47]

Assyrian Church of the East

The

Yeghishe, Diodorus of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and Nestorius as Doctors of the Church.[48]

Anglicanism

The churches of the Anglican Communion tend not to use the term Doctor of the Church in their calendars of saints, preferring expressions such as "Teacher of the Faith". Those thus recognized include figures from before and after the Reformation, most of whom are chosen among those already recognized as in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Those designated as Teachers of the Faith in the Church of England's calendar of saints are as follows:

Since all of the above appear in the calendar at the level of

Commemoration, their celebration is optional. Similarly, because "In the Calendar of the Saints, diocesan and other local provision may be made to supplement the national Calendar",[49]
those Doctors of the Church recognized by the Catholic Church may also be celebrated in the Church of England.

Lutheranism

The

University of Wittenberg
in 1512.

See also
  • Fathers of the Church

References

  1. ^ Rice, Fr. Larry (2015). "Doctors of the Church?" (PDF). usccb.org. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f John Chapman (1913). "Doctors of the Church" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. St. Louis, Missouri
    : B. Herder. p. 3.
  4. ISBN 978-0-299-11884-6
    .
  5. ^ "Spiritus Paraclitus (September 15, 1920) | BENEDICT XV". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  6. ^ "St. Therese, Doctor of the Universal Church – Saint Therese of Lisieux". thereseoflisieux.org.
  7. ^ "Pope to proclaim St John of Avila Doctor of the Universal Church". News.va. Holy See. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Pope to Canonize and Name Hildegard of Bingen as Doctor of the Church". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012.
  9. ^ "ROME REPORTS TV News Agency". www.romereports.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Pope : Two new Doctors of the Church". news.va. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  11. ^ "San Gregorio di Narek Dottore della Chiesa Universale, 23.02.2015" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 23 February 2015.
  12. ^ Movsesian, Mark (26 February 2015). "The Newest Doctor of the Church". First Things. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  13. ^ St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the church vaticannews.va.
  14. ^ William of Malmesbury, Gesta pontificum Anglorum 1.29 Hamilton, N.E.S.A. (1870). Willelmi Malmesbiriensis Monachi De Gestis Pontificum Anglorum libri quinque (in Latin). London: Longman. p. 44.
  15. ^ "Encyclical of Pope Benedict XV on St. Ephrem the Syrian". 5 October 1920. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  16. ^ Führer, Markus (20 March 2006). "Albert the Great (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)". Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Proclamation of Saint Teresa of Avila Doctor of the Church". 27 September 1970. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  18. ^ McCarthy, Emer. "Pope Francis declares Armenian saint Doctor of the Church". Vatican Radio. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  19. ^ CNA. "Pope Francis to declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  20. ^ Francis, Pope (21 January 2022). "Decree of the Holy Father for the conferral of the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint Irenaeus of Lyon". The Vatican Press Agency. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  21. ^ Esteves, Junno Arocho; Vida, Melissa (15 October 2018). "Salvadoran archbishop asks pope to make Romero 'doctor of the church'". Angelus. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Polish bishops call for John Paul II to be named a doctor of the Church".
  23. ^ "Benedetto XVI, Bagnasco: spero sia proclamato "dottore della Chiesa"". Vatican News (in Italian). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  24. ^ ""Sia dottore della Chiesa". Che titolo può avere ora Benedetto XVI". ilGiornale (in Italian). 5 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Faccia a faccia tra il papa e Georg Gänswein". laRegione (in Italian). 3 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  26. ^ McKeown, Jonah (16 November 2023). "U.S. bishops express strong support for proposal to name Newman a doctor of the Church". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ISBN 9780567657381
    .
  28. ISBN 9781618636768
    – via Google Books.
  29. ISBN 9781586171117
    – via Google Books.
  30. Benedict XVI (2007). "Spe Salvi"
    . The Holy See.
  31. ^ Prot. Num. VAR. 7479/14.
  32. ^ Edward Aloysius Pace (1913). "Surnames of Famous Doctors" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  33. ^ Major, Tom (12 May 2012). "Major's Saint of the Day: May 12 – Feast of Saints Epiphanius and Dominic de la Calzada".
  34. ISBN 9781610974912
    – via Google Books.
  35. ^ "THE 33 DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH, by Fr Christopher Rengers". AD2000.
  36. ^ "Marutha of Maypherqat – ܡܪܘܬܐ ܕܡܝܦܪܩܛ (d. 420 or 421)". The Syriac Biographical Dictionary. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  37. ISBN 9781621893653
    – via Google Books.
  38. ISBN 9780813229652
    – via Google Books.
  39. ^ Pudichery, A. Sylvester (7 June 1972). "Ramsa: An Analysis and Interpretation of the Chaldean Vespers". Dharmaram College – via Google Books.
  40. ^ "Feast of the Three Holy Fathers, Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom". Greek Orthodox Archiocese of America. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  41. ISBN 978-0-203-11938-9. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  42. ^ "СОБОР ТРЕХ РУССКИХ СВЯТИТЕЛЕЙ – Древо". drevo-info.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  43. ^ "Saints and Feasts". Armenian Church Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias – Lebanon. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  44. ^ "E-Sunday Bulletin of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church". myemail.constantcontact.com.
  45. ISBN 9780567664150
    – via Google Books.
  46. ^ "Movses Dasxurants'i, History of the Aghuans, Armenian History, Caucasus History, Aghuan History, Iranian History, Atrpatakan, Azerbaijan, Dasxurantsi, Caucasian Albania, Ancient, Medieval, Armenia, Persia, Iran". www.attalus.org.
  47. ^ Visit to the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate and meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob II, Greeting of the Holy Father Address of Pope Benedict XVI.,30 November 2006, on the website vatican.va (pdf). Access date 18 March 2021.
  48. ISBN 9781838609344
    – via Google Books.
  49. ^ Common Worship (Main Volume), p. 530.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Doctors of the Church.
Wikisource has original works on the topic: Doctors of the Church
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doctor_of_the_Church&oldid=1214688971"