Doctors of the Church

Catholic Christians believe that the promise of the Spirit of Truth to guide believers in truth is found in the constant faith of the Church as preserved in the writings of the Doctors of the Church also, equally "faithful people." The Doctors of the Church are eminent Christian teachers who are proclaimed to be worthy of the title. The Church recognized these faithful people and teachers for their contribution to the belief and understanding of the faith. Doctors of the Church must be canonized a saint, known for their learning, and must be proclaimed such by either the Bishop of Rome or an ecumenical council.

Ephrem The Syrian, St.

Personal
Deacon, monk
Noted for his defense of the Church, the mysteries of Our Lord and the honor of the Virgin Mary.
Named in 1920 by Benedict XV
Place and dates
306?-373
Writings
Wrote exegetical works and hymns

Athanasius, St.

Personal
Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V
Place and dates
293-373
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Cyril of Jerusalem, St.

Personal
Eastern theologian
Named in 1882 by Leo XIII
Place and dates
315?-387?
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Basil, St. (the Great)

Personal
Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V
Place and dates
329?-379
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Gregory of Nazianzus, St.

Personal
Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V
Place and dates
329?-389
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Ambrose, St.

Personal
Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII
Place and dates
340?-397
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Jerome, St.

Personal
Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII
Place and dates
345?-419
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

John Chrysostom, St.

Personal
Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V
Place and dates
349?-407
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Hilary of Poitiers, St.

Personal
Pagan, convert in 350
Bishop of Poitiers, 353
Defended the decrees of the Council of Nicaea
Named in 1851 by Pius IX
Place and dates
315?-368?
Writings
De Trinitate: against the Arians
De Synodis
Commentary of the Psalms
Commentary of Matthew's Gospel

Augustine, St.

Personal
Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII
Place and dates
354-430
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Cyril of Alexandria, St.

Personal
Named in 1882 by Leo XIII
Place and dates
376-444
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Peter Chrysologus, St.

Personal
Called chrysologus (golden-mouthed) because of exceptional preaching eloquence
Archbishop of Ravenna, 433-450
Named in 1729 by Benedict XIII
Place and dates
406-450
Writings
Many sermons survive

Leo The Great, St.

Personal
Pope, 440-461
Confirmed the doctrine of the Incarnation (Council of Chalcedon, 451)
Held the doctrinal primacy of Rome
Persuaded Atilla the Hun not to invade Rome
Named in 1754 by Benedict XIV
Place and dates
461
Writings
143 surviving letters
96 sermons

Gregory I, St.

Personal
Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII
Place and dates
(The Great) 540?-604
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Isidore of Seville, St.

Personal
Encyclopedic knowledge
Archbishop of Seville
Conversion of Visigoths
Organizing the church in Spain
Named in 1722 by Innocent XIII
Place and dates
560?-636?
Writings
De Natura Rerum
Etymologies: an encyclopedia
Chronica Majora: a compilation from church historians
Biographies
A summary of Christian doctrine

Bede The Venerable, St.

Personal
English Benedictine monk
Prolific writer
Named in 1899 by Leo XIII
Place and dates
673?-735
Writings
Ecclesiastical History of the English People (731)
On the Reckoning of Time (725)
Historia Abbatum (725)

John Damascene, St.

Personal
Named in 1890 by Leo XIII
Place and dates
675-749
Writings
See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Peter Damien, St.

Personal
Benedictine monk
Cardinal and Bishop of Ostia
Ecclesiastical statesman and reformer
Named in 1828 by Leo XII
Place and dates
1007-1072
Writings
Notable poet
Wrote reforms for popes, clergy, monks

Anselm, St.

Personal
Benedictine monk
Theologian
Philosopher; proposed famous argument for existence of God
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1093-1100
Named in 1720 by Clement XI
Place and dates
1033-1109
Writings
Monologium (1077): God as highest being and His attributes
Proslogium (1078): Faith seeking understanding
Cur Deus Homo (1093): On the Incarnation and crucifixion

Bernard of Clairvaux, St.

Personal
Cistercian monk
Preacher of the Second Crusade
Founded over 90 monasteries
Named in 1830 by Pius VIII
Place and dates
1090-1153
Writings
The Love of God (1127)
Consideration to Eugene III (1148)

Anthony of Padua, St.

Personal
Franciscan monk
Theologian
Exceptional intellectual and oratorical gifts
Named in 1946 by Pius XII
Place and dates
1195-1231
Writings
Lector in theology: taught at Bologna, Montpellier, and Toulouse

Albert The Great, St.

Personal
Bishop of Ratisbon, 1260-1293
Introduced Greek and Arabic science and philosophy into the medieval world
Dominican, Order of Preachers
Teacher of Thomas Aquinas
Named in 1932 by Pius XI
Place and dates
1206-1280
Writings
Summa Theologiae (1270): attempted to reconcile Aristotelianism and Christianity
Sentences: a commentary on Peter the Lombard
De Unitate Intellectus: against the Averrhoists

Bonaventure, St.

Personal
Franciscan friar
Philosopher, theologian
Cardinal archbishop of Albano
Assisted at Council of Lyons
Named in 1588 by Sixtus V
Place and dates
1217-1274
Writings
Breviloquium (1254): Commentary on Sacred Scripture
Journey of the Mind to God (1259)
Life of St. Francis of Assisi (1263)

Thomas Aquinas, St.

Personal
Theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V
Italian philosopher
Educated at Monte Cassino
Ordained a priest in 1250
Advisor and lecturer to the papal court, 1259-1268
Place and dates
1225-1274
Writings
Eighty works are ascribed to him
Summa Contra Gentiles: "On the Truth of Catholic Faith," 1261-1264: one of his greatest works, closely reasoned treatise on the truth of Christianity
Summa Theologica: a summary of theology, (1265-1273)

Catherine of Siena, St.

Personal
Western mystic
Joined the Dominican Order in 1353
Convinced Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon
Noted for works of charity and unity in the Church
Named in 1970 by Pope Paul VI
Place and dates
1347-1380
Writings
Letters on spiritual matters
Dialogue: her ideals of reform and repentance

Theresa of Avila, St.

Personal
Western mystic
Foundress of the Order of Discalced Carmelites
Entered the convent in 1535
Founded the new order in 1562
Worked with the aid of St. John of the Cross, Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church
Named in 1970 by Pope Paul VI
Place and dates
1515-1582
Writings
The Way of Perfection: (1565) advice to her nuns
The Interior Castle: (1577) an eloquent description of the contemplative life
The Foundations: (1573-1582) the origins of the Discalced Carmelites

Peter Canisius, St.

Personal
Jesuit
Second great Apostle of Germany
Leader, Counter-Reformation
Named in 1925 by Pius XI
Place and dates
1521-1597
Writings
Catechism (1560): instructed the faithful to defend their Faith

Robert Bellarmine, St.

Personal
Jesuit theologian
Cardinal archbishop of Capua
Revision of the Vulgate (1592)
Leader of the Counter Reformation
Named in 1931 by Pius XI
Place and dates
1542-1621
Writings
Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith: (1568-93)

Lawrence of Brindisi, St.

Personal
Capuchin
Worked for the conversion of the Jews
Confronted the rise of Lutheranism
Organized Catholic princes against Turkish invasion
Named in 1959 by John XXIII
Place and dates
1559-1619
Writings
Sermons
A commentary on Genesis
Writings against Lutheranism

John of the Cross, St.

Personal
Western mystic
Combined mysticism with the theology and philosophy of Aquinas
Became a Carmelite monk in 1563
Ordained a priest in 1567
Organized the Discalced Carmelites in 1568
Imprisoned for monastic reform 1576-1577
Named in 1926 by Benedict XV
Place and dates
1542-1591
Writings
Spiritual Canticle: a mystical poem
Living Flame of Love: a mystical poem
Dark Night of the Soul: describes the soul's progress in union with God

Francis De Sales, St.

Personal
Named in 1877 by Pius IX
Bishop of Genova, 1602-1622
Founded the Order of the Visitation
Confronted the rise of Calvinism
Place and dates
1567-1622
Writings
Introduction to the Devout Life: (1609) shows how ordinary life can be sanctified

Alfonsus Liguori, St.

Personal
Founded the Redemptorist Order in 1732
Bishop of St. Agatha, 1756-1775
Named in 1871 by Pius IX
Place and dates
1696-1787
Writings
Moral Theology
Glories of Mary: (1750)



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By Paul Flanagan and Robert Schihl.
Catholic Biblical Apologetics, © Copyright 1985-1997, Paul Flanagan and Robert Schihl

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture texts are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament, © 1986, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

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Last Updated: January 3, 1997