Doctor of the Church IV

 

DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH IV

LIST OF THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH

The first church doctors were declared by Pope Boniface VIII in the 13th century; and they are Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Pope Gregory the Great. The first women to be named as church doctors were Saints Teresa of Ávila and Catherine of Siena in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.

The following is a list of all the doctors of the church in the order of when they were designated.

Five of the Church Fathers who were proclaimed doctor hailed from the Western (Latin-speaking) half of the Roman Empire and they are: St. Irenaeus, around 120 – 200; St. Ambrose, 340-397; St. Jerome, 345-420; St. Augustine, 354-430; and St. Gregory the Great (Pope), 540-604

Four of the Ecumenical Fathers who were proclaimed Doctors came from the Eastern (Greek-speaking) Roman Empire and they are: St. Athanasius, 295-373; St. Basil the Great, 330-379; St. Gregory of Nazianzen, 330-390; and St. John Chrysostom, 345-407.

There are eight other Doctors from the patristic period making in total, sixteen (16) Fathers who are also recognized as Doctors of the Church: St. Ephrem the Syrian, 306-373 (Syriac); St. Hilary, 315-368 (Latin); St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387 (Greek); St. Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444 (Greek); St. Leo the Great (Pope), 390-461 (Latin); St. Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 (Latin); St. Isidore of Seville (who some consider last of the Latin Fathers), who lived around 560-636. Isidore of Seville, a seventh-century Doctor of the Church; and St. John Damascene, (often considered last of the Greek Fathers), 676-749

There are eleven Doctors of the Church from the Middle Ages; all of them except the last is from the Latin or Western Church: St. Bede the Venerable, 673-735; St. Peter Damian, 1007-1072; St. Anselm, 1033-1109; St. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153; St. Hildegard of Bingen lived around 1098-1179 AD. Hildegard von Bingen was an eleventh-century Doctor of the Church; St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231; St. Albert the Great, 1200-1280; St. Bonaventure, 1217-1274; St. Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274; St. Catherine of Siena, 1347-1379; and St. Gregory of Narek, 951-1003 (from the Armenian Church).

There are seven Doctors of the Catholic Church who were prominent in the 16th century Catholic Reformation, all from the Latin Church: St. John of Avila 1499-1569; St. Teresa of Avila,1515-1582; St. Peter Canisius, 1521-1597; St. John of the Cross,1542-1591; St. Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621; St. Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1619; and St. Francis de Sales, 1567-1622.

There are two Doctors of the Church in the modern era, both from the Latin Church: St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787; and St. Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897

ST IRENAEUS The title “doctor of the church” was bestowed on St. Irenaeus of Lyons by Pope Francis in January 2022. St Irenaeus is a Christian bishop who died about A.D. 200. For centuries, Christians in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches have venerated him as a saint.

SAINT AMBROSE lived around 340-397 AD. He was a bishop of Milan, Italy. In his teaching, he is a major opponent of Arianism. He wrote and preached extensively on the Divinity of Christ Jesus. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1298.

SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO lived around 354-430 AD. He was a North African bishop, author of many books which include Confessions, and the City of God. He also wrote numerous treatises, in which he countered heretical movements. He is one of the most influential theologians of the Western church. He is called “Doctor of Grace”. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1298.

SAINT JEROME lived around 343-420 AD, translated Old Testament from Hebrew into Latin and revised Latin translation of New Testament to produce Vulgate version of Bible, called “Father of Biblical Science”. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1298.

SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT lived around 540-604 AD. He was a pope. He strengthened the papacy and worked for clerical and monastic reform. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1298.

SAINT ATHANASIUS lived around 297-373 AD. He was a bishop of Alexandria. He is a dominant opponent of Arians. He is called “Father of Orthodoxy.” He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1298

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, who is nicknamed the “Golden-Mouthed”, lived around 347-407 AD. He was an archbishop of Constantinople. He is a great homilist, writer of scripture commentaries and letters, and patron of preachers.  He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1568.

SAINT BASIL THE GREAT lived around 329-379 AD. He was a bishop of Caesarea in Asia Minor. He refuted Arian errors. In the same vein, he wrote treatises, homilies, and monastic rules. He is called “Father of Monasticism of the East.” He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1568.

SAINT GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS lived around 330-390 AD. He was a bishop of Constantinople. He was a great opponent of Arianism. He wrote major theological treatises as well as letters and poetry. He is called the “Christian Demosthenes”. In the East, he is called “The Theologian”. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1568.

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS lived around 1225-1274 AD. He is an Italian Dominican. He wrote systematically on philosophy, theology, and Catholic doctrine. He is the patron of Catholic schools and education. He is one of the most influential theologians in the West. He was a Doctor of the church in the year 1568.

SAINT BONAVENTURE lived around 1217-1274 AD. He is a Franciscan. He was a bishop of Albano, Italy, and later a cardinal. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1588

SAINT ANSELM OF CANTERBURY lived around 1033-1109 AD. He was an archbishop. He is called “Father of Scholasticism.” He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1720.

SAINT ISIDORE OF SEVILLE lived around 560-636 AD. He was an Spanish bishop, an encyclopedia, and pre-eminent scholar of his day. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1722.

SAINT PETER CHRYSOLOGUS lived around 400-450 AD. He was an archbishop of Ravenna, Italy. He is a great homilist and writer. He counteracted Monophysite heresy. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1729.

SAINT LEO I, THE GREAT lived around 400-461 AD. He was a pope. He wrote Christological and other works against the heresies of his day. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1754.

SAINT PETER DAMIAN lived around 1007-1072. He is an Italian Benedictine and cardinal. He was a great ecclesiastical and clerical reformer. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1828.

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX lived around 1090-1153 AD. He is French Cistercian abbot and was a monastic reformer. He is called the “Mellifluous Doctor.” He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1830.

SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS lived around 315-368 AD. He is one of first Latin doctrinal writers. He opposed Arianism. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1851.

SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI lived around 1696-1787. He is the founder of Redemptorists. He is a pre-eminent moral theologian and apologist. He is a patron of confessors and moralists. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1871.

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES lived around 1567-1622) AD. He was a bishop of Geneva. He is a great spiritual writer, and patron of Catholic writers and press. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1877.

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA around 376-444 AD. He was a bishop. He authored doctrinal treatises against Nestorian heresy. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1882.

SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM lived around 315-386 AD. He was a bishop, catechist, and vigorous opponent of Arianism. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1882.

SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE lived around 675-749 AD. He is a Syrian monk. He is a great doctrinal writer. He is called “Golden Speaker.” He was a Doctor of the church in the year 1890.

SAINT BEDE THE VENERABLE lived around 673-735 AD. He is an English Benedictine. He is called the “Father of English History.” He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1899.

SAINT EPHREM THE SYRIAN lived around 306-373AD. He counteracted Gnosticism and Arianism with his poems, hymns, and other writings. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1920.

SAINT PETER CANISIUS lived around 1521-1597 AD. He is a Dutch Jesuit, catechist, and an important figure in Counter-Reformation in Germany. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1925.

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS lived around 1542-1591. He is the founder of Discalced Carmelites. He is called “Doctor of Mystical Theology”. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1926.

SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE lived around 1542-1621) AD. He is an Italian Jesuit, and an archbishop of Capua. He wrote Reformation-era doctrinal defenses, catechisms, and works on ecclesiology and church-state relations. He is a Doctor of the church in the year 1931.

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA lived around 1195-1231. He is the first theologian of Franciscans. He is a great preacher. He is called “Evangelical Doctor”. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1946.

SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT lived around 1200-1280. He is a German Dominican, bishop of Regensburg, teacher of Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron of scientists, called “Universal Doctor” and “Expert Doctor”. He was a Doctor of the church in the year 1932.

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA lived around 1347-1380 AD. She is the Italian Third Order Dominican, mystical author, also active in support of Crusades and in papal politics. She is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1970.

SAINT LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI lived around 1559-1619. He is an Italian Capuchin Franciscan. He was an influential post-Reformation preacher. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1959.

SAINT TERESA OF ÁVILA lived around 1515-1582 AD. She is Spanish Carmelite. She initiated the discalced Carmelite movement. She is a prolific spiritual and mystical writer. She is the first woman Doctor of the church. He was a Doctor of the church in the year 1970.

SAINT THÉRÈSE OF LISIEU lived around 1873-1897 AD. She is French Carmelite. She wrote her spiritual autobiography, describing her “little way” of spiritual perfection. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 1977.

SAINT JOHN OF ÁVILA lived around 1499 or 1500-1569. He is a Spanish priest, preacher, and mystic. He was influential in spreading the faith in Andalusia and reforming the church in Spain. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 2012

SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN lived around 1098-1179. She is German Benedictine abbess and mystic. She recorded her visions in writing. She also wrote lyric poems, letters of advice and prophecy, and treatises on medicine and physiology. She is named a Doctor of the church in the year 2012

SAINT GREGORY OF NAREK lived around 950 to 1005 AD. He is an Armenian monk and poet. He is also recognized as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is named a Doctor of the church in the year 2015

© Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa

August 5 2023