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

Personal

Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V

Place and dates

293-373

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Eastern theologian
Named in 1882 by Leo XIII

Place and dates

315?-387?

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V

Place and dates

329?-379

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V

Place and dates

329?-389

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII

Place and dates

340?-397

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII

Place and dates

345?-419

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Eastern theologian
Named in 1568 by Pius V

Place and dates

349?-407

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

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

Personal

Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII

Place and dates

354-430

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

Personal

Named in 1882 by Leo XIII

Place and dates

376-444

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

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

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

Personal

Western theologian
Named in 1298 by Bonaface VIII

Place and dates

(The Great) 540?-604

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

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

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)

Personal

Named in 1890 by Leo XIII

Place and dates

675-749

Writings

See Post-Apostolic Fathers' list

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

Last Updated: January 3, 1997