Doctors of the Church

What is a Doctor of the Church? This is a very special title accorded by the Church to certain saints. This title indicates that the writings and preachings of such a person are useful to Christians "in any age of the Church." Such men and women are also particularly known for the depth of understanding and the orthodoxy of their theological teachings. While the writings of the Doctors are often considered inspired by the Holy Spirit, they are not considered infallible.

Doctor

Lived from:

Designated a Doctor:

1. St. Athanasius

296-373

1568 by Pius V
2. St. Ephraem the Syrian

306-373

1920 by Benedict XV
3.St. Hilary of Poitiers

315-367

1851 by Pius IX
4. St. Cyril of Jerusalem

315-386

1882 by Leo XIII
5. St. Gregory of Nazianzus

325-389

1568 by Pius V
6. St. Basil the Great

329-379

1568 by Pius V
7. St. Ambrose

339-397

1295 by Boniface VIII
8. St. John Chrysostom

347-407

1568 by Pius V
9. St. Jerome

347-419

1295 by Boniface XIII
10. St. Augustine

354-430

1285 by Boniface XIII
11. St. Cyril of Alexandria

d. 444

1882 by Leo XIII
12. St. Peter Chrysologous

d. 450

1729 by Benedict XIII
13. St. Leo the Great

d. 461

1754 by Benedict XIV
14. St. Gregory the Great

540-604

1295 by Boniface XIII
15. St. Isidore of Seville

560-636

1722 by Innocent XIII
16. St. John of Damascus

645-749

1890 by Leo XIII
17.St. Bede the Venerable

672-735

1899 by Leo XIII
18. St. Peter Damian

1007-1072

1828 by Leo XII
19. St. Amselm

d. 1109

1720 by Clement XI
20. St. Bernard of Clairvaux

1090-1153

1830 by Pius VIII
21. St. Anthony of Padua

1195-1231

1946 by Pius XII
22. St. Albert the Great

1206-1280

1931 by Pius XI
23. St. Bonaventure

1221-1274

1588 by Sixtus V
24. St. Thomas Aquinas

1226-1274

1567 by Pius V
25. St. Catherine of Siena

1347-1380

1970 by Paul VI
26. St. Teresa of Avila

1515-1582

1970 by Paul VI
27. St. Peter Canisius

1521-1597

1925 by Pius XI
28. St. John of the Cross

1542-1591

1926 by Pius XI
29. St. Robert Bellarmine

1542-1621

1931 by Pius XI
30. St. Lawrence of Brindisi

1559-1619

1959 by John XXIII
31. St. Francis de Sales

1567-1622

1877 by Pius IX
32. St. Alphonsus Ligouri

1696-1787

1871 by Pius IX
33. St. Thérèse of Lisieux

1873-1897

Oct. 19, 1997 by John Paul II

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