Among the thousands of people Catholics honor with the title of “Saint” only 38 have earned the distinction of “Doctor.” But what is a “Doctor of the Church?” Learn the meaning of this unique title and meet saints who have earned it in this fascinating new podcast series.
Transcript
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How many people in 2,000 years of Christian history do you think have received one of the highest titles the church can give to a teacher of the faith? Not 100, not 1,000, 38. The title is called Doctor of the Church. It's not a theology PhD from some university. It's an ecclesial recognition the Church grants, through papal decree, to a saint whose teaching is considered a uniquely authoritative and fruitful reference point for the Christian faith. Officially, there are three conditions to earn it.
First, the person must already be canonized a saint, Second, in Latin, eminentia doctrinae, an excellence of doctrine, meaning they left behind teaching that's truly out of the ordinary. Not just correct, but illuminating, capable of opening new paths for understanding the faith. Third, an official proclamation by the church's authority. Widespread popularity or grassroots devotion alone isn't enough.
It's also worth saying, the title doesn't mean every single idea or opinion the saint ever held is free of error. It means their teaching, taken as a whole, is recognized as a uniquely valuable light for the faith. Among these 38 are men and women, brilliant philosophers and mystics with barely any formal schooling. Powerful bishops, and a young woman who died at 24 in an enclosed Carmelite convent, her life almost entirely hidden from the world. There's no single mold. What they share is that, in completely different ways, each offered the church an original and especially fruitful light. One that still speaks today, centuries or millennia later.
