ANSWER TO QUIZ
Doctor of the Church
is a title given since the Middle Ages
to certain saints whose writing or preaching is outstanding
for guiding the faithful
in all periods of the Church's history.
Reading their written works greatly enhances our spiritual journey and understanding of our faith.
The original Western Fathers and Doctors of the Church are:
ST. AMBROSE (340-97). Bishop of Milan. and opponent of Arianism in the West.
ST. AUGUSTINE (354-430). Bishop of Hippo. Doctor of Grace.
ST. GREGORY I THE GREAT (540-604). Pope. Defended papal supremacy and worked for clerical and monastic reform.
ST. JEROME (342-420). Father of biblical science.
But the Church has officially added many more holy and inspired people who shared their heavenly insights...
DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
ST. ALBERT THE GREAT (1200-80). Dominican, Patron of natural scientists; Doctor Universalis, Doctor Expertus.
ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI (1696-1787). Patron of confessors and moralists. Founder of the Redemptorists.
ST. ANSELM (1033-1109). Archbishop of Canterbury & Father of Scholasticism.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA (1195-1231). Franciscan Friar and the Evangelical Doctor.
ST. ATHANASIUS (297-373). Bishop of Alexandria, dominant opponent of Arianism, and Father of Orthodoxy.
ST. BASIL THE GREAT (329-79). One of the Three Cappadocian Fathers. Father of monasticism in the East.
ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE (673-735). Benedictine priest. Father of English history.
ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX (1090-1153). Cistercian. Called Mellifluous Doctor because of his eloquence.
ST. BONAVENTURE (1217-74). Franciscan theologian. Seraphic Doctor.
ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA (1347-80). Mystic. Second woman Doctor.
ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA (376-444). Patriarch. Opponent of Nestorianism. Made key contributions to Christology.
ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM (315-87). Bishop and opponent of Arianism in the East.
ST. EPHRAEM SYRUS (306-73). Biblical exegete and ecclesiastical writer. Called Harp of the Holy Spirit.
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES (1567-1622). Bishop, leader in Counter-Reformation. Patron of Catholic writers and the Catholic press.
ST. GREGORY I THE GREAT (540-604). Pope. Fourth and last of the traditional Doctors of the Latin Church. Defended papal supremacy and worked for clerical and monastic reform.
ST. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS (330-90). Called the Christian Demosthenes because of his eloquence and, in the Eastern Church, The Theologian. One of the Three Cappadocian Fathers.
ST. HILARY OF POITIERS (315-68). Bishop. Called the Athanasius of the West.
ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE (560-636). Archbishop, theologian, historian. Regarded as the most learned man of his time.
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (347-407). Bishop of Constantinople. Patron of preachers and called Golden-Mouthed because of his eloquence.
ST. JOHN DAMASCENE (675-749). Greek theologian. Called Golden Speaker because of his eloquence.
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS (1542-91). Joint founder of the Discalced Carmelites. Doctor of Mystical Theology.
ST. LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI (1559-1619). Vigorous preacher of strong influence in the post-Reformation period.
ST. LEO I THE GREAT (400-61). Pope. Wrote against Nestorian and Monophysite heresies and errors of Manichaeism and Pelagianism.
ST. PETER CANISIUS (1521-97). Jesuit theologian.
Leader in the Counter-Reformation.
ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS (400-50).Bishop of Ravenna.
Called Golden-Worded.
ST. PETER DAMIAN (1007-72). Benedictine. Ecclesiastical and clerical reformer.
ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE (1542-1621).Jesuit. Defended doctrine under attack during and after the Reformation.
Wrote two catechisms.
ST. TERESA OF AVILA (1515-82). Spanish Carmelite nun and mystic. First woman Doctor.
ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX (1873-1897). French Carmelite nun.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-74). Dominican philosopher and theologian. Angelic Doctor. Patron of Catholic schools and education.