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Doctors of the Church

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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; this does not mean they are infallible, but it does mean that they contributed significantly to the formulation of Christian teaching in at least one area.

Name

Lifespan

Designation

St. Athanasius
296 - 373
1568 by Pius V
St. Ephraem the Syrian
306 - 373
October 5, 1920 by Benedict XV
St. Hilary of Poitiers
315 - 367
May 13, 1851 by Pius IX
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
315 - 386
July 28, 1882 by Leo XIII
St. Gregory of Nazianzus
325 - 389
1568 by Pius V
St. Basil the Great
329 - 379
1568 by Pius V
St. Ambrose
339 - 397
September 20, 1295 by Boniface VIII
St. John Chrysostom
347 - 407
1568 by Pius V
St. Jerome
347 - 419
September 20, 1295 by Boniface XIII
St. Augustine
354 - 430
September 20, 1295 by Boniface XIII
St. Cyril of Alexandria
376 - 444
July 28, 1882 by Leo XIII
St. Peter Chrysologous
400 - 450
February 10, 1729 by Benedict XIII
St. Leo the Great
400 - 461
October 15, 1754 by Benedict XIV
St. Gregory the Great
540 - 604
September 20, 1295 by Boniface XIII
St. Isidore of Seville
560 - 636
April 25, 1722 by Innocent XIII
St. John of Damascus
645 - 749
August 19, 1890 by Leo XIII
St. Bede the Venerable
672 - 735
November 13, 1899 by Leo XIII
St. Peter Damian
1007 - 1072
September 27, 1828 by Leo XII
St. Anselm
1033 - 1109
February 3, 1720 by Clement XI
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
1090 - 1153
August 20, 1830 by Pius VIII
St. Anthony of Padua
1195 - 1231
January 16, 1946 by Pius XII
St. Albert the Great
1206 - 1280
December 16, 1931 by Pius XI
St. Bonaventure
1221 - 1274
March 14, 1588 by Sixtus V
St. Thomas Aquinas
1226 - 1274
April 11, 1567 by Pius V
St. Catherine of Siena
1347 - 1380
October 4, 1970 by Paul VI
St. Teresa of Avila
1515 - 1582
September 27, 1970 by Paul VI
St. Peter Canisius
1521 - 1597
May 21, 1925 by Pius XI
St. John of the Cross
1542 - 1591
August 24, 1926 by Pius XI
St. Robert Bellarmine
1542 - 1621
September 17, 1931 by Pius XI
St. Lawrence of Brindisi
1559 - 1619
March 19, 1959 by John XXIII
St. Francis de Sales
1567 - 1622
November 16, 1871 by Pius IX
St. Alphonsus Ligouri
1696 - 1787
July 7, 1871 by Pius IX
St. Therese of Lisieux
1873 - 1897
October 19, 1997 by John Paul II
St. John of Avila
1500 - 1569
October 7, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
St. Hildegard of Bingen
1098 - 1179
October 7, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI
St. Gregory of Narek
951 - 1003
February 21, 2015 by Pope Francis
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