The Catholic Church has named only 38 saints as Doctors of the Church since the Middle Ages, a rare title reserved for those whose writings and teaching have profoundly shaped Catholic thought. Aleteia published a complete list of all Doctors this week, a helpful resource for anyone looking to understand this uncommon honor. When you consider that thousands of saints have been canonized over two millennia, the fact that fewer than 40 have received this title shows how selective the Church has been.
What happened
The practice of naming Doctors of the Church began in the 13th century, when popes started formally recognizing certain saints whose theological writings had become foundational to Catholic teaching. The title is not bestowed lightly. A Doctor must first be canonized, then declared by the pope to possess both eminent learning and sanctity of life. Their writings must have significantly contributed to the understanding of divine revelation and remained orthodox throughout.
The 38 Doctors span nearly two thousand years of Church history, from the early Church Fathers like St. Athanasius and St. Augustine to more recent saints like St. John Paul II’s additions: St. Teresa of Ávila and St. Catherine of Siena (the first two women named Doctors, in 1970), and St. Thérèse of Lisieux (added in 1997). Each brought unique insights. Augustine gave us the theology of grace. Thomas Aquinas systematized Catholic doctrine in the Summa. Teresa of Ávila charted the interior life with psychological precision.
For those interested in the full roster, Aleteia’s complete list includes names, dates, and brief descriptions of each Doctor’s contribution.
Why this matters
The Doctors of the Church represent something deeper than academic achievement. They are saints who thought clearly about God and wrote in ways that helped generations of Catholics understand their faith better. Their works remain in print centuries later because they addressed perennial questions: How does God work in the soul? What is the relationship between faith and reason? How do we read Scripture rightly?
In an age when Catholic teaching is often caricatured or misunderstood, the Doctors offer primary sources. Want to know what the Church actually teaches about the Eucharist? Read Aquinas. Curious about mystical prayer? Read John of the Cross. Wondering how early Christians understood the Trinity? Read the Cappadocian Fathers. These are not theologians offering opinions but saints whose orthodoxy has been verified across centuries and whose sanctity of life authenticated their doctrine.
For Catholic readers
If you have never read a Doctor of the Church, start with one whose life circumstances resemble yours. Parents might begin with St. Augustine’s Confessions, a spiritual autobiography. Those drawn to contemplative prayer could try St. Teresa of Ávila’s Interior Castle. Readers who love systematic thinking will find St. Thomas Aquinas endlessly rewarding, though his Summa Theologica is dense; consider starting with shorter works like his commentary on the Apostles’ Creed.
The writings of the Doctors are not museum pieces. They remain living voices in the Church’s ongoing conversation about the faith once delivered to the saints.
Sources: 1. Aleteia — original report
