Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Roman Catholic Church) A title conferred on certain saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy and significance of their theological teaching. This title is an official ecclesiastical honor recognizing individuals whose writings have been deemed of particular importance in explaining and defending Christian doctrine.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Saint Augustine is recognized as a Doctor of the Church for his profound influence on Christian theology.
  • The writings of the Doctors of the Church are considered foundational for understanding Catholic thought.

Advanced Usage

• "to be declared a Doctor of the Church": to be formally bestowed with this title by papal authority.
  • Saint Teresa of Ávila was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
• "the teaching of the Doctors": refers collectively to the theological works of those who hold this title.
  • The seminary curriculum includes a study of the teaching of the Doctors.

Variants and Related Words

• Doctor (in this context) (n): Often used as a shortened, formal reference to a Doctor of the Church.
  • The Church Fathers include several Doctors, such as Saint Jerome.
• Doctoral (adj): Pertaining to the teachings or status of a Doctor of the Church (less common).
  • The doctoral writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas are extensively studied.

Synonyms

• Church Doctor: A direct synonym.
• Doctor Ecclesiae: The Latin term for Doctor of the Church.

Related Phrases

(This term does not commonly form phrasal verbs. It is a fixed ecclesiastical title.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms based specifically on the phrase "Doctor of the Church.")

Noun

1. (Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching
   • the Doctors of the Church greatly influenced Christian thought down to the late Middle Ages