#DoctoroftheChurch

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church

1225-1274

Feast Day: January 28  (new), March 7 (Trad)

Patronage: Academics; against storms; against lightning; apologists; booksellers; Catholic academies, schools, and universities; chastity; philosophers; publishers; scholars; students; theologians.

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar and priest. Also honored as a Doctor of the Church, Thomas is considered the Church's greatest theologian and philosopher. Pope Benedict XV declared: "This (Dominican) Order ... acquired new luster when the Church declared the teaching of Thomas to be her own and that Doctor, honored with the special praises of the Pontiffs, the master, and patron of Catholic schools."

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[tmarshconnors]

"The truth is like a lion; you don't have to defend it Let it loose; it will defend itself."

Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. 

Born: 13 November 354 AD, Thagaste

Died: 28 August 430 AD (age 75 years), Ruins of Hippo (Hippo Regius), Annaba, Algeria.

Early Life and Conversion: Augustine, born in 354 AD in North Africa (modern-day Algeria), led a life of worldly pursuits until his conversion to Christianity in 386. His spiritual journey is detailed in his famous autobiography, "Confessions."

Bishop of Hippo: Augustine served as the Bishop of Hippo (in present-day Annaba, Algeria) from 395 until his death in 430. During his episcopacy, he played a crucial role in defending orthodox Christian doctrine against various heresies.

Major Works: Augustine's writings have had a profound impact on Christian theology. His notable works include "Confessions," an introspective autobiographical work, and "The City of God," a monumental treatise on theology, philosophy, and the destiny of humanity.

Doctrine of Original Sin: Augustine developed the influential theological concept of Original Sin, which posits that humanity inherits a sinful nature from the fall of Adam and Eve. This idea has had a lasting impact on Christian theology and soteriology.

Influence on Western Christianity: Augustine's teachings have left an indelible mark on Western Christianity. His views on grace, predestination, and the relationship between faith and reason have shaped theological discussions for centuries, influencing both Catholic and Protestant traditions.

[wcatradio]

Episode 115: Mary Kloska Speaks About St. Hilary of Poitiers (January 8, 2023)

[carmelitesaet]

"Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices." - St Teresa of Avila "On October 15, we commemorate the #feast day of one of the most remarkable #women to have ever walked the earth, a Spanish contemplative nun who lived and died well over four centuries ago but whose words and deeds continue to impact us, especially those who have chosen to heed the silent call of #carmel. What Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Blessed Titus Brandsma and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross have in common is that they were all great admirers of Teresa of Avila, whose impassioned writings had greatly influenced their own #vocation and #spirituality." https://ocarm.org/en/item/3839 #saintteresaofvila, who almost single handedly reformed the order in the 16th century, was responsible for the establishment of the Discalced #carmelites in the latter part of the century. Her life was a colourful and #supernatural series of events that had amazed and awed observers and followers of the order for centuries. Teresa was born in #avila in Spain in 1515. She entered the Carmelites and made great progress in the way of perfection and was granted mystical revelations. Wishing to share in the #spiritual renewal of the #church of her time, she began to live her #religious life more ardently and soon attracted many companions, to whom she was like a mother. She also helped in the reform of the friars with #stjohnofthecross, and in this had to endure great trials. She wrote books which are renowned for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual experiences. She died at Alba de Tormes in 1582. In 1970 Teresa was declared a #doctorofthechurch by Pope Paul VI. https://www.carmelites.org.au/carmelite-figures #prayer #faith #lectiodivina #catholic #christianity #carmelite #inspirationalquotes #jesus #christ #saint #sttereseofavila #kingdomofgod #peace #hope #love https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrD9igJlmR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[catholicpriestmedia]

"Robert Bellarmine, Pray for Us!" #SaintoftheDay #OraProNobis

📷 Saint Robert Bellarmine via Wikipedia (PD_Art) #CatholicPriestMedia #Catholic_Priest #DoctoroftheChurch #SacredArtandImages

[cuandowhoknows]

[anastpaul]

Saint of Day – 27 February – St Gregory of Narek (950-1003) – Doctor of the Church – Armenian monk, poet, mystical philosopher, theologian, writer and saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholic Church, born into a family of writers.   Based in the monastery of Narek (Narekavank), he was “Armenia’s first great poet”and as “the watchful angel in human form”.

Born circa 950 to a family of scholarly churchmen, St Gregory entered Narek Monastery on the south-east shore of Lake Van at a young age.   Shortly before the first millennium of Christianity, Narek Monastery was a thriving centre of learning.   These were the relatively quiet, creative times before the Turkic and Mongol invasions that changed Armenian life forever.   Armenia was experiencing a renaissance in literature, painting, architecture and theology, of which St Gregory was a leading figure.   The Prayer Book is the work of his mature years.  He called it his last testament:  “its letters like my body, its message like my soul.”    His best-known writings include a commentary on the Song of Songs and his “Book of Lamentations,” more commonly known as “Narek.”   St Gregory left this world in 1003 but his voice continues to speak to us for all earthly time.

Pope Francis named the tenth century Armenian monk, St Gregory Narek, the 36th Doctor of the Church on 21 Feb 2015.   I love the writing of St Gregory!   He’s a poet to the core and demonstrated amply, like the Hebrew prophets, that beauty is the truest form of divine discourse.  Many of his theological and mystical-ascetical works are written as a colloquy — a dialogue with God — as was St Augustine’s autobiography, the Confessions. Theological colloquy offers such a deep insight into the nature of theological discourse which must always be, in the first instance, a dialogue with the revealing God Himself. God reveals to us not mere data for speculative consideration but Himself for consummating union.

And, true to Pope Francis’ pastoral style, this doctor is chosen from the “margins” of the suffering church. (Incidentally, in 2012 Pope Benedict named a “marginal” medieval woman as Doctor of the Church, the twelfth century Abbess Saint Hildegard of Bingen.  A genius.   Sadly, so little fuss was made subsequently.

The Armenian Apostolic Church (great documentary here), that traces its origins back to the first century, has a rich monastic, liturgical and theological tradition and a rich history of saints and culture.   But Armenian Christians also have a long history of oppression, climaxing in the horrors of the “Armenian Holocaust” genocide of 1915, carried out by the Ottoman Turks who slaughtered more than one million Armenian Christians.

The Armenian Divine Liturgy is magnificent in its poetry, sense of mystery, and theological depth. One of the most cherished hymns of the Liturgy is called Khorhoort Khoreen, “O Mystery Deep.” (Dr Tom Neal)

O Mystery deep, inscrutable, without beginning.   Thou hast decked Thy supernatural realm as a chamber unto the light unapproachable and hast adorned with splendid glory the ranks of Thy fiery spirits.

St Gregory has shown up a couple of times in Magisterial writings.   The Catechism of the Catholic Church, for instance, contains a reference to him:

Medieval piety in the West developed the prayer of the rosary as a popular substitute for the Liturgy of the Hours. In the East, the litany called the Akathistos and the Paraclesis remained closer to the choral office in the Byzantine churches, while the Armenian, Coptic, and Syriac traditions preferred popular hymns and songs to the Mother of God. But in the Ave Maria, the theotokia, the hymns of St Ephrem or St Gregory of Narek, the tradition of prayer is basically the same. (§2678)

St Pope John Paul II also referred to him in his encyclical, Redemptoris Mater:

In his panegyric of the Theotokos, Saint Gregory of Narek, one of the outstanding glories of Armenia, with powerful poetic inspiration ponders the different aspects of the mystery of the Incarnation, and each of them is for him an occasion to sing and extol the extraordinary dignity and magnificent beauty of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Word made flesh.

With the formation of the Armenian Catholic Church St Gregory received his first liturgical veneration within the Catholic Church.   He has not been officially canonised by the pope.   Some have speculated that the declaration of Gregory as a Doctor of the Church might have served as an equipollent canonization (see more on this below). Others have simply stated that the recognition of the Armenian liturgy and liturgical calendar by the Catholic Church served as a confirmation of the cultus of saints in that rite.   Though it appears that he was placed in the Roman Martyrology, prior to the declaration on 12 April 2015.

St. Gregory’s proclamation as a Doctor of the Church was commemorated by the Vatican City state with a postage stamp issued 2 September 2015. 

Equipollent or equivalent canonisation

It should be noted that when Pope Benedict XVI declared St. Hildegard von Bingen as a Doctor of Church he used the process of equipollent or equivalent canonisation, as she also had not been formally canonised.   Even St Albert the Great was canonised in this fashion when he was declared a doctor of the Church in 1931 by Pope Pius XI.   Pope Benedict used this process of canonisation a few other times and Pope Francis has also done so.

‘When there is strong devotion among the faithful toward holy men and women who have not been canonised, the Pope can choose to authorise their veneration as saints without going through that whole process. … This is often done when the saints lived so long ago that fulfilling all the requirements of canonisation would be exceedingly difficult.’

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

[respectlifeperth-blog]

"The mystery of God hugs you in its all-encompassing arms." - St. Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church ✨ #catholicquote #christianquote #doctorofthechurch #sthildegard #sthildegardofbingen #godislove #lovegod #servegod #life #respectlife #faith #kingdom #christian #catholic #mystery #mysteryofgod #typography #lettering #hugs #peace

[windowinthesky88]

Posted @withregram • @oplaityeast St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us! The Novena begins today: say this prayer every day through April 28th, and join us for the conclusion on her feast day (April 29th) with the worldwide Dominican Rosary Rally! . . . . . #oplaity #laydominicans #stcatherineofsiena #novena #doctorofthechurch #orderofpreachers #thirdorderdominican #ordopraedicatorum #patroness https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NiWJmDuxf/?igshid=1t97p7f9gx5b9

[among-the-gently-mad]

Happy Feast of St. Teresa of Avila! 🙏🏼♥️ #SoloDiosBasta Waves Series 11 of ∞ : #shotoniphone #snapseed #vscoedit #everybreakingwave #mobiography #thatdrivesmeouttosea #thecatholicwoman #blessedisshe #catholicism #catholicwoman #doctorofthechurch https://www.instagram.com/p/B3mziq9h0og/?igshid=1sheoyvf9vtai

[wakingeve]

#saintjohnofthecross was born in 1542 Spain, a #Carmelite monk who was called by God to transform the order as saints before him had been called #saintFrancisofAssisi and #saintTeresaofAvila at a time when #wisdom and #fearoftheLord were waning in the Church. Saint John’s volume of work quickly became spiritual classics and the foundation of reform work making him recognized as a #DoctoroftheChurch. His great poem “The Spiritual Canticle” is rich with #meditations on the soul and God’s redeeming work in it. Laying out the journey of a soul, he writes: The soul...having grown aware of her obligations and observed that life is short (Job 14:5) the path to eternal life constricted (Mt 7:14) the just one scarcely saved (1 Peter 4:18) the things of this world vain and deceitful (Eccles 1:2) that all comes to an end and fails like falling water (2 Sam 14:14) and time is uncertain, the accounting strict, perdition very easy and salvation very difficult. She knows also the immense indebtedness to God for having creates her solely for himself and for this she owes him the service of her whole life; because he redeemed her solely for himself she owes him every response of love...an account of everything-of the beginning of her life as well as the later part-unto the last penny (Mt 5:26). She knows also that God is angry and hidden because she desires to forget him so in the midst of his creatures. Touched with dread and interior sorrow of heart she fears losing Him and renouncing all things, not delaying another hour, with sighs and deep desires, wounded now with love for God, she begins to call her Beloved and say: ‘Where have you hidden, Beloved, and left me moaning? You fled like the stag After wounding me; I went out calling you, but you were gone.’ Such consolations cannot be found in quick and rapid prayers but must be called out with deep sighs and groaning from a heart recollected to finding her Beloved. SPEND TIME WITH HIM TODAY. Sit and give him your heart’s Song of Songs. Cry out “Quench my troubles, For no one else can soothe them; And let my eyes behold You, For You are their light, And I will keep them for You alone.” #meditationswithsaints https://www.instagram.com/wakingeve/p/BvRono7gMuo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e7d14d7ba0ce

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Francis de Sales

Doctor of the Church

1567 – 1622

Feast Day: January 24 (New), January 29 (Trad)

Patronage: against deafness, authors, Catholic press, confessors, deaf people, educators, journalists, teachers, writers

Born to the nobility, St. Francis de Sales, who is known for his deep faith and patience, studied law and theology at the University of Padua, Italy, earning a doctorate in both fields. Bishop of Geneva in 1602. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation and authored many books, the most famous of which was Introduction to the Devout Life.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[ricisidro]

#ThursdayThoughts #ThursdayMotivation #Prayer #inspire #FeastDay #SaintOfTheDay #StAlberttheGreat, a.k.a. ‪St Albertus Magnus‬, scientist, philosopher, theologian, #DoctorOfTheChurch He is buried in the Dominican church in #Cologne, #Germany #God #HolySpirit #Bible #Saint #Quotes (at St. Andrew's Church, Cologne) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqNKJ7EF3TJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=116kcwlmno5nb

[shizelwannabe]

7 Des 17 • Santo Ambrosius doakanlah kami • Semoga Santo Ambrosius selalu menjadi teladan hidup nak lanang @my.ambro sepanjang hidupnya • Cerita kecil tentang Santo Ambrosius dimulai dari om Frater @carolus yang berkisah tentang Uskup Milan dan Pujangga Gereja... • • #Repost Happy Feast Day St. Ambrose Doctor of the Church 337-397 Feast day: December 7 Saint Ambrose, an early “Father” and #DoctoroftheChurch, was an educated #lawyer and a Roman governor of Milan, with wealth and prestige. In 374 he was elected #Bishop by popular demand, even though he was just a catechumen. From that point on he gave his wealth to the poor and for ransom. He learned #theology and #scripture from St. Simplican. At one point, he even excommunicated the Emperor Theodosius. He fought the #Arianheresy and pursued sanctity throughout his life. #StAugustine’s conversion is attributed to St. Ambrose’s reasoning and #logic. #Portraitsofsaints #StAmbrose #SaintAmbrose #Churchfather #Feastday #Saintoftheday #Patronsaint #DoctoroftheChurch #Catholicsaints #Catholicquotes #Saintquotes

[catholicpriestmedia]

"Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travellers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey." - #SaintAnthonyofPadua #SaintoftheDay #DoctoroftheChurch . Today, the Church celebrates 'The Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua [born Fernando Martins de Bulhões, in Lisbon, Portugal]'. #HappyFeastDay . 📷 A Centuries-old Wooden Crucifix/© Paolo Gallo/Stock Photo Secrets . . #SacredArtandImages #CatholicPriestMedia #Pray #Catholic_Priest #PrayNow #GreatFranciscanSaint . . . https://www.instagram.com/p/BypOcP_lJRT/?igshid=1agutrbtvl4ey

[cuandowhoknows]

It is not death that will come to look for me, it will be God. Death is not a ghost, a horrible spectrum, as depicted in the images. It is said in the catechism that death is the separation of soul and body. It is not more than that.

St. Therese of Lisieux