Spiritual Reflections at, TX US - Doctors of the Church

NAMES AND FEAST DATES OF THE 33 DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH ST ALBERT 11/15 ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI 8/1 ST AMBROSE 12/7 ST ANSELM 4/21 ST ANTHONY OF PADUA 6/13 ST ATHANASIUS 5/2 ST AUGUSTINE 8/28 ST BASIL 1/2 ST BEDE, THE VENERABLE 5/25 ST BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX 8/20 ST BONAVENTURE 7/15 ST CATHERINE OF SIENA 4/29 ST CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA 6/27 ST CYRIL OF JERUSALEM 3/18 ST EPHRAEM 6/9 ST FRANCIS DE SALES 1/24 ST GREGORY NAZIANZUS 1/2 ST GREGORY THE GREAT 9/3 ST HILARY OF POITIERS 1/13 ST ISIDORE 4/4 ST JEROME 9/30 ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM 9/13 ST JOHN DAMASCENE 12/4 ST JOHN OF THE CROSS 12/14 ST LAWRENCE OF BRINDISI 7/21 ST LEO THE GREAT 11/10 ST PETER CANISIUS 12/21 ST PETER CHRYSOLOGUS 7/30 ST PETER DAMIAN 2/21 ST ROBERT BELLARMINE 9/17 ST TERESA OF AVILA 10/15 ST THERESE OF LISIEUX 10/1 ST THOMAS AQUINAS 1/28 THE DOCTORS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO SIX PERIODS FROM THE CURRENT MODERN ERA TO THE WESTERN ROMAN TIMES. EACH DOCTOR HAS A TITLE IN PARENTHESIS. 1 St Ambrose, 340-397 (Pastoral Doctor) 2 St Jerome, 345-420 (Doctor of Biblical Science) 3 St Augustine, 354-430 (Doctor of Grace) 4 St Gregory the Great, 540-604 (Doctor of Hymnology) EASTERN CHURCH DOCTORS 5 St Athanasius, 295-373 (Doctor of Orthodoxy) 6 St Basil the Great, 330-379 (Doctor of Monasticism) 7 St Gregory Nazianzus, 330-390 (Doctor of Theologians) 8 St John Chrysostom, 345-407 (Doctor of Preachers) EARLY CHURCH DOCTORS 9 St Ephraem, 306-373 (Doctor of Deacons and Poets) 10 St Hilary, 315-368 (Doctor of Christ's Divinity) 11 St Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387 (Doctor against Heresy) 12 St Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444 (Doctor of the Incarnation) 13 St Leo the Great, 390-461 (Doctor of Doctrine) 14 St Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 (Doctor of Homilies) 15 St Isidore, 560-636 (Doctor of Education) 16 St Bede, the Venerable, 673-735 (Doctor of English History) 17 St John Damascene, 676-749 (The Icon or Image Doctor) 18 St Peter Damian, 1007-1072 (Doctor of Reform and Renewal) MIDDLE AGE CHURCH DOCTORS 19 St Anselm, 1033-1109 (Doctor of Scholasticism) 20 St Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153 (Devotional and Eloquent Doctor) 21 St Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231 (Evangelical Doctor) 22 St Albert the Great, 1200-1280 (Doctor of Science) 23 St Bonaventure, 1217-1274 (Seraphic Doctor) 24 St Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274 (Angelic Doctor) 25 St Catherine of Siena, 1347-1379 (Doctor of Unity) COUNTER REFORMATION CHURCH DOCTORS 26 St Teresa of Avila 1515-1582 (Doctor of Prayer) 27 St Peter Canisius, 1521-1597 (Doctor of Catechetical Studies) 28 St John of the Cross, 1542-1591 (Mystical Doctor) 29 St Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621 (Doctor of Church State Relations) 30 St Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1622 (Doctor of Conversions and Missions) 31 St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622 (Doctor of Authors and the Press) MODERN ERA CHURCH DOCTORS 32 St Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787 (Morality and Marian Doctor) 33 St Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897 (Doctor of Confidence and Missionaries) DOCTORAL DATES AND REFERENCE NAMES Following is the list of Doctors of the Church, starting with their name(s), the Pope who proclaimed them and the date on which this occurred: 1-4: Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory the Great: Boniface VIII, September 20, 1295. 5: Saint Thomas Aquinas: Saint Pius V, April 11, 1567. 6-9: Saints Athanasius, Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, Saint John Chrysostom: Saint Pius V, 1568. 10: Saint Bonaventure: Sixtus V, March 14, 1588. 11: Saint Anselm of Canterbury: Clement XI, February 3, 1720. 12: Saint Isidore of Seville: Innocent XIII, April 25, 1722. 13: Saint Peter Chrysologus: Benedict XIII, February 10, 1729. 14: Saint Leo the Great: Benedict XIV, October 15, 1754. 15: Saint Peter Damian: Leo XII, September 27, 1828. 16: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: Pius VIII, August 20, 1830. 17: Saint Hilaire of Poitiers: Pius IX, May 13, 1851. 18: Saint Alphonsus Liguori: Pius IX, July 7, 1871. 19: Saint Francis of Sales: Pius IX, November 16, 1871. 20-21: Saints Cyril of Alexandria and Cyril of Jerusalem: Leo XIII, July 28, 1882. 22: Saint John Damascene: Leo XIII, August 19, 1890. 23: Saint Bede the Venerable: Leo XIII, November 13, 1899. 24: Saint Ephrem of Syria: Benedict XV, October 5, 1920. 25: Saint Peter Canisius: Pius XI, May 21, 1925. 26: Saint John of the Cross: Pius XI, August 24, 1926. 27: Saint Robert Bellarmine: Pius XI, September 17, 1931. 28: Saint Albert the Great: Pius XI, December 16, 1931. 29: Saint Anthony of Padua: Pius XII, January 16, 1946. 30: Saint Laurence of Brindisi: John XXIII, March 19, 1959. 31: Saint Theresa of Avila: Paul VI, September 27, 1970. 32: Saint Catherine of Siena: Paul VI, October 4, 1970. 33: Saint Theresa of Lisieux: John Paul II, October 19, 1997. To be Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church: Before the Pope can proclaim a person a doctor, they have to be a saint. It is a rare honor. Usually, it happens to a person who shows eminent(sound)holiness and a type of spirituality that is exceptional. The Pope proclaims such a person because of overwhelming support by the entire church. This saintly person has a powerful message, example and contribution that will benefit the church members. For that reason the Holy Father wants the whole church to know about this extraordinary person and proclaims the individual 'Doctor' of the church. The last proclaimed doctor was St. Therese, doctor of Confidence and Missionaries. RANK IN CHURCH OFFICE Next to the office of the Pope, the highest Church office is that of Cardinal. Cardinals are selected by the Pope and only a Cardinal elects a Pope. The Pope alone proclaims a Doctor. DATES AND PROCLAMATIONS BY STEPHEN BANYRA LISTED IN THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER NEWSPAPER ON 11/2/97 INCLUDING IN THIS INTRODUCTION IS INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES, SERVICE TO THE CHURCH AND INTERCESSION AND MOTIVATION TOWARD THE DOCTORS. It is always fitting to bless ourselves with the sign of the cross, to be enlightened and graced. The cross is the "Sign of our Salvation" and our means to sanctification and future glory. Signing ourselves allows us to enter into prayer. It also expresses our profession of faith that the doctors of the Catholic Church always encouraged. Christ lovingly embraced the cross in obedience to His Father's will and revealed His tremendous love for us. Crosses are inescapable, providential and central to Christianity. All ways lead to and from the cross. However, we typically and naturally avoid or flee from the cross because we follow our instincts and justify our behaviors. The doctors inform us that crosses come from all-friend or foe. They can come subtly from within us as memories and attitudes or outside from unexpected sources. Any cross can be a contradiction or a confrontation that unnerves us because we are often unprepared for it. It can appear hidden in pain, challenges or a host of trying circumstances. It is only with the practice and perseverance of virtues and graces bestowed that we will be able to understand and accept the cross as a part of God's plan for us. These wise doctors instruct us that a cross can be seen as beautiful, charming and brilliant light. Jesus' own words are that He is the Light, Way, Truth and Life. Only with faith and trust can we accept our crosses and only with love embrace them. Today's Church as an entity is stressing spiritual growth and balance, more than in the past. The universal call to holiness has always been the Church's efforts but now it is becoming more visible, known and shared. Gradually God's light penetrates the dark recesses of our minds. Perhaps through the intercession of the doctors, we can emerge from our cultural ignorance, malaise and insensitivity toward the whole of humanity in all cultures and circumstances. The Church can only change from within, never without. In our faithfulness to the Church we have monumental models in the prophets, patriarchs and especially the doctors. They espoused faithfulness in spite of all the odds, sins and reasons to give up their faith. More effective change will take place when sincere prayers are poured out by the faithful in order to please God. The whole movement of St. Therese's doctorship started from the grassroots level not from the top. Pope John Paul II has been most instrumental in announcing many new saints, more than any pope before him. However, he has not proclaimed any new doctors until most recently. This is not surprising since the act of proclaiming a doctor is rare, historical and significant. This generation is called to listen carefully to St Therese of Lisieux's words and advice. Her message to the Church is needed and contemporay. Her extraordinary confidence, trust and abandonment to the good pleasure of God are virtues that will enrich our lives when we practice them. As a powerful advocate for our times and future, we invoke her for spiritual guidance and favors. The only modern day doctor before St. Therese was born nearly three hundred years ago was St Alphonsus Liguori. Although some doctors have been proclaimed more recently, it sometimes took the Church more than 1000 years-a millennium- to proclaim a doctor. St Ephraem, the doctor of deacons, and the only married doctor, St Hilary, were not recognized as doctors until relatively recent. Both were born in the early 4th century. Today we are seeing these two roles in the Church, deacons and the married state, take an upsurge in the evolutionary growth of the Church. A modern element is noted in the fact that the last three doctors proclaimed by the Church were all women. Two in 1970 and one in 1998. God always provides the Church with the right leadership, examples and holiness that is needed. In addition to the two doctors of the Modern Era, the Church has six doctors from the Counter Reformation period, seven doctors from the Middle Ages, ten Early Church doctors, and four doctors from the Eastern Church. Our first four doctors were with the Western Roman World. We can now say that the thirty-three doctors represent the thirty-three years that Christ lived. Each year that Christ lived, He had unlimited messages to share with us. However, we only know His parables and words for the most part from His three public years. Yet, in those three years we can never exhaust the infinite meaning of His stories and truths. His inspired words are always packed with new depths each time we read and re-read them. It is as if we were reading them for the first time every time we meditate upon them. The doctor's brilliant intelligence, and God's use of them in the Church, highlight for us specific paths to follow and exact locations to pursue. Their bright and clear God-given talents have helped the Church and its members to stay on course for which God intended down through the centuries despite detours, misdirection, errors and when serious wrongs occurred. When schisms, controversies and heresies entered or attacked the Catholic Church, the doctors where there as captains of the helm helping to steer the bark of Peter away from shoals, running aground and shipwreck. These doctors are fascinating men and women who are masters of the spiritual life. They have been so designated to enable us to recourse to them and assist us in discovering more of God, as well as, enjoying God as we journey spiritually. Doctors are truly safe and trustworthy servants, as are all the saints. Much is to be gained if we follow, imitate and study these masters. Their unique contribution stems from their understanding and development of the Catholic faith. In nearly every area, the doctors were greatly influenced by the Holy Spirit to assist all God's creatures to achieve union and unity according to one's calling and God's good pleasure. The doctors' example and knowledge have unquestionably guided the Church and billions of individuals. God is the original and authentic source of leadership for the Church and all of God's people. He enlightened all the doctor's achievements. The infinite One guides and enlightens all human achievements. In fact no human achievement can be made that is pleasing to God without the Creator's gift and approval. These eminently wise doctors were not necessarily scholars who had a doctorate or completed a doctoral dissertation. Although most wrote extensively, writing by itself is not a requirement for being a doctor of the Catholic Church. The three original prerequisites for being declared a doctor were extraordinary spirituality or learning, eminent (unmatched) holiness and the Pope's declaration. However, the Church is always changing and at least two new requisites have been added. As all the saints abound with marvelous charity, so too do the doctor's goodwill appeal to others with their remarkable kindness. They were attracted to please God in all things because that was their primary purpose and pursuit. Many doctors centered their lives on art, science, theology or philosophy. Their generosity knew no bounds in instruction, counsel, reform and renew programs for young and old. Some had a passion for History, education, Church-state relations, Ecclesiology, monasticism, Mariology, missionary interest and social sciences. The positions and offices of the doctors both before and after they began their role within the Church consisted in but not limited to deacons, third order members, married, unbaptized adults, priests, nuns, religious, monks, governors, heads of state, lawyers, and medical students. Some doctors ministered in the area of evangelization, biblical research and writing on nearly all forms of Christian devotions from angels to Zen. There are doctors who produced literary masterpieces on prayer, mysticism and poetry. Others aimed for uniting and correcting people in top Church offices down to the peasants. Doctors cared sensitively for catechumens, candidates and those involved in catechesis for the faithful. They did not overlook writing hymns, songs and fashioned new liturgies to meet the needs and interest of God's people. Some focused totally in shepherding their parish, schools and communities. Others established, reformed and renewed religious groups. Some have labored in prisons, orphanages, hospitals and chaplaincy efforts. Doctors were called upon often to work on special projects and missions for the Holy Father. These included the bloody crusades, converting the infidels and heathens and placating Church rivals. There were many vicious attackers, internal problems within the Church and a host of complex issues unimaginable to contemporary times. Each doctor specialized in particular fields with the love of God and neighbor as their main goal and daily preoccupation. They impressed their followers and listeners with the belief and convictions that God was jealous for everyone's heart and mind. They were possessed with spiritual fire, compassion and deep concern for anyone especially the sinful, the poor and the infirm. Above all, they shared and assisted all that thirsted for God's boundless love and knowledge that they yearn to share. The doctors are not only saints; they were sages. They overwhelmingly adhere to the article "communion of saints" in our creed. In fact, they assisted in the formulation and wording of our creed. They learned from other doctors of their era. In fact, they often disagreed with other doctors of their own time. Because of their gifts, they inform and impart rich insights to us today and give confidences and dimensions for our spiritual journey. The doctor's messages impressed many. They spoke eloquently. Their mission and message were to imprint God's love, both forcefully and delicately, on whomever listened. They wanted all to be blessed and enriched. Their clarity of expression enlightened hidden perception and awareness. The hope they inspired gave new meaning and insight for those who lived previously. They give us new hope today. Future generation will benefit by their legacy because they leave behind followers impressed with God's Holy Spirit. Collectively, the doctors are wise guides to cling to because, as modern day seers, they can lead and direct us to know and perform good deeds, which will enable us to reach our spiritual destiny. As a compass, they point the way. They also serve, as charts and stars of old, to guide us in unknown and uncertain spiritual manners. To love and serve God and one's neighbor unreservedly daily is an art and science that requires astute discernment and guidance. Sin appears quite innocently but it is always possessed of pride. Sin steeps us in ignorance to mislead, seduce and punish us. The kindness of godless people is cruel. Doctors in themselves are different than doctors of the Church. Some did not want the Church to go in certain directions during their lifetime. For example, the doctrine and dogma of the Immaculate Conception was seriously opposed by some. However, they promoted Mary, Joseph's spouse, in their words, lives or writings. It must be apparent by now that there is a Divine Doctor overseeing and overruling everyone in order to guide the bark of Peter. The Church has a Helmsman who will guide the entire Church as a whole and no one can stop that movement. This movement can be compared with a symphony. The conductor of a musical score has a goal of not only producing the piece precisely but in completing each movement to its very completion. This happens even if during the score, there are some instruments not in sync or off-key with the others or, God forbid, get distracted, falter, pause or unexpectantly quit. The doctor's light, through the Holy Spirit, enlightens us with universal gems of wisdom for the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Their examples, contributions and achievements empower and sustain us not only intellectually and morally but also physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This empowerment enables us to think and behave more Godlike toward others and ourselves. The doctors were possessed and charged with enthusiasm from the Holy Spirit for future generations. They provided clear-cut knowledge and counsel beyond the boundaries of time, space and their own culture in which they lived. They reveal to us their spiritual and keen perspicacity. Their insights allow us to see not only physically but spiritually into the inward and unknown regions of the mind, spirit and soul. As flashes of light on the radar screen, the doctors can mesmerize us and instruct us into unknown areas beyond sense and sound. They penetrate into and beyond nature to the supernatural. This includes warning us of imminent dangers, collisions and any obstacles in our path which we are unaware because of our limited vision, weakness and sometime hostile forces both within us and around us daily. The influences of each and every doctor have changed the course of history and the Church with their efficacious language and words. With their contributions and examples, nations and people have benefited most significantly in many areas. As apostles, deacons, evangelists, fathers of the Church, virgins, founders, missionaries, prophets and patriarchs before them, doctors have been given the ability to captivate and lead others through their great leadership strengths from which all can be motivated. They tremendously inspire and motivate us to want to learn and love God more generously. Doctors are exemplary models for holiness. Knowledge of God, spiritual knowledge about the things of God and understanding of how to act godly, requires divine assistance. Doctors can support us in the mysterious working of the Spirit in preparation for union and unity with God and what the Almighty deigns in our behalf. This requires a lifetime of striving and searching and in being led and guided by providential influences both for others and us. When appropriate, we must trust others to aid us. We sometimes want to control others and do our own agenda. We must sometimes restrain ourselves and allow others to be themselves especially when it doesn't follow our own personal inclination. Delicate discernment is needed and it can only be gained by supplication to others and God's gift to us. The doctors of the Church are distinguished in helping us know not only our own personal growth and faith but also the Catholic faith as a whole. They show us the big picture of the Church and the little picture of ourselves as a part of that Church. By reading about their lives and their contributions one can gain a larger, more authentic reality of how we are integrated within the Church and the Church within each member of the "mystical body". This is a tremendous mystery. It does not contradict reason, and is only grasped by divine assistance because of our limited intelligence and narrow awareness. Reading about the doctors opens up mental and imaginary horizons regarding God's omniscience and a participation in that particular gift of God. An abundance of interior guidelines can be implanted within us and spiritual guidance can be gained through the intercession of the doctors of the Church. Not only prayers of petitions should be explored but praying with them to enhance our own insights with their very own vision as they enjoy God in the fatherland. Doctors can also give us assurances with matters that are too obscure to rationalize. As in most instances of faith, trust, acceptance, surrender and abandonment to God is often vital and necessary to be happy and attain close intimacy with God. Support, assistance, guidance and advice from spiritual guides, and other sincere, dedicated professionals who have the sincere interest of the individual, can be most helpful and necessary. Doctors learned and were open to others. We should too. The doctors can prepare us to pray, listen and reflect on God and the Almighty attributes. They are helpful not only for the beginning but the middle and end of the spiritual journey. Humility and obedience are the foundation steps and fundamental phases for daily spiritual growth according to all the doctors of the Church. Everyday (because we are human and frail) we should renew and fortify ourselves with prayer and accept our inevitable failures, weaknesses and sins whether they are deliberate or involuntary. The doctors of the Church provide us with ample counsel, which we need. Like the pole star, Polaris, their mission and message to us is scintillating as a most brilliant light amidst the huge display of God's stars- (The entire array of saints). The physical heavens are so vast. The most impressive stars are the major constellations--which are the doctors of the Church! Each one forms a group and our imaginations are inflamed with pictures and images that are real and almost lifelike. These flaming signs speak profusely about the awe and majesty of God and the Creator's infinite power, intelligence, wisdom and beauty. As we struggle with our vices in order to become more virtuous and as we meet the challenges and tough responsibilities ahead, we can be assured of their help if we ask for it. They were there first and they know of our anguishes and agonies if we but seek their assistance assiduously and perseveringly. In today's world there is suffering and pain galore. It is usually deplored because it seems that there is hardly ever any understanding or justifications for it. On the other hand, sincere Christians eagerly pray unselfishly for others and especially for their love ones who suffer from diseases or who are dying. Intercessions are continually offered up for all forms of depressions, anxieties, poverty, oppressions, addictions and many forms of violence, hatred, bigotry and injustices. We often ask God for miracles for the needs of our love ones and others. These are good and wholesome prayers to petition from God. God often grants us our requests when it is God's will and when we ask with faith in the holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What suggestions would the doctors of the Catholic Church advise us when insurmountable problems surround us? They would simply, categorically and unequivocally assure us that suffering for God is better than working miracles. This may sound strange but when it is acknowledged and sincerely carried out to the best of our ability, the Kingdom of God, within each of us, is not far. In reality, that awareness becomes more keenly experienced in an unimaginable manner that defies description or expression. It is this type of paradoxical statement or writing which the doctors have left us that is confusing and for which Christianity is sometimes hated and often misunderstood. It presents a tremendous dilemma for many and genuine wisdom is needed to interpret the full impact of the message. It is only in accepting our pain or suffering when it is unavoidable, and trusting in our little crosses which are inevitable, that we can possibly love the admonitions, advice and words of the doctors of the Church. They would exhort us to let Christ crucified be enough for us and with Him suffer and take our rest. This is positively the "stuff" that makes for heroic sanctity. In the final analysis, all the doctors did everything they could for God and others. What they could not do or were unable or unqualified to do, they entrusted to our God who cares for us in loving and inscrutable designs which we can not comprehend due to our limited intelligence. All the doctors of the Church enjoyed not only the gifts of the Spirit but also the fruits of the Spirit. Peace, joy and charity are profound fruits among many which God wants humanity to have, enjoy and share. Each doctor can provide powerful motivation. They inspire faith. Faith is not a fact. It is rather difficult to define. Faith is a substance we practice. We practice faith to obtain this substance, albeit, we do not earn it. It is a gift from God. The doctors can move us to want to practice faith. Why? Their good example encourages us to turn to God. Their words have the power to impart blessings. One of their personalities will match ours. This is very important because faith is necessary to please God. It may sound strange but it is impossible to please God without faith. There are many degrees of faith. The best is pure faith. It is not an ideal, fact or fantasy. It is real, alive, dynamic, powerful, filial and life sustaining. Pure faith, in the raw, is steeped in mystery, darkness and it tremendously challenges us daily. It is a hidden force and substance. It is a gift within us, around us and yet most invisible. We are called and urged to practice faith non-stop. It is less of an exercise than an ingrained attitude, habit and favor God bestows upon us often for no rime or reason. Faith is God's most extravagant gift with charity and hope. However, the more we exercise our faith, the more we are called to newer dimensions and depths. This requires more strength, patience and cooperation with God's help. To trust and surrender to God in faith is not always easy. We need motivation. Motivation tremendously urges us on. That is precisely how the doctors guide us. If faith were medicine, we should take exactly what the doctors have prescribed for us to attain spiritual health, wholeness and soundness. At times, the real "steam" or faith-energy or innermost strength seems to evade us. We have many visible manifestations of our faith. Certainly, we have the visible Church, her sacraments and the trappings of our faith. We should use everything to maximize us toward God. For more information about the visible Church, read The Church Visible by James-Charles Noonan, Jr. He vividly explains the ceremonial life and protocol of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a living testament to the universality, spiritual and grandeur of the post Vatican Church and an ideal companion to the doctrinal volume, The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Both will bolster, stir and enrich your faith. Each of us is more of a mystery unto ourselves than we are toward others. Because we are challenged daily by the flesh, the world and the devil, the three classical temptations, we need to practice virtue, gain daily strength and fortitude in order to grow into the divine embrace. This is where faith plays a vital part. All of our difficulties do not compare to the trials of the soul in pure faith. It is in darkness, distress and sometimes in the appearance of near desertion, that God puts us to the test. Occasionally, it is permitted, arranged and ordained by God that we sense emptiness and aloneness as Christ. Remember that cry of Jesus during His intense struggle on the cross when He uttered: My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me! Perhaps this cry was more of a statement than a question? This is because soon after saying these words, Jesus followed them by saying: Father, into Your Hands I commend My spirit. It seems that Jesus had experienced all the feelings of despair but not despair itself in order to identify with those who will experience that state of despair as He surely did. Sometimes, we sense that desertion. All of us really need help at times. God permits us to be pushed to our utmost limits to trust more. We need to be motivated, encouraged, guided and pushed along on the road of virtue to our heavenly crown. The doctors can greatly help us in times of arduous aridity in prayer, acute pain and sense of emptiness or meaningless. Their heavenly help will turn us around and give us confidence so that we can, as Jesus did, turn to our heavenly Father and say: into Your hands we surrender our spirit despite all of our distress. We too, as Jesus, with the help of the doctors, can overcome the devil, the entire forces of evil-his cohorts living in hell with raging hatred and darkness of spirit. As many things often rage to beat us down into despair and hopelessness, our faith and hope in God will not betray us if we remain loyal. As they come crashing down upon us, we will gain confidence to trust in the mercy of God despite all the odds against us. In spite of our own feelings, hostile forces, intense pain and oppression, disabilities and poor health, we will triumph because God will be our strength. A key element with all the doctors is their strong and gentle insistence on fasting, almsgiving, and above all, on the major importance of daily prayer. In fact, one prayerful thought can be of more value than the whole world. The doctors of the Church offer a powerful and peaceful message to move the sinner, enlighten the ignorant and heal us with God's inexhaustible love. The final word on the doctors as you prepare to read about them is, please, remember that the Church boldly and proudly announces the Christ-likeness She sees in each. Every time a new doctors is infrequently declared to the world, the Church proclaims a powerful, spiritual message for all to hear. God is saying: how is my Spirit revealing My Christ to you through my servant? What more can we learn about God through His servants? New generations need new truths and insights to cope with new problems, challenges and the battles of life. God's goodness is always bestowing favors and blessings. Although the Gospels have all the "good news", the doctors, through the Spirit, breathed life into its pages. There is nothing new under the sun but the wisdom of God cries out daily in the streets for each of our lives. God intimately wants to share His glory with each of us, to be at peace and, permit ourselves to share the life and beauty of God with others. A new depth, dimension and perception about God are revealed through the holiness of each doctor. They offer a wisdom that is totally Christ-like. It has little to do with age, education, work or profession. Rather, the individual reflects Christ-likeness in their charity, fear of God and commitment to God. The person reveals a faithfulness to one's conscience, tradition and the obeying of laws with sincerity, truthfulness and absolute honesty. Their behavior and countenance reflects joy, peace and kindness. They exhibit a marvelous and wholesome attitude that is unselfish and caring. The holiness and spirituality of each doctor are something you know when you read, see, or hear about it. You can recognize and experience it instantly. It is God's wisdom and presence alive and visible. It is caught and not taught! It infuses and imparts immediately! It is a gift from the Giver of all good gifts. The wonder and wisdom of all the doctors are intimate, personal and delicate. You sense their closeness and they touch you personally. It is a quality one knows instinctively because it can not be hidden. Although most of us have never been in the actually presence of any living doctor, their examples and charisma lives and breathes in the Church. She bestows it on all her children and those who petition the doctors. That is why prayer-petitioning is vital and tremendously inspiring. The doctor's gifts break forth like subtle lightning into your soul and spirit when we are prepared and cry to them. God's light through their intercession can go straight through you in a flash. You hardly recognize what happened but you definitely understand something, suddenly, took place. They are also like lightning-rods that take powerful charges from above to protect others below. All the saints and the doctors are protectors for us to say nothing about God's angels and especially our guardian angels. They willingly and eagerly take "hits" for others through sacrifices, sufferings and surrendering up to God good pleasure. They are "hit" people. Collectively, the doctors are spiritual martyrs, victims and impassionate lovers of humankind. None were actual martyrs. They have a spiritual power and command that warrant great respect because of the great benefit, legacy and grace we receive from their holy lives and examples. The Church's gift of each doctor is exactly that: a precious gift. SPIRITUAL READING AND PRAYING WITH THE DOCTORS It is the Spirit of hope and assurances that these doctors will impart to you. As one reads and prays, God will reward us. By practicing virtue, good example and acting as the doctors, out lives will be inundated with peace of soul. Perfect prayer is ‘resting in God’. This phrase, resting in God, does not mean waiting or ‘hanging’ around and being passive. Rather, this state of prayer can be most active, intense and involved. Within this particular prayer domain, one acts and is acted upon; an individual is both active and passive. The individual is talking spiritually and listening. The gifted recipient is plunged into a life of the Spirit that isn’t easy to explain. The person’s human body and soul becomes acutely aware of God and is serenely blessed and favored. This‘state’ can also be felt as a contradiction and a challenge because new missions and responsibilities are perceived as never before. For example, as human beings, we are made to live fully each moment and we do this by breathing each second in a conscious state. However, at the same time, each and every second of our life, we are also experiencing an ever so slow dying both bodily and spiritually. The physical dying is natural and normal but the spiritual is supernatural enabling us to be more generous with God and unselfish. Our physical heart has one less heartbeat with each passing moment but our spiritual appetite and our thirst for God becomes more insatiable and desirous of pleasing God. One of the beatitude is: blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice… God moves us continually. However, our feelings, inclinations, moods and emotions cause us, sometimes, to move away from God rather than toward God. In short, our praying, thinking and reading often conflict and interact with our intention, awareness and our feelings. Most people’s attention-span causes them to have difficulty or uneasiness as they prepare to pray by reading or after they are actually engaged in prayer. Therefore, they do not wholeheartedly engage in prayer readily or are not exactly aware of what is happening. Because of this, some deliberately shun prayer, minimize it or place a low priority on it because of its challenges. Distractions are quite normal when one prays. In fact, St Teresa, who is considered the doctor of prayer, is a great example for explaining prayer with reading. She usually had a book at her side in preparation for prayer. When she was engaged in prayer and her mind began to wander, she would turn to spiritual reading to become focused again. This kept or minimized her from being distracted. This happened frequently because of her responsibilities and normal weariness of the body. This activity helped her to become rapt or attentive in prayer once again. Reading is a very important preparation for prayer. Always have a book or something to read with you to limit distractions. For some, a method or approach can be helpful. One reading approach may be to discover the doctor's speciality. You might want to know what was their particular mission or legacy for which they were most noted. Perhaps, you might ask yourself what examples of their holiness or lifestyles match or align your own background? For example, St Therese, who is considered the doctor of missionaries, may have something in that area particularly for you. Your whole concept of what a genuine missionary is may change. You may see missionary work from a different perspective. The more insights one gains from reading, the greater our capacity to stay focus. The doctors are profound lovers, thinkers and doers of God’s work for humanity. They definitely offer a distinct spirituality and profound message. They act as a sign and perhaps a siren to alert you of changes, new insights or different attitudes to assume in order to please God. Read between the lines and ask for their extraordinary intercessory powers as you read. God is a most powerful Force with attributes and properties beyond our wildest imagination. If we give our attention to God, the Powerful One will reciprocate and hold our attention and keep it fixed on Himself to nourish and amaze us. As a powerful magnet which draws metal shavings to itself, our eternal, magnetic Force will draw us to Himself much more powerfully and infinitely more than natural forces. The entire universe can not handle God’s glance. To set apart a predetermined time with God for spiritual reading, reflecting or praying is most praiseworthy, pleasing and a gift from God. For that reason, praying is eminently special to pursue vigorously. Although God can use anything or anyone to radiate His goodness and gifts to us, the Almighty has bestowed favors through holy personages in history and through their intercession for others. The doctors of the Church are designated by providence in a most distinctive and definitive manner for all. Through them, extraordinary blessings and privileges will be bestowed on those who wholeheartedly seek them. Therefore, to repeat, as you read and learn about the doctors, expect and hope that you will be enlightened. As you read, if it is helpful, make notes on any word, phrase or sentence from the doctor’s life that ‘turns you on’. Pause over any meaning or words that strikes or impresses you. Don’t hesitate to reflect, write or type about what you are experiencing at that particular moment when you are reading. Writing is communication and expression, as prayer, and it can take many forms. This type of activity need not be a distraction but an attraction to be united with God and allows sharing your ideas with others. Spiritual reading’s main objective is not necessarily to gain knowledge as much as to move you to experience God in wonder, conversation and personal intimacy such as ‘resting’, kissing and spiritual touching. Lovers or engagers want to discover and to know one another on many levels. This takes time, sensitivity and exquisite care to develop and master. This fact is true in the many details of human involvement. How much more is it true in divine and supernatural engagement where there are many words, feelings and movements involved. This involvement can be with many individuals and with God. Love is not only lovemaking. Rather, love is a delicate and precious art, passion and consuming interest and activity between two or more caring persons. It is a constant discovering of unlimited dimensions never before experienced, known and begun anew. That is why all romances are delightful and honeymoons are exciting. It involves newer depths, exploration and rich discoveries. As on the human level, so too, on the supernatural level, these findings and activities are not lasting or nonstop. The only permanent thing on earth is change. In heaven, God’s love is permanent, pervasive and phenomenally passionate. Genuine prayer is consummate lovemaking and total, sensitive sharing. Sincere prayer will reinvigorate and restore what we want, lack or need to do God’s will. Praying can be conducted not only in the act itself but when one is reading, sleeping, singing, working, writing or whatever. The“morning offering” prayer, at the beginning of the day, is most pleasing to God. A prayer to one’s guardian angel arms us with supernatural support, strength and power. Why? It reminds one of our angel’s power and commission by God to protection us and establishes for us more possibilities for interior conversation and dialogue with one who is ever so near and dear. It, thus, gives us more assurance of that coverage, fills us with hope, unites us and fortifies us. Thus, praying is a form of reading and reading is a form of praying. If you are inclined to write or type notes as you read, act as God moves you. Don’t hesitate to read the doctors again and again as the Spirit moves you. Re-read any doctor not to gain knowledge necessarily as to inspire you daily and continually. When God absorbs one in prayer, you can muse over a single word for hours and never become tired or weary. Teenagers are notorious for getting ‘bored’. The main reason for this phenomenon is perhaps they are not totally engaged or do not prefer the practice of prayer. We do not need to feel like praying in order to pray. We pray, authentically, when we want to, regardless how we feel. Those who maintain and persevere in prayer will discover abundant fruit and appeasement. They will find in this fruit spiritual sweetness, juiciness and deliciousness. It will be most engrossing and we may experience being in a reverie or daydream state. The closest comparison I can associate with it is a divine and human romance. Therefore, if you give your attention to God, the Creator will reciprocate towards you in a fascinating manner-like nothing you have ever experienced or are prepared to receive. Each and every experience in prayer can be newer, deeper and more fascinating than the previous event. Be assured that praying is always a special event in God’s eyes and He doesn’t forget. It is impossible to fathom or grasp. That is why it is important that we should remind God to remember all the good we do especially our prayer time. He treasures this! This is done for us to remember to return to prayer frequently and not for God to recall because He has perfect memory. There is really no reason for God’s extravagant love. It goes beyond prudence, good taste or truth. God’s love for each creature is intense, personal and generous. It goes outside the norms. It is as an ordered infatuation. However, God’s intelligence and power superbly orders and administers all supernatural gifts with infinite wisdom and grace. Not even the angels can penetrate this relationship. It is sacred, intimate and remarkably blissful. I am reminded of what St Peter stammered out at the scene of the transfiguration when Jesus spoke with Moses and Elias on Mount Tabor.“ Lord,” he said, “ it is good for us to be here.” Happy relationships, human and divine, places us on “cloud nine”. Attention or focusing on God is perhaps more of God’s gift to us then it is our gift to God. Prayer is very simple and therefore we are not talking about focusing our attention in the sense of discursive reasoning. We are talking instead about God’s movement and motion (which are always unpredictable and mysterious) on our attention and awareness of God’s presence. To comprehend God’s presence is a great and glorious gift. We can’t make it happen. However, we can help prepare for it to happen. Spiritual reading can help greatly. God never forces us against our will. When we surrender our will to God and attempt to focus on the Almighty in prayer, amazing things happen. God lovingly enables us to “rest in Him” in prayer. We then arrive ‘at’ the presence of God. Many books have been written on this topic. Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite, has written beautifully about this topic and the book is entitled: The Presence of God. Lawrence tells us that continual conversation with God is sweeter and more delightful than any other way of living in this world. One of Lawrence’s book is Walking with the Fathers-Wisdom from Brother Lawrence. Calling The Word Among Us Press at 1-800-775-9673 can purchase it. Human nature is often restive, resistant and rebellious without grace. When we are ‘resting in God’, God’s grace overcomes our resistance to prayer by the exertion of divine power, strength, wisdom and blessings. We take on enormous ‘staying power’. We are fortified, reinforced and become impervious to harmful or spiritual interference. Some may wonder how ‘spiritual’ things can be harmful. Good and bad angels are spiritual beings who can wield spiritual influences upon us in addition to our less than virtuous thoughts, words and actions. At times, we may grasp or receive flashback of our entire previous life-our virtues and vices. These can thrill us or disgust us. We always have need of God’s protection. We need daily protection. Why? Prayer for some is the most difficult discipline in one’s life. Many of us will do anything before being engaged in prayer. We flee from prayer often. Why? It’s because of our nature and the supernatural. We can’t always perceive it but life is, at times, a spiritual warfare. The devil knows how powerful prayer can unite us to God. Therefore, he would have us being busy doing things than being involved in communication with God. Many of us want to work for God instead of being with God. We feel we accomplish more that way. God’s gifts, however, called grace, reduces our stress, duress and friction. God is a splendid, radiant Person that helps reduce violence, pressure and constraint when we face challenges or conflicts and when we turn to the Supreme Being. That is why prayer is so important; it recharges and transforms us with God’s energies and enthusiasm. Prayer engenders charity as we pray and remains with us to be charitable outside of prayer. Charity makes everything a temple. Inside the temple there is God. If we show our charity and love one another as Jesus would have us, the entire earth would be a temple. The greater is our life’s struggles, the greater our need to abandon ourselves to God in prayer. God will sustain us with divine courage and strength especially when we should be charitable when it is most difficult to practice charity. God’s love will activate, move and drive us to please the Deity and others too, when we are sincere. To do God’s will is to please God in every manner. It is then, we can say with Jesus: I do everything that pleases My Father. Jesus did not teach the Our Father to the apostles immediately. He waited for the right time. Saints and doctors down through the ages have found in this prayer everything they ever wanted to know about God. It is the most succinct and perfect prayer and volumes have been written about it. We can always fall back on this prayer in ‘dry’ times or if we prefer to engage in it regularly as many do. Catholics say the Our Father together at mass daily. When customs allows, they hold each other’s hand. During this event, we are easily reminded how God touches us daily. The act of touching can be transforming, tender and thrilling. Our faith assures us that we are the actual body of Christ. Even if we are alone we can extend our hands and hearts in spirit to touch the homeless, naked, despairing, dying, jobless, sick, sinners and those most in need of God’s mercy. Hopefully our spiritual work of mercy will turn to corporal works of mercy when we act out our vocation in whatever responsibilities we have. Lastly and most importantly, spiritual reading and praying with the doctors offers a wise and gentle prescription for spiritual health, wholeness and sanctity. Therefore, always approach spiritual reading in a spirit of reverence and expectation. Some brief comment on Doctors and Saints follow. SAINTS AND DOCTORS There are many saints who are extraordinary models for all. For example, St Thomas More was married, a widower, lawyer, remarried man, father, judge, writer, prisoner and martyr. He is truly a person for all seasons. Thomas More was highlighted in a movie entitled "The Man for all Seasons" which won all the academy awards including the best picture of the year. St Thomas possessed exceptional holiness. He lived a heroic and courageous life giving up his family because of his values for the Church and principles. He could have walked away from death. He is worthy of imitation for many Christians. His writings and example of Christ is praiseworthy. That is the reason he is a saint of God. All the saints have similar niches in the Church. Most saints, as St Thomas More, are not doctors. Due to global requests outpouring, on October 31, 2000, the Pope declared Thomas More, in an unprecedented proclamation, patron of statesmen and politicians. Doctors of the Church are saints. The Church chooses to designate this specific category to aid its members to grow in wisdom and become holy by their lives. By looking within this category we will gain a rich insight into our faith and heritage. It will enable us to become happier and love God's creatures as God would have us. The doctors are almost a vanishing breed. They are proclaimed so seldom. We had only one in the modern era before St Therese. Now we have two. However, by probing deeply into their lives and the circumstances in which they lived, the doctors will reveal a type of courage and love for the Church and others which is unmatched. However, none were martyred such as St Thomas More. St Margaret Clitherow, also called St Margaret of York, is another exceptional model. She gave up her husband, children, relatives and everything she possessed because of her great love for God's Church. Margaret did not performed this holy sacrifice directly for God. She did it for strangers. Her high degree of piety and wisdom from the Holy Spirit inspired her to harbor priests in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century. Catholicism was severely repressed and forbidden during this time in England. The Catholic faith gave her great comfort and substance. She could not find this kind of meaning and truth elsewhere. Margaret was a convert to the Catholic Church and clung to her faith, her family and her God. They loved her dearly. She was able to distinguish what God was asking of her and she cooperated because of her ardent charity. Margaret did not have to die. However, she was a woman of principle and was inspired by God to take the right action. During this period there was intense hatred for the Catholic Church. She was accused of hiding Jesuit priests and allowed them to say the holy sacrifice of the Mass. This fact eventually became known. She went to prison on three separate occasions. Once she was incarcerated for over a year. She accepted her imprisonment and made the most of it through prayer and setting good example. She would not give up her faith or fail to practice it to the highest degree possible despite the pleading of her dear husband and relatives. The vindictiveness and meanness of others even accused her of sleeping with others and other"harlotries" in an attempt to break her holy spirit. Her purity and charity for God and others, especially the Church, was extraordinary. She was finally put to death by being crushed by stone as a martyr for her faith. Before she uttered her last word, Jesus, she prayed for the Church and its leadership. She did not forget to pray for Queen Elizabeth. She asked God to help her return her to the true Church. (See lives of the Saints) As St John Vianney is considered the universal patron of priests, Margaret of York might be consider the patroness of priests. Her heroic sacrifice for priests and their holy office of saying mass is extraordinary. She trusted in the sacrament of Jesus' holy sacrifice, said by priests, through the Catholic mass, to be perpetuated. Her children, through her holy example, entered the Church as a nun or priests after she was put to death. There are many patron saints. St Vincent de Paul is the Universal Patron of Charities. Charity is the most important of all the virtues because it makes us resemble God in our thoughts, words and actions. Thousands of groups worldwide practice the spiritual and corporeal works of mercy which the Society of Vincent de Paul wholeheartedly endorsed. The Church has honored thousands of men, women and children as saints. Known only to God, there are untold numbers of saints not recognized by the Church. Your mother and father or one of your relatives might be more precious to you than all the known saints together. Don't dare forget to pray and petition to Almighty God for your loves ones. Cry to God to help you remember those who you have forgotten, those relatives who died when you were too young to remember. Ask your family about the names on family tombstones you can't recall. Plead with your God to help you cherish those who have enabled you to live and love. The only sad thing about life is not having loved enough. Love to remember and remember to love. Doctors are nearly forgotten. Because of the age of the Church, we have a tendency to look upon more modern saints rather than the doctors for guidance in matters of faith, morality and love for the Church. This is natural but the more contemporary saints often looked to the doctors for advice, support and love for the Church. Within the Church, another category of dying breeds, or the nearly forgotten, are the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Few of us remember all the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Why? They belong to the early middle ages. Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM, has written a succinct and powerful book entitled The Fourteen Holy Helpers. They are tremendous helpers to the needy, as their history will reveal. By reflecting on our inheritance, heritage, descendants, ancestors and holy personages from its beginning we will appreciate, treasure and cherish our faith and the important role each played for us and the Church. Predating the Catholic Church, we have the patriarchs and prophets. Afterwards came the apostles and early followers of Jesus, martyrs and missionaries (then and now). Then came the early fathers of the Church. Always go to the sources for enlightenment, authenticity and the best spirituality possible. The Catholic Almanac, listed in the sources, provides a clear distinction between the doctors, fathers and apostolic fathers. The principal writings of each doctor are listed. This particular website will focus only on the doctors of the Church in the hope that our faith be prized, rekindled and deeply valued. When moved by God, the Church will proclaim more doctors so that our faith will be rejuvenated with God's burning love. They have left us a noble legacy that is steeped in the traditions, culture, legends and history of our Church since the time of Jesus Christ. The Church has many holy people who have contributed to her growth who are ecclesiastical writers and holy but are not doctors. The book entitled Beacons of Light, which is listed in the sources, contains many. Reading about the doctors will allow one to discover new aspects about God. It will allow one to discover God again. Our Creator is so infinite that eternity will not be long enough to explore the Almighty One. Henri de Lubac's book entitled, The Discovery of God, belongs to a retrieval and renewal group of books in Catholic thought. The subject is ressourcement or a rediscovery of the riches of the whole of the Church's two thousand-year traditions. Thinking about the doctors will help one to return to the original sources of Christian faith for the purpose of drawing out the meaning and significance of those sources for knowing, living and enjoying God's life differently. Lubac, who died in 1991, was a cardinal named by the pope and quotes extensively many of the doctors. All can know and enjoy God without reading theological or philosophical books that may appear "dry". These brief pages on each doctor-two or three pages on average- will hopefully add new dimensions about God's love. Each doctor reflects some particular aspects of Christ's rich treasury of wisdom and knowledge for our edification and happiness.

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