Doctor of the Church

Dubbed the “Harp of the Holy Spirit,” the “Column of the Church,” and “Sun of the Syrians,” St. Ephrem (feast day: June 9) is revered not only by Roman Catholics, but by Eastern Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Christians as well.

A great defender of the faith, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (feast day: June 28), was a student of St. Polycarp, who was a direct disciple of St. John, the apostle. Even St. Augustine cited Irenaeus as among the “famous and brilliant holy teachers of the Catholic truth.” 

One of the most recent Doctors of the Church, St. John of Ávila (feast day: May 10) was the spiritual director to many future saints, including St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Ávila, and St. John of God.

Saint Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church (feast day: Dec. 21), travelled more than 20,000 miles on horseback during his years of ministry and essentially renewed the Catholic faith in Germany. When he was once criticized for doing too much, he responded, “If you have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all.”

We go to the doctor for our bodies, but this Doctor can help you with your soul. Meet St. John of the Cross, feast day Dec. 14, one of the great masters of prayer and the life of the soul.

Follow God's example. Love Mary and trust her with everything you've got.

It is that humility and God's grace which made Bonaventure a simple saint.

In an age of intellectual pride and great confusion of mind and heart, let us turn to St. Thomas Aquinas for his intercession.

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi taught that all other honors of Our Lady flow from one key truth: she's the Mother of God.