CNSdoctors_10_10

Pope adds two saints to list of church ‘doctors’

By Francis X. Rocca

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict added a 16th-century Spanish priest and a 12th-century German abbess to the roster of doctors of the universal church.

The pope proclaimed the new doctors, St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen, at Mass Oct. 7 in St. Peter’s Square, where the thousands in attendance included pilgrims waving Spanish flags, and German nuns in traditional habits.

TAPESTRY SHOWING ST. HILDEGARD OF BINGEN HANGS FROM FACADE OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA — A tapestry showing 12th-century German abbess St. Hildegard of Bingen hangs from the facade of St. Peter's Basilica prior to the opening mass of the Synod of Bishops for the new evangelization in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 7. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

In his homily, Pope Benedict said that St. John, “a profound expert on the sacred Scriptures,” knew how to “penetrate in a uniquely profound way the mysteries of the redemption worked by Christ for humanity.”

Noting St. Hildegard’s knowledge of medicine, poetry and music, the pope called her a “woman of brilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognized spiritual authority. The Lord granted her a prophetic spirit and fervent capacity to discern the signs of the times.”

The doctors of the church, saints honoured for particularly important contributions to theology and spirituality, come from both the eastern and western church traditions.

The 35 doctors include early church fathers such as Sts. Jerome, John Chrysostom and Augustine, and theologians such as Sts. Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure and John of the Cross, but also St. Therese of Lisieux, who was honoured by Blessed John Paul II in 1997, despite her lack of scholarly accomplishment.

St. Hildegard is the fourth female doctor of the church, joining Sts. Therese, Catherine of Siena and Teresa of Avila.