Pope Leo XIV has paved the way for Saint John Henry Newman to be formally declared a 'Doctor of the Church'.
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The Pope > The Vatican > Bishops Conference > Statistics > Apostolic Nuncio > Seasons >In this section you will find a series of useful articles explaining what a ‘Doctor of the Church’ is and why Saint John Henry Newman’s teaching and wisdom not only resonated with his contemporaries, but still illuminates, instructs and inspires us today. Articles available:
What is a Doctor of the Church?, Faith, Reason, Conscience and Truth, Development of Doctrine, Sensus fidelium: Newman and the people of God, Education: Moral and intellectual ‘under one roof’, Scripture, the Fathers and Ecumenism, and Newman and Ecclesiology.
The principal author of these resources is Prof. Eamon Duffy with contributions from Fr George Bowen C.O., Br. Zachariah Heritage C.O., and Dr Chris Cimorelli from the National Institute of Newman Studies.
A ‘Doctor of the Church’ is a man or woman of great holiness and learning whose teaching and wisdom not only resonated with their own contemporaries, but still illuminates, instructs and inspires today.
Newman brought a new clarity and realism to Catholic thought about the relation between faith and reason.
Newman argued that Christianity, like all world-changing ideas or movements, needed time for its full understanding and perfection.
Newman never envisaged lay people teaching theology, but he thought they could and should study it, for he wanted a church in which faith and intellect were both valued.
Newman understood the importance of a both moral and intellectual formation of the human person.
Newman's most famous work is an autobiographical account of how he became to believe that the Church of England was “not part of the Catholic Church”.
Newman believed passionately that the Catholic Church “is the infallible oracle of truth” and wholeheartedly accepted all her teachings.
