The Catholic Church has only named 38 total Doctors of the Church, spanning 2,000 years of Church history.
Beginning in the 13th century, various popes started naming particular saints as “Doctors of the Church.” This title is one of the rarest titles a Catholic saint can be given, as only 38 saints have ever been given such a special honor.
When compared to the thousands of saints who have been officially canonized, to be named a Doctor of the Church is indeed a rare appellation.
The official title Doctor stems from the Latin root word docere, meaning
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