Articles
St. John Henry Newman, a Future Doctor of the Church
June 7, 2025
The saints possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit to a high degree. In some, the gifts of understanding the mysteries of God and of knowledge are expressed through speech and writing in an outstanding manner. Such individuals are considered and called teachers of the faith, as they expound upon its mysteries with simplicity and clarity, making them accessible to the majority of people.
A Doctor of the Church is a saint whose teachings are distinguished by their depth and clarity, often encompassing multiple areas of Christian doctrine. Over the centuries, the Church has acknowledged certain individuals renowned for their learning and holiness. As of 2025, there are 37 Doctors of the Church. Nine were added in the 19th century, four in the 20th, and five thus far in the 21st century: St. John of Ávila (2012), St. Hildegard of Bingen (2012), St. Gregory of Narek (2015), and St. Irenaeus of Lyon (2022).
These men and women teach the faith with humility, acknowledging that they convey truths received and trusting in the deposit of faith handed down from the Apostles. In a brief meditation, St. John Henry Newman articulates this conviction:
“Come, O my dear Lord, and teach me in like manner. I need it not, and do not ask it, as far as this, that the word of truth which in the beginning was given to the Apostles by Thee, has been handed down from age to age, and has already been taught to me, and Thy Infallible Church is the warrant of it. But I need Thee to teach me day by day, according to each day’s opportunities and needs.”
Like all the saints, he prayed to God for the gifts of understanding, knowledge, and counsel:
“I need Thee to give me that true Divine instinct about revealed matters that, knowing one part, I may be able to anticipate or to approve of others. I need that understanding of the truths about Thyself which may prepare me for all Thy other truths—or at least may save me from conjecturing wrongly about them or commenting falsely upon them.”
Newman sought to possess that “divine instinct,” impressed upon the early saints of the Church and embraced by its appointed shepherds:
“I need the mind of the Spirit, which is the mind of the holy Fathers, and of the Church by which I may not only say what they say on definite points, but think what they think; in all I need to be saved from an originality {380} of thought, which is not true if it leads away from Thee. Give me the gift of discriminating between true and false in all discourse of mind.”
(Meditations and Devotions, 379–380)
The Church has often been compared to a hospital, and a hospital has doctors. When one is ill, they seek a good doctor. Similarly, the Church has its doctors who diagnose the spiritual ailments of humanity and society, offering remedies rooted in divine wisdom.
To be declared a Doctor of the Church, a saint must meet three criteria: eminent learning (eminens doctrina), a high degree of sanctity (insignis vitae sanctitas), and a formal proclamation by the Church (Ecclesiae declaratio). The process typically begins when a national conference of bishops or multiple conferences petition the Holy See for the declaration. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, along with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, then studies the request. If the findings are favorable, the Pope makes the final decision and issues a proclamation.
Such a declaration benefits the faithful by highlighting the saint’s teachings and encouraging devotion. The Doctor is added to the Church’s universal calendar. Moreover, recognizing a Doctor underscores the Church’s vitality and the Holy Spirit’s ongoing guidance. Doctors contribute to the Church’s teaching tradition, alongside ecumenical councils, papal teachings, episcopal teachings, and the writings of other saints, by elucidating divine revelation and aiding doctrinal development.
Most Doctors of the Church have been declared centuries after their deaths. St. Alphonsus Liguori was declared a Doctor 84 years after his death in 1787, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux was declared 100 years posthumously. If St. John Henry Newman were declared a Doctor this year, it would be 145 years since his passing.
Numerous scholars have advocated for Newman’s recognition as a Doctor of the Church. His sanctity was affirmed with his canonization in 2019. His profound learning has been acknowledged by theologians throughout the 20th century. Newman’s significant contributions to Church teaching include his insights on the development of doctrine, conscience, the interplay of faith and reason, and ecclesiology. These contributions will be explored in a subsequent discussion.
Just as the Baseball Hall of Fame honors the sport’s greatest figures, the Doctors of the Church represent the “all-stars” of Catholic teaching—though their impact is far more profound. England has two Doctors: St. Anselm and the Venerable Bede. Will St. John Henry Newman join their esteemed ranks? Perhaps the more pertinent question is: when will the Church declare Newman a Doctor? Each era has its unique needs, and it will be up to Pope Leo XIV or a future pontiff to determine the most opportune moment for such a declaration.
