(Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the othodoxy of their theological teaching; "the Doctors of the Church greatly influenced Christian thought down to the late Middle Ages"

a category of theologian used in Roman Catholicism

a Saint particularly recognized for his or her contribution to some aspect of Christian Theology

a title given by the popes to acknowledge certain saints whose outstanding writing and preaching has been of great value to the Church, even if their writings are not free from all error

A Catholic saint considered so preeminent in his or her knowledge of the Faith as to be considered a worthy teacher for all Catholics and explicitly named a doctor by decree of the Pope.

In Catholicism, a Doctor of the Church (Latin doctor, teacher, from Latin docere, to teach) is a saint from whose writings the whole Christian Church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom "eminent learning" and "great sanctity" have been attributed by a proclamation of a pope or of an ecumenical council. This honor is given rarely, only posthumously, and only after canonization. No ecumenical council has yet exercised the prerogative of proclaiming a Doctor of the Church.