Is There a Doctor in the House?

ByKnight

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.” -John 16:13

Last Friday, we celebrated the feast of St. Augustine and, next Thursday, we celebrate the feast of St. Gregory the Great. They are two of the first five “Doctors of the Church” (together with Sts. Ambrose, Jerome and Athanasius) declared by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298. They are not “doctors” because of any medical expertise. Rather, they are Doctors because of their lasting and profound theological writings.

There are currently 38 Doctors of the Church. Becoming a Doctor of the Church requires:

  1. Significant theological contributions through writing, sermons and study;
  2. Canonization as a saint; and
  3. Formal papal or ecumenical council proclamation.

St. Augustine, the “Doctor of Grace” and one of the two greatest theologians of the Church (along with St. Thomas Aquinas), is cited more than any other ecclesiastical writer in the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support numerous doctrines of our faith. St. Gregory, the “Father of Christian Worship,” standardized the Roman liturgy while also firmly defending orthodox teaching, strengthening papal authority and promoting missionary and monastic life. Pope St. Paul VI declared Sts. Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena the first female Doctors in 1970. On All Saints Day in 2025, Pope Leo XIV declared our most recent Doctor, St. John Henry Newman.

So when you feel spiritually lost or ailing, know that there are Doctors in the House of God and ask these Doctors to intercede for you to gain the guidance and healing you need from the Holy Spirit.

Help Wanted: Picnic Volunteers

The Parish Picnic is fast approaching (Sunday, September 13th) and we need your help! Countless tasks go into a successful picnic, including setup, greeting parishioners, preparing and serving food, running games, cleanup and more. Any help you provide contributes to an amazing day! To volunteer, go to www.cheshirekofc.org. Experience the joy that comes from knowing you had a hand in making this a phenomenal picnic!

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