Catherine & Teresa: doctors of the church.

Twenty-five years ago, Paul VI broke precedent by declaring Catherine of Siena (1347-80) and Teresa of Avila (1515-82) "doctors" of the church. They are the only women so honored.

The tradition of naming doctors of the church began with Venerable Bede (d. 735), who described Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory as "significant interpreters" of the Gospel of Luke. The official designation "doctor of the church" came into vogue only centuries later, in 1295, when Boniface VIII instructed that the title be used of these "Latin doctors" in liturgical celebrations. In 1567, Pius V bestowed the title on Thomas Aquinas, and the following year on Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom (the four Eastern doctors). Over the centuries, some thirty doctors of the church, all male, all priests (except Ephraem the Deacon) were named.

In the eighteenth century, Prospero Lambertini (later Benedict XIV), in a treatise on the requirements for a doctor of the church, wrote that the candidate had to be outstanding for holiness and distinguised doctrinal teaching; only a pope or general council could make the declaration. Lambertini presumed that the honor was a male prerogative. That presumption, based on the Pauline epistles (I Corinthians 11:2-16; 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-15), had been reinforced by Aquinas when he argued that women could not be public teachers in the church. (Felipe Sega, the papal nuncio in Madrid at the time of Teresa, had called her "a restless and gadabout woman teaching as a mistress against the orders of Saint Paul."

In 1922, during the three-hundredth anniversary of Teresa's canonization, the University of Salamanca posthumously. conferred on her the degree doctor honoris causa, and the bishop of Avila asked Pius XI to declare her a doctor of the church. "Obstat sexus"--her sex stands in the way--was the papal response. But, the pope added: "I leave the delicate question to be decided by my successor.

Paul VI was that eventual successor and less than two months after the conclusion of Vatican II, he instructed the Congregation of Rites to investigate whether "the title and cult of doctor of the church [may] be granted to women, who by their holiness and outstanding doctrine have greatly contributed to the common good of the church." Cardinal Larrone, head of the congregation, charged a Carmelite, a Dominican, a Franciscan, and a Jesuit to study the question, and on December 17,1967, the congregation endorsed their positive response.

Uncharacteristically, Paul VI anticipated the decision. On October 15, 1967, Teresa's feast, he said we intend one day to accord her [Teresa I and Saint Catherine of Siena the title doctor of the church." And so he did, three years later on September 27, 1970, saving that he was "acknowledging" rather than "conferring" the title on her. A week later he celebrated Catherine's "charism of wisdom in the Holy Spirit." He noted that both doctors were deeply ecclesial women whose writings are Christian classics.

Since then too little attention has been paid to Paul's prophetic recognition. This twenty-fifth an niversary, should encourage more creative exploration of the role of women as teachers in the church.

Keith J. Egan teaches in the department of religious studies at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indian.