Women of Faith: Meet the Four Female Doctors of the Church Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Women-of-Aith-Meet-the-Four-Female-Doctors-of-the-Church Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Women-of-Aith-Meet-the-Four-Female-Doctors-of-the-Church Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 5, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents The title “doctor of the church” is granted to saints in the Roman Catholic Church whose writings and teachings are of particular importance. Considered to be altogether holy, heroic, and learned, doctors of the church have advanced the church’s knowledge of God, especially as Christ. Of the 37 saints who have been formally proclaimed a doctor of the church, four have been women. Here are the stories of these four remarkable mystics. Born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada in Ávila, Spain, the woman who would become the first female doctor of the church defied her father’s wishes when she entered ...(100 of 802 words)

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