Out of the 38 doctors of Church, three of them spent most of their life and ministry in England, providing the Church with important developments in a variety of fields.
Beginning in the 13th century, popes began singling out specific saints who were exemplary teachers in various theological or spiritual topics. These holy men and women were given the official title of "Doctor," which stems from the Latin root word docere, meaning "to teach."
The following saints from England were great teachers and their writings continue to guide many theologians in their work today.
St. Bede the Venerable
Born in the 7th century in Northumbria, Bede is best known for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People. He also led a great life of heroic virtue, which gained him the title "venerable" shortly after his death.
The Catholic Encyclopedia offers a brief explanation for why St. Bede was called "venerable:"
The title Venerabilis [Venerable] seems to have been associated with the name of Bede within two generations after his death. There is of course no early authority for the legend repeated by Fuller of the "dunce-monk" who in composing an epitaph on Bede was at a loss to complete the line: Hac sunt in fossa Bedae . . . . ossa and who next morning found that the angels had filled the gap with the word venerabilis[venerable].
St. Bede is still highly regarded and his writings provide a rare glimpse into the history of the Church in England.
St. Anselm
Born in the 11th century in France, Anselm felt called to the monastic life at an early age and entered a local monastery. He had a remarkable intellect and spent much of his time developing his philosophical ideas.
Then after the Norman Conquest of England, Anselm was given charge of monasteries in England. Unexpectedly, when the diocese of Canterbury was vacant, he was literally dragged to the cathedral and a crozier was forced into his hands. He reluctantly became the archbishop of Canterbury.
Modern-day philosophers are familiar with him for his "ontological argument," and for his use of faith and reason.
St. John Henry Newman
Born in the 19th century, Newman was a convert from the Anglican Church, and became an influential cardinal in the Catholic Church. He joined the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and founded the first Oratory in England.
Pope Benedict XVI beatified Newman in 2010 and highly regarded him, saying this about him during his homily:
Cardinal Newman’s motto, Cor ad cor loquitur, or “Heart speaks unto heart,” gives us an insight into his understanding of the Christian life as a call to holiness, experienced as the profound desire of the human heart to enter into intimate communion with the Heart of God. He reminds us that faithfulness to prayer gradually transforms us into the divine likeness.
Pope Leo XIV named him the 38th Doctor of the Church.
