First Female Doctor of the Church?

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No, I’m not thinking about St. Teresa of Avila or St. Catherine.

Wondering about another famous woman that lived many centuries earlier…

In those beautiful words spoken at Cana [“Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5)], is it not clear that Mary was speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit?

Could it not be argued that she was proclaiming doctrine in an “official teaching capacity”?
Her words simply and powerfully echo a timeless truth that all doctors have henceforth striven to deliver as effectively…

Thoughts?
 
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Mary has the highest honor any human woman could have, she is the Mother of Christ, the Queen of Heaven.

An honorific for other humans, such as Doctor of the Church, is simply not needed.

Think of it this way. Imagine a brilliant mind, like that of St Augustine, were chosen by a prestigious university to receive a posthumous honorary degree. The school would not award the brilliant Saint an honorary Bachelor’s Degree.

While a BA from a prestigious school is a good thing, it is still lesser than the honors St Augustine has already received.
 
As above, Mary is honoured more highly than a doctor of the Church.
Also the term refers to those who have contributed to the theology and doctrine of the Church.

Interesting idea though.
 
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Mary is Queen of the Doctors of the Church, just as she is of Confessors, Martyrs, and Virgins. No higher title could be bestowed on a Doctor.
 
Thank you for your thoughts. Love what you’ve said about Our Lady, and agree there is no need for any additional honors.

But I like your example of the university or college bestowing an “honorary doctorate”. These days we have presidents and celebrities who have never set foot on a campus – that are given such credits. If anything, it’s something done more for the benefit of the school than for the benefit of the individual being honored.

In the same way, perhaps it would be more for our benefit than for the benefit of the Holy Mother of God to have her honored in this way.

I’m thinking also about the example of Jesus. Clearly Christ didn’t need to be baptized. But he allowed it – perhaps because he knew…

Peace/blessings!
 
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I think that referring to Mary as a Doctor of the Church would be like referring to Jesus as a Saint.
 
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