JP2 Doctor of the Church?

[Youngling11]

Growing up in the 21st century as a Catholic and finally reading into the works of JP2 particularly on Theology of the Body has led me to realize how much JP2 has influenced the way I see myself, my purpose as a creation of God, and particularly the value of human sexuality in its intended sense at the moment of creation.

Are there any movements in the Church to have Saint JP2 declared a doctor of the Church? I know his recognition of sainthood just recently occurred but what is the process for someone to be declared a DOTC, and is Saint JP2 a legitimate candidate?

 

[Dorothy]

I don’t know the process whereby someone is declared a Doctor of the Church, but I do know that St. John Paul was an extraordinary pope who contributed much to the Church.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The requirements for naming someone a Doctor of the Church are eminent learning, a high degree of sanctity, and proclamation by the Church. “Eminent learning” would be apparent from the person’s writings or teachings, and if they are already canonized confessors as all Doctors have been, then they have a “high degree of sanctity”. (Martyrs are not made Doctors of the Church, but that doesn’t matter here as Pope JPII was not a martyr.) So all that would be needed in Pope JPII’s case would be a “proclamation by the Church” which is generally made by the Pope in conjunction with the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, after studying the person’s writings. A general council could also declare someone a Doctor of the Church, but this hasn’t happened to date.

Having said all that, I note that the fastest time to Doctor of the Church was St. Therese of Lisieux and in her case it took 100 years from canonization. The other Doctors of the Church took much longer to be so named. I would think it might take a long time because those studying the writings would need to see that they had a real impact on Church theology or doctrine over a long period of time, and not just in the short term.

I also think when it comes to Pope JPII, there might be some concern about Popes heaping accolades on a recent predecessor. Some have already raised an eyebrow at the trend to canonize a lot of recent Popes fairly quickly. So, while there is definite potential for Pope JPII to be a Doctor of the Church, I think it will take probably at least a century if not more for him to be considered, if he is considered at all.

 

[HeDa]

Since JPII was pope for many, many, many years and is one of the 10 longest reining and since he wrote a lot it will take a very, very long time. What I have read, I have liked very much.

How about reading some more? These are just the major documents… Hominies and speeches etc are not included. An enjoyable penance for Lent? http://www.papalencyclicals.net/jp02

 

[awesomecatholic]

I don’t know the process for being declared a doctor of the church,but I do know how much JPII influenced people including me. At least in my opinion he would be a legitimate candidate.

 

[phil19034]

eminent learning, a high degree of sanctity, and proclamation by the Church. “Eminent learning” would be apparent from the person’s writings or teachings, and if they are already canonized confessors as all Doctors have been, then they have a “high degree of sanctity”. (Martyrs are not made Doctors of the Church, but that doesn’t matter here as Pope JPII was not a martyr.) So all that would be needed in Pope JPII’s case would be a “proclamation by the Church” which is generally made by the Pope in conjunction with the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, after studying the person’s writings. A general council could also declare someone a Doctor of the Church, but this hasn’t happened to date.

Having said all that, I note that the fastest time to Doctor of the Church was St. Therese of Lisieux and in her case it took 100 years from canonization. The other Doctors of the Church took much longer to be so named. I would think it might take a long time because those studying the writings would need to see that they had a real impact on Church theology or doctrine over a long period of time, and not just in the short term.

I also think when it comes to Pope JPII, there might be some concern about Popes heaping accolades on a recent predecessor. Some have already raised an eyebrow at the trend to canonize a lot of recent Popes fairly quickly. So, while there is definite potential for Pope JPII to be a Doctor of the Church, I think it will take probably at least a century if not more for him to be considered, if he is considered at

I think St. JP2 is a legitimate candidate for Doctor of the Church. However, if it happens, I doubt it will happen during the lifetime of most of us (if not during the lifetime of all of us).

The Church will most likely want to see if his teachings remain popular during future generations.

I think St. Faustina has a better chance at being the next Doctor of the Church. Her Diary and Divine Mercy devotion put her right on par with St. Therese of Lisieux.

And even thought she was only declared a Saint in 2000, she died at 1938, at 33 years old - and the 100th anniversary of her death is only 19 years away – which is significant because St. Therese was made a Doctor of the Church 100 years after her death.

Her Diary and visions have already have had a MAJOR impact on the Church & on St. JP2.

If JP2 is made a Doctor of the Church, it will most likely be primarily due to Theology of the Body, which still has a long time before it because as mainstream as Divine Mercy.

So my GUESS, is that the next Doctor of the Church will be St. Faustina and that we will not see JP2 declared as Doctor of the Church within our lifetimes.

God Bless

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m not holding my breath to see more Doctors of the Church any time soon. Several of the last few seemed to be an effort to recognize women who for whatever reason had been overlooked in the past. But it’'s not like the Church is under pressure to name new Doctors on a regular basis.