What is difference between saint and doctor of Church?

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Tommy999

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Hello all,
I know the Catholic Church has canonized saints. Today I heard the term “Doctor of the Church” mentioned for the first time — in reference to St Thomas Acquinas. What is the distinction between saint and doctor of the Church? Does it have to do with intellectual prowess in addition to being a saint?
 
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Wikipedia answers your question and provides a list of the Doctors of the Church.


It should be noted that there are something like 10,000 saints and only 36 Doctors of the Church. They’re pretty rare. As for “intellectual prowess”, some of them were scholars and some of them, notably St. Therese of Lisieux and St. John of the Cross, were more mystical in how they got their knowledge.
 
Thanks for the info, Tis_Bearself. I will check Wikipedia first next time, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer.
 
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