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How many are GREAT


Ziggamafu

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So there are only three doctors of the Church that have the title "Great" - Leo, Gregory, and Albert. But there are other saints that have the title "Great" as well. So I was wondering what the complete list was...and what qualifications does a saint have to have to get that title?

Actually, how many honorary titles are there? Doctor, Great, etc.

Who is honored with the most titles? = )

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[quote name='Ziggamafu' date='Nov 17 2004, 06:52 AM']So there are only three doctors of the Church that have the title "Great" - Leo, Gregory, and Albert. But there are other saints that have the title "Great" as well. So I was wondering what the complete list was...and what qualifications does a saint have to have to get that title?

Actually, how many honorary titles are there? Doctor, Great, etc.

Who is honored with the most titles? = )[/quote]
New Advent lists the following saints w/ the title "the great":
--St. Basil
--St. Gregory
--St. Leo
--St. Albert Magnus
--St. Vladimir
--St. Gertrude
--St. Hugh
--St. Euthymius

but, according to the Catholic Sourcebook, only the first four are called "great" by the Church. i suppose the others then are so called b/c of the devotion of the laity.

there are MANY titles that have been given to saints throughout the years, usually for one of the following reasons:
--to distinguish one saint from another saint w/ the same name
--to highlight a notable aspect of a saint's life
--to distinguish a saint as one w/ considerable knowledge and wisdom, and who has contributed greatly to the knowledge and wisdom of the Church

in reading about the four "greats" recognized by the Church, i find all three as reasons for them receiving the title. the only official titles that the Church gives to a saint (that i know of) are "the great" and "doctor." however, again through popular devotion, many other saints have been given many other titles. the Catholic Sourcebook lists many if not all of them. i am willing to type them out b/c i think it is such a valuable resource:

[u][b]Titles of Saints[/b][/u]

[b]Angel of the Schools[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[b]Angelic Doctor[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[b]Apostle among the Armenians[/b]: St. Gregory of Armenia
[b]Apostle of the Gauls[/b]: St. Denis
[b]Apostle of Germany[/b]: St. Boniface
[b]Apostles to the Slavs[/b]: Sts. Cyril and Methodius
[b]Athanasius of the West[/b]: St. Hilary of Poitiers
[b]Beloved Disciple[/b]: St. John the Apostle
[b]Beloved Physician[/b]: St. Luke
[b]Bishop of Hippo[/b]: St. Augustine
[b]Black Pope[/b]: general of the Jesuits
[b]Champions, the Seven Champions of Christendom[/b]:[list]
[*]George of England
[*]Andrew of Scotland
[*]David of Wales
[*]Patrick of Ireland
[*]James of Spain
[*]Denis of France
[*]Anthony of Italy
[/list][b]Christian Demosthenes[/b]: Gregory of Nazianzen
[b]Desert Fathers[/b]: Sts. Anthony, Pachomius the Hermit, and Hilarion
[b]Divine, The[/b]: St. John the apostle
[b]Doctor[/b]:[list]
[*][b]Divine Doctor[/b]: John Ruysbroek
[*][b]Doctor Angelicus[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[*][b]Doctor Expertus[/b]: St. Albert the Great
[*][b]Doctor of Grace[/b]: St. Augustine
[*][b]Doctor of Mystical Theology[/b]: St. John of the Cross
[*][b]Doctor Singularis[/b]: William of Occam
[*][b]Doctor Universalis[/b]: St. Albert the Great
[*][b]Ecstatic Doctor[/b]: Jean de Ruysbroek
[*][b]Eloquent Doctor[/b]: Peter Aureolus
[*][b]Evangelical Doctor[/b]: St. Anthony of Padua
[*][b]Illuminated Doctor[/b]: John Trauler
[*][b]Invincible Doctor[/b]: William of Occam
[*][b]Irrefragable Doctor[/b]: Alexander of Hales
[*][b]Mellifluous Doctor[/b]: St. Bernard
[*][b]Seraphic Doctor[/b]: St. Bonaventure
[*][b]Subtle Doctor[/b]: Duns Scotus
[/list][b]Dumb Ox[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[b]Eagle of Divines[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[b]Father[/b]:[list]
[*][b]Father of Biblical Sciences[/b]: St. Jerome
[*][b]Father of Church History[/b]: Eusebius of Caesaria
[*][b]Father of English History[/b]: Bede the Venerable
[*][b]Father in Faith/of the Faithful[/b]: Abraham
[*][b]Father of Monasticism (in the East)[/b]: St. Basil the Great
[*][b]Father of Moral Philosophy[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[*][b]Father of Musicians[/b]: Jubal
[*][b]Father of Orthodoxy[/b]: St. Athanasius
[*][b]Father of Scholasticism[/b]: St. Anselm
[*][b]Seraphic Father[/b]: St. Francis of Assisi
[*][b]Last of the Fathers[/b]: St. Bernard
[/list][b]Golden-tongued Orator[/b]: St. John Chrysostom
[b]Golden-tongued ("Chrysologus")[/b]: St. Peter
[b]Great[/b]: Sts. Basil, Gregory, Leo, and Albert
[b]Greatest of the Greek Fathers[/b]: St. John Chrysostom
[b]Great Synthesizer[/b]: St. Thomas Aquinas
[b]Hammer of the Arians[/b]: St. Hilary of Poitiers
[b]Harp of the Holy Spirit[/b]: St. Ephraem
[b]Holy Helpers, The Fourteen[/b]:[list]
[*]St. George
[*]St. Pantaleon
[*]St. Denis
[*]St. Eustace
[*]St. Catherine
[*]St. Blaise
[*]St. Vitus
[*]St. Cyriacus
[*]St. Giles
[*]St. Barbara
[*]St. Erasmus
[*]St. Christopher
[*]St. Achatius
[*]St. Margaret
[/list][b]Ice (or Frost) Saints[/b]:[list]
[*]St. Mamertus
[*]St. Pancras
[*]St. Servatius
[*]St. Boniface
[/list][b]Illuminator[/b]: St. Gregory of Armenia
[b]Ireland, the Three Great Saints of[/b]:[list]
[*]St. Patrick
[*]St. Columbia
[*]St. Brigid (of Kildare; also known as Bride)
[/list][b]Lily of the Mohawks[/b]: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
[b]Madonna[/b]: Mary
[b]Maid of Orleans[/b]: St. Joan of Arc
[b]Mata-moros (Spanish: Moor slayer)[/b]: St. James the Greater
[b]Most Learned of his Day[/b]: St. Isidore of Seville
[b]Myrrophores (Greek: myrrh bearers)[/b]: the Marys who visited Jesus' tomb
[b]Oracle of the Church[/b]: St. Bernard of Clairvaux
[b]Pope of the Eucharist[/b]: Pope St. Piux X
[b]Prince of the Church[/b]: any cardinal
[b]Saint of Miracles[/b]: St. Anthony of Padua
[b]Spouse of Christ[/b]: St. Teresa of Avila
[b]Thaumaturgis (Greek: wonder worker; applied because of miracles worked)[/b]:[list]
[*]Gregory, bishop of Neo-Caesaria, Cappadocia
[*]St. Anthony of Padua
[*]Appollonius of Tyana, Cappadocia
[*]St. Bernard of Clairvaux
[*]St. Filumena
[*]St. Francis of Assisi
[*]St. Vincent de Paul
[/list][b]Theologian, The (in the East)[/b]: St. Gregory Nazianzen
[b]Weeping Saint[/b]: St. Swithin
[b]Wonder Worker of Padua[/b]: St. Anthony
[b]Worthies, The Nine (often grouped together)[/b]:[list]
[*][b]From the Scriptures[/b]: Joshua, David, Judas Maccabeus
[*][b]From the Classics[/b]: Hector, Alexander, Julius Caesar
[*][b]From the Romances[/b]: Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon
[/list]
from the looks of this list, it appears that St. Thomas Aquinas has the most titles :D

thanks for giving me a chance to learn so much about the saints!

pax christi,
phatcatholic

Edited by phatcatholic
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I saw that Doctors of the Church were mentioned and thought I would list them.

WESTERN ROMAN CHURCH DOCTORS

1 St Ambrose, 340-397 (Pastoral Doctor)
2 St Jerome, 345-420 (Doctor of Biblical Science)
3 St Augustine, 354-430 (Doctor of Grace)
4 St Gregory the Great, 540-604 (Doctor of Hymnology)

EASTERN CHURCH DOCTORS

5 St Athanasius, 295-373 (Doctor of Orthodoxy)
6 St Basil the Great, 330-379 (Doctor of Monasticism)
7 St Gregory Nazianzus, 330-390 (Doctor of Theologians)
8 St John Chrysostom, 345-407 (Doctor of Preachers)

EARLY CHURCH DOCTORS

9 St Ephraem, 306-373 (Doctor of Deacons and Poets)
10 St Hilary, 315-368 (Doctor of Christ's Divinity)
11 St Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387 (Doctor of Faith and against Heresy)
12 St Cyril of Alexandria, 376-444 (Doctor of the Incarnation)
13 St Leo the Great, 390-461 (Doctor of Doctrine)
14 St Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 (Doctor of Homilies)
15 St Isidore, 560-636 (Doctor of Education)
16 St Bede, the Venerable, 673-735 (Doctor of English History)
17 St John Damascene, 676-749 (The Icon or Image Doctor)
18 St Peter Damian, 1007-1072 (Doctor of Reform and Renewal)

MIDDLE AGE CHURCH DOCTORS

19 St Anselm, 1033-1109 (Doctor of Scholasticism)
20 St Bernard of Clairvaux, 1090-1153 (Devotional and Eloquent Doctor)
21 St Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231 (Evangelical Doctor)
22 St Albert the Great, 1200-1280 (Doctor of Science)
23 St Bonaventure, 1217-1274 (Seraphic Doctor)
24 St Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274 (Angelic Doctor)
25 St Catherine of Siena, 1347-1379 (Doctor of Unity)

COUNTER REFORMATION CHURCH DOCTORS

26 St Teresa of Avila 1515-1582 (Doctor of Prayer)
27 St Peter Canisius, 1521-1597 (Doctor of Catechetical Studies)
28 St John of the Cross, 1542-1591 (Mystical Doctor)
29 St Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621 (Doctor of Church State Relations)
30 St Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1622 (Doctor of Conversions and Missions)
31 St Francis de Sales, 1567-1622 (Doctor of Authors and the Press)

MODERN ERA CHURCH DOCTORS

32 St Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787 (Morality and Marian Doctor)
33 St Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897 (Doctor of Confidence and Missionaries

The title of Doctor of the Church is based upon their writings. They have been bestowed with this title because their writings are useful to Catholics within the Church at any era.

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Out of all the Saints I believe Our Lady has the most :) Afterall she is Queen of the Saints

Adam's Deliverance
Advocate of Eve
Advocate of Sinners
All Chaste
All Fair and Immaculate
All Good
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Aqueduct of Grace
Archetype fo Purity and Innocence
Ark Gilded by the Holy Spirit
Ark of the Covenant Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Basillica of Saint Mary Major
Blessed Among Women
Blessed Virgin Mary
Bridal Chamber of the Lord
Bride of Christ
Bride of Heaven
Bride of the Canticle
Bride of the Father
Bride Unbrided
Cause of Our Joy
Chosen Before the Ages
Comfort of Christians
Comforter of the Afflicted
Conceived Without Original Sin
Consoler of the Afflicated
Co-Redemptrix
Court of the Eternal King
Created Temple of the Creator
Crown of Virginity
Daughter of Men
David's Daughter
Deliverer From All Wrath
Deliverer of Christian Nations
Destroyer of Heresies
Dispenser of Grace
Dwelling Place for God
Dwelling Place Meet for God
Dwelling Place of the Illimitable
Dwelling Place of the Spirit
Earth Unsown
Earth Untouched and Virginal
Eastern Gate
Ever Green and Fruitful
Ever Virgin
Eve's Tears Redeeming
Exalted Above the Angels
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Fleece of Heavenly Rain
Flower of Carmel
Flower of Jesse's Root
Formed Without Sin
Forthbringer of God
Forthbringer of the Ancient of Days
Forthbringer of the Tree of Life
Fountain of Living Water
Fountain Sealed
Free From Every Stain
Full of Grace
Garden Enclosed
Gate of Heaven
God's Eden
God's Olive Tree
God's Vessel
Handmaid of the Lord
Healing Balm of Integrity
Health of the Sick
Helper of All in Danger
Holy in Soul and Body
Holy Mountain of Our Lady
Hope of Christians
House Built by Wisdom
House of Gold
Immaculate
Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Heart
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Immaculate Mary
Immaculate Mother
Immaculate Virgin
Incorruptible Wood of the Ark
Inventrix of Grace
Inviolate
Joseph's Spouse
Kingly Throne
King's Mother
Lady Most Chaste
Lady Most Venerable
Lady of Good Help
Lady of Grace
Lady of Mercy
Lady of Peace
Lady of Perpetual Help
Lady of the Rosary
Lady of Sorrows
Lady of Victory
Lamp Unquenchable
Life-Giver to Posterity
Light Cloud of Heavenly Rain
Lily Among Thorns
Living Temple of the Diety
Loom of the Incarnation
Madonna of Saint Luke
Marketplace for Salutary Exchange
Mary of the Assumptions
Mary of the Hurons
Mary the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Blessed Virgin
Mary, Help of Christians
Mary, Mother of God
Mary, Queen of Africa
Mary, Queen of Angels
Mary, Queen of Peace
Mary, Star of the Sea
Mater Dei
Mediatrix
Mediatrix and Conciliatrix
Mediatrix of All Graces
Mediatrix of Salvation
Mediatrix of the Mediator
Minister of Life
Mirror of Justice
More Beautiful Than Beauty
More Glorious Than Paradise
More Gracious Than Grace
More Holy Than the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the Entire Angelic Hosts
Morning Star
Most Venerable
Mother and Virgin
Mother Most Admirable
Mother Most Amiable
Mother Most Chaste
Mother Most Pure
Mother Inviolate
Mother of Christians
Mother of Christ's Members
Mother of Divine Grace
Mother of God
Mother of Good Counsel
Mother of Jesus Christ
Mother of Men
Mother of Our Creator
Mother of Our Head
Mother of Our Savior
Mother of the Church
Mother of the Mystical Body
Mother of Wisdom
Mother Undefiled
My Body's Healing
My Soul's Saving
Mystical Rose
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Nature's Re-Creation
Nature's Restoration
Neck of the Mystical Body
Never Fading Wood
New Eve
Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris
Notre Dame of Chartres
Notre Dame of Easton
Nourisher of God and Man
Olive Tree of the Father's Compassion
Only Bridge of God to Men
Our Immaculate Queen
Our Lady, Gate of Heaven
Our Lady, Help of Christians
Our Lady, Mother of the Church
Our Lady, Queen of All Saints
Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles
Our Lady in America
Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace
Our Lady of Africa
Our Lady of Altotting
Our Lady of Arabia
Our Lady of Bandel
Our Lady of Bandra
Our Lady of Banneux
Our Lady of Baeuraing
Our Lady of Begoña
Our Lady of Bethlehem
Our Lady of Calvary
Our Lady of Charity
Our Lady of Consolation
Our Lady of Copacabana
Our Lady of Coromoto Our Lady of Czestochowa
Our Lady of Europe
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Our Lady of Good Help
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe of Estramadura
Our Lady of High Grace
Our Lady of Hungary
Our Lady of Japan
Our Lady of Kevelaer
Our Lady of Knock
Our Lady of La Leche
Our Lady of La Vang
Our Lady of Las Vegas
Our Lady of LaSallette
Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Limerick
Our Lady of Loreto
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lujan
Our Lady of Madhu
Our Lady of Mariazell
Our Lady of Mercy
Our Lady of Montserrat
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Aylesford
Our Lady of Nazareth
Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Pompeii
Our Lady of Pontmain
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Our Lady of Providence
Our Lady of Ransom
Our Lady of Safe Travel
Our Lady of Salambao
Our Lady of Shongweni
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Tears
Our Lady of Victory
Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Washington
Our Lady of the Americas
Our Lady of the Assumption
Our Lady of the Cape
Our Lady of the Conquest
Our Lady of the Golden Heart
Our Lady of the Gulf
Our Lady of the Hermits
Our Lady of the Highways
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Our Lady of the Holy Souls
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Our Lady of the Incarnation
Our Lady of the Kodiak and the Islands
Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Our Lady of the Pillar of Saragossa
Our Lady of the Pines
Our Lady of the Prairie
Our Lady of the Presentation
Our Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Snows
Our Lady of the Thorns
Our Lady of the Turumba
Our Lady of the Valley
Our Lady of the Wayside
Our Lady of the Woods
Our Lady Who Appeared
Our Own Sweet Mother
Paradise Fenced Against the Serpent
Paradise of Innocence and Immortality
Paradise of the Second Adam
Paradise Planted by God
Patroness and Protectoress
Perfume of Faith
Preserved From All Sin
Protectress From All Hurt
Queen of All Saints
Queen of Angels
Queen of Creation
Queen of Heaven
Queen of Heaven and Earth
Queen of Martyrs
Queen of Nigeria
Queen of Peace
Queen Unconquered
Refuge in Time of Danger
Refuge of Sinners
Reparatrix
Reparatrix of Her Parents
Reparatrix of the Lord World
Rich in Mercy
Rose Ever Blooming
Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit
Salve Regina
Scepter of Orthodoxy
Seat of Wisdom
Second Eve
Singular Vessel of Devotion
Sister and Mother
Source of Virginity
Spiritual Vessel
Spotless Dove of Beauty
Star of the Sea
Star That Bore the Sea
Suppliant for Sinners
Surpassing Eden's Gardens
Surpassing the Heavens
Surpassing the Seraphim
Sweet Flowering and Gracious Mercy
Tabernacle of God
Tabernacle of the Word
Temple Divine
Temple Indestructible
Temple of the Lord's Body
Theotokos
Throne of the King
Tower of David
Tower of Ivory
Tower Unassailable
Treasure House of Life
Treasure of Immortality
Treasure of the World Undefiled
Undefiled Treasure of Virginity
Undug Well of Remission's Waters
Unlearned in the Ways of Eve
Unplowed Field of Heaven's Bread
Unwatered Vineyard of Immortality's Wine
Vessel of Honor
Victor Over the Serpent
Virgin by the Sea
Virgin Inviolate
Virgin Most Faithful
Virgin Most Merciful
Virgin Most Powerful
Virgin Most Prudent
Virgin Most Pure
Virgin Mother
Virgin of Charity
Virgin of Copacabana
Virgin of Sheshan
Virgin of Virgins
Wedded to God
Woman Clothed With the Sun
Workshop of the Incarnation

Q: How do all of the titles for Mary come about?

A: Many of Mary's titles are the fruit of pious tradition linked to geography, human activities, human needs, events of salvation history, theological titles, botany, etc. Few of these titles have been officialized by ecclesiastical decree. We have on our site (see Resources/ Marian titles) 6000 of them. They represent a hodgepodge of everything. the following could be considered as official categories listed here according to their decreasing official character and importance.

1) Titles that refer to biblical designations of Mary (e.g. servant of the Lord, daughter of Zion)

2) Titles which refer to dogmatic definitions such as virgin, Mother of God (Theotokos)

3) Titles which reflect long-standing theological topoi, (e.g. New Eve or mediatrix)

4) Titles which are part of the liturgical patrimony of the Church, (e.g. the Feast of the Annunciation)

5) Titles originally proper to religious congregations and as such object of special votive masses, (e.g. Feast of Our Lady of Mercy)

6) Titles related to devotional practices approved and promoted by the Church. One of the best examples in this category is the Litany of Loreto which is specifically a series on invocations or titles.

7) Titles connected with miraculous images, shrines and apparitions and recognized directly or indirectly by the Church, (e.g. Our Lady of Lourdes)

8) Finally, titles that are the result of a long and well established tradition but have not been the object of a special attention or decision by the Church (e.g. the designation Our Lady)

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Hey Phat, can you post that list again but erase all the saints who are either mythical or who we have next to no info about?

Are you sure Thomas Aquinas comes out on top?

I heard that the title "the Great" is as strict and reserved as the title of "Doctor" for a very specific honor...so it would make sense that the Doctors who are also Greats would be extra venerable people who's writings we should be studying extra hard. I think this might have something to do with me picking my patron, lol.

And obviously Mother doesn't count in this round. = )

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Hi Phat,

Just a small correction, though off the topic of "Greats."

I looked at your list of doctors (in "titles of saints") and I think at least one of them (William of Occam) is not an official doctor of the Church.

Also, I looked at my copy of the Catholic Source Book and saw a different list of doctors on pp. 412-414, which is immediately before the list you provided. I think this list is more accurate.

God bless!

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