“Eminens doctrina” as a fundamental requirement of the Holy See in awarding the title of Doctor of the Church in relation to St. Faustina Kowalska

Abstract

After recalling the ecclesial reflection on the title of Doctor of the Church in the post-conciliar period, which introduced new directions, as it also took into account the admission of women to this category, and furthermore placed emphasis on the requirement of a lofty doctrine that has an impact on the life of the Church, seen not necessarily as the fruit of the candidates’ in-depth education, but rather as their charism of infused knowledge, acquired in prayer and mystical experiences, the article recalls that in the evaluation of this doctrine, the new procedure does not remain solely within the competence of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, but requires the assessment of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Having outlined the criteria for the “significance” of the doctrine inherent in the candidates’ orthodoxy (i.e. the conformity of their teaching with the official interpretation of the “depositum fidei”), and the reception of this teaching throughout the Church and its salvific influence on its life, which should also be manifested in the fact that it is referred to by the Magisterium and explored by theologians, the article attempts to show that these criteria are met by the teaching of St. Faustina Kowalska. It documents how the message of St. Faustina reaches believers all over the world, is explored by theologians, and is cited by papal documents (e.g. “Gaudete et exsultate”, “Dilexit nos”), such that the contents of her “Diary” are considered a “locus theologicus”. The author concludes that St. Faustina’s “insignis vitae sanctitas” and her “eminens doctrina” — theology acquired on her knees in prayer — place her very high among the candidates for the title of “Doctor Ecclesiae”.