A Discovery that Changed my life.
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“The greatest influence in the Church has never belonged only to those who held office, but also to those whose holiness changed history.”
When I served as a Protestant pastor for more than forty years, I believed I had a solid understanding of Christian history. I had studied the Bible, preached every week, and spent decades helping others grow in their faith.
Yet there was one extraordinary treasure of Christianity that I had never encountered.
The Doctors of the Church.
No lecturer introduced them.
No theological college required their writings.
No minister encouraged me to read them.
Looking back, I now realise that discovering these remarkable saints became one of the turning points on my journey into the Catholic Church.
A Question That Changed Everything
As I began to examine the foundations of my faith, one question refused to leave me:
When sincere Christians disagree about what Scripture teaches, who decides which interpretation is correct?
Thousands of Christian denominations all love the Bible, yet many arrive at very different conclusions.
Some baptise infants.
Others do not.
Some believe Holy Communion is symbolic.
Others believe Christ is truly present.
Some ordain women.
Others do not.
Everyone quotes Scripture.
Everyone sincerely believes they are following Christ.
That question eventually led me to investigate how the early Church understood authority, Scripture, and Christian teaching.
It was during that search that I discovered something I had never truly appreciated before.
The Catholic Church understands Scripture within the living tradition of the Church, guided by Sacred Tradition and the teaching authority entrusted to the Apostles.
That discovery changed my life.
Four Women Who Changed the Church
As I continued studying Catholic history, I encountered four remarkable women whose influence stretched across centuries.
They are:
- St Hildegard of Bingen
- St Catherine of Siena
- St Teresa of Ávila
- St Thérèse of Lisieux
These women are among the Doctors of the Church, a title given to saints whose holiness and theological teaching have enriched the entire Church.
What surprised me most was this:
None of them were priests.
Yet each profoundly shaped Christianity.
They advised popes.
They wrote spiritual masterpieces.
They reformed religious life.
They inspired generations of believers.
Their influence continues today because they faithfully responded to God’s unique calling.
Holiness Is Greater Than Position
Coming from a Protestant ministry background, I naturally viewed leadership through the lens of position and responsibility.
The Catholic Church challenged me to see something much deeper.
The greatest authority in Christianity is not necessarily found in office.
It is found in holiness.
Jesus Himself taught that greatness is measured through humble service, not worldly status.
The lives of these four women beautifully demonstrate that truth.
Each accepted the vocation God gave her.
Each transformed the Church.
None became priests.
Yet history could not ignore them.
What This Means Today
Modern discussions often focus on what women cannot do within the Catholic Church.
Perhaps we should also ask a different question.
What has God uniquely called women to do?
History already provides the answer.
Catholic women have evangelised nations.
Founded religious communities.
Written some of Christianity’s greatest spiritual classics.
Defended the faith.
Advised bishops and popes.
Cared for the poor.
Inspired countless saints.
Their influence has never depended upon priestly ordination.
It has always depended upon faithful obedience to Christ.
That is an encouraging message for every Christian.
God calls each of us differently.
Not everyone receives the same vocation.
But every vocation has eternal significance when offered to God.
My Own Journey
As someone who once believed women should be ordained, I now see the conversation very differently.
My understanding changed not because I think women are less gifted or less capable.
It changed because I came to understand the Catholic priesthood as a sacramental vocation established by Christ Himself.
That led me to discover something even more beautiful.
The Church has always recognised extraordinary women whose holiness has shaped Christianity for centuries.
These four female Doctors of the Church remind us that greatness in God’s Kingdom is measured by faithfulness, not titles.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be exploring each of these remarkable women in greater depth, beginning with St Hildegard of Bingen.
Their stories have become the inspiration behind my forthcoming book:
The Calling: The Women the Church Could Not Ignore
I hope you’ll join me on this journey as we discover what these extraordinary women still have to teach the Church today.
I’d Love to Hear From You
Have you ever read the writings of one of the four female Doctors of the Church?
Which of these remarkable women inspires you the most?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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May God bless you.
Paula Rose Parish
From Pulpit to Pew
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