The Church has traditionally held three requirements for a saint to be considered a Doctor of the Church: holiness, eminence in doctrine and writing and formal recognition by the Church. Until 1970, the Vatican had never recognized a woman as a Doctor of the Church. Today there are four:
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179)
St. Catherine of Siena (1347 – 1380)
St. Teresa of Ávila (1515 – 1582)
St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 – 1897)
