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Only 33 saints have been named "Doctor of the Church."

These special few, selected by a pope or council based on their "eminent learning" and "great sanctity," have indelibly shaped our Church and our Christian understanding.

These are saints you will want to meet. Through this new series by Washington Theological Union's Academic Dean, you will be introduced to the lives and impact of five great medieval doctors. Along the way, you will explore one of the most reformative and interesting periods of Catholic history. Get to know Gregory the Great, Catherine of Siena, one of only three female doctors, Peter Damian, Bonaventure and Bernard of Clairvaux.

Professor Anderson guides you through the history of the early Church, from ancient Rome to the Dark Ages, when new ideas and attempts at reformation led to disagreements and divisions within the Church. These were trying times for Christianity, but without this period of change and instability, the great medieval reformers would not have been able to bring about the much-needed renewal during the renaissance.

Focusing on ideas of purity, legality, politics, humanism, humility and pastoral care, this program will show you how through all these troubles, a strong love for God and dedication to faith carried the Church and its followers safely through.

These trying times offer timeless lessons that we can use to better communicate within our Church and among one another. From this program and from the insights of Dr. Anderson, you will be able to reconnect with the ideas of selflessness, purity and morality within yourself and within your own parish.

Dr. Anderson concludes with an optimistic message of ongoing renewal in the Church. As long as we are always open to this renewal of faith and rededication, we will be able to embrace the cross and embrace the love of God for Catholics everywhere.

Learn about downloadable programs.

With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed Electronic Study Guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this Electronic Study Guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this Electronic Study Guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link, or type it into your browser, to access the file.

About Your Presenter

Dr. Colt Anderson. Ph.D. is Academic Dean of the Washington Theological Union. A church historian and theologian, his research focuses on the intersection between three areas of concern: the communication of the Gospel (evangelization), how to reform the church, and the importance of an eschatological perspective for Christian life. His publications have concentrated on ways to heal the growing divisions among members of the Catholic Church by drawing upon models of leadership from historical figures such as Gregory the Great, Peter Damian, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, and others. Professor Anderson has focused his research on the origins of the Franciscan movement as a means to understand the important development of lay ministry in the Church. He lectures nationally on issues related to spirituality, ecclesial reform, and evangelization. After spending several years as a scriptwriter and film producer, he has tried to find ways to recover the proper place of narrative in theology as a means to communicate the Catholic tradition to contemporary people.

Professor Anderson has served as a judge for Theological Studies, as an editorial advisor for Chicago Studies, and on the editorial board for New Theology Review. He has also been involved in the Roman Catholic/ Jewish Dialogue for Ecumenical Institute of Chicago (2000-2007) and the United States Roman Catholic/Pentecostal Dialogue (2004). He is a member of the American Catholic Historical Association, Catholic Theological Society of America, American Academy of Religion, Medieval Sermon Society, Society for the Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages, and The Medieval Academy of America. Prior to joining the Union, Anderson was chosen by the Vatican to be a member of the Apostolic Visitation of the U.S. Seminaries. He is the recipient of a 2008 Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada Book Award for history.

Topic Titles

• Introduction to the History of Reform and its Relationship to Mysticism
• The Church in the Sixth Century
• Gregory the Great’s Contribution to Reform and Renewal
• The Church as it Emerged from the Dark Ages
• Peter Damian: The Doctor of Reform
• The Twelfth Century Renaissance
• Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercian Contribution to Reform
• The Church in the Thirteenth Century
• Bonaventure’s Franciscan Vision of Renewing Pastoral Care
• The Breakdown of the Church Authority from Boniface VIII through the Great Schism
• Catherine of Sienna’s Insatiable Desire for Ecclesial Reform
• Conclusion and Implications for Today