HILARY OF POITIERS 
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Hilary was born in Poitiers in what is now France in
315. He died there in either 367 or 368 (whether on
November 1 or January 13 is open for debate.) He was
named a saint shortly after his death and was declared
a "Doctor of the Divinity of Christ" by Pope
Pius IX in 1851. His feast day is now celebrated on
January 13.
Hilary was born into a wealthy, pagan family. He studied
rhetoric and philosophy and was known as an orator.
 He
married and had a daughter now known as Saint Afra.
He experienced conversion in his mid-thirties and was
baptized along with his wife and daughter. He was made
bishop of Poitiers in 353. (According to one source,
he and his wife had to live separately so that he could
be ordained. Quite a sacrifice on both of their parts.)
There was a major controversy raging in the Church
in the 4th century between those that claimed that Jesus
was both fully 
human and fully divine – he was of the same substance
as God the Father and those that claimed he was not
as divine as God the Father – he was of a similar substance.This
has become known as the Arian controversy. Most of the
Orthodox theology (same substance) was being promoted
in the eastern  part
of the world. Most of western Europe was Arian (similar
substance). Hilary was the first theologian to argue
for orthodoxy using western thought and philosophy.
His orthodox stance caused him to be exiled for several
years. It was during his exile that he did most of his
writing on the Trinity and on the theology of the eastern
church. While in exile, he was never replaced as bishop
of Poitiers because the priests would rather "pretend
he was still there"rather than risk getting someone
they didn’t want. He returned to his diocese in 360.
Hilary was a prolific writer and poet and was one
of the earliest hymn writers. Although he is not one
of the most well known of historical theologians, his
influence was vast. He was a contemporary of Athanasius.
He was Martin of Tours’ spiritual director and guide.
St. Jerome considered Hilary an inspiration.
Hilary is the patron saint of thosebitten by snakes
andlearning disabled children. There is a legend that
while visiting an island off the coast of France, Hilary
ran all of the snakes into the sea ( an
incredibly similar legend to that of Patrick of Ireland).Hilary’s
bed was kept on display in the Cathedral of Poitiers
for years It was said that if a "madman" were
to spend a night in the "cradle of St. Hilary"
he would be cured.
In art work, Hilary is often pictured with three books,
a pen, a snake, a cradle or with Martin of Tours. Our
window at St. Hilary’s – Ft. Myers, pictures him in
the Eucharistic vestments of a bishop with three books,
a pen and a snake. .
Fr.
Bob's Saint Hilary's Day sermon of Jan 15, 2006
St
Hilary on Catholic Online
St
Hilary on ccel.org
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