13 January: Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

A journey in search of truth

Born into a noble and wealthy pagan family in Poitiers, Aquitaine, around 310, he was able to receive an education befitting his status. He felt compelled to seek the truth from a young age and, at the end of his journey, he converted to Christianity. He was baptized when he was 30 years old. Reading the Gospel of John gave him with an opportunity to find answers to his questions. He described his personal journey in the introduction to his famous work on the Trinity (De Trinitate), in which he highlighted the stages a pagan goes through to come to know God.

In 353, he was elected Bishop of his hometown. He stood out for his firm opposition to Arianism, which denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this led him to clash with Emperor Constantius, who wanted to impose Arianism in the West, as he had done in the East. His zeal prompted several Bishops of Gaul to refuse communion with the Arian Bishop of Arles, Saturninus, and to send a letter to the emperor (355), urging him to abandon his pro-Arian policy.

Having become part of a minority, Hilary was condemned at the Synod of Béziers (356), presided by Saturninus. A few months later, he was exiled to Phrygia by order of Emperor Constantius. During that time, he dedicated himself to studying Greek and literature, furthering his understanding of the doctrines of the Eastern Church. In fact, among the Latin Fathers, his thoughts are the ones closest to those of the Greek Fathers.

Because the Bishops of Gaul did not allow the Diocese of Poitiers to be led by another pastor, Hilary continued to oversee the Church from exile by written correspondence.

Urged by the Arians and seeing Hilary’s presence a greater threat in the East than in Gaul, the emperor allowed him to return to Poitiers. He was triumphantly welcomed by the people. Saint Martin placed himself under his spiritual guidance to found the first monastery in Gaul at Ligugé. Meanwhile, the political situation had changed, and Hilary took the opportunity to convene provincial synods to confirm the orthodox bishops and reconcile them with those who had adhered to Arianism out of ignorance.

The deposition of Saturninus of Arles and Paternus of Périgueux marked the end of Arianism in the West. The death of Constantius (+361) also dealt a decisive blow to Arian supremacy in the East, as the bishops who were loyal to the Nicene Creed were recalled from exile. Hilary died in Poitiers in 361. His body was burned by the Huguenots in 1562. Pope Pius IX proclaimed him Doctor of the Church in 1851.