Hilary of Poitiers

Who they were

Hilary was born into a wealthy pagan Gallo-Roman family and received a fine education, but found the meaning of human life only in Christianity, above all in the prologue of St John's Gospel. Married, with a daughter, he was baptised as an adult and around 353-354 was elected bishop of Poitiers.

In an age when the teachings of Arius and others were undermining faith in the Trinity and in Christ, he became a true 'defender of the faith', exiled for it and writing, among other works, the oldest Latin commentary on St Matthew's Gospel.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Hilary has been honoured as a saint since his death. He is a Doctor of the Church.

Why that counted as sanctity

Hilary gave his mind and his freedom to defending the divinity of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI summed up his teaching in his own words: God can be nothing but love, nothing but Father.

Connected on this site

• Abra of Poitiers Saint Child
  “Her existence is historically uncertain, but she may have been the daughter of Hilary of Poitiers.” — Wikipedia
• Martin of Tours Saint
  “He served in the Roman cavalry in Gaul, but left military service prior to 361, when he became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, establishing the monastery at Ligugé.” — Wikipedia