January 13th marks the feast of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Patron saint of lawyers, children with disabilities, mothers, and sick people, declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1851.
Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–c. 367) was a prominent 4th-century bishop and theologian, known as the "Hammer of the Arians" and the "Athanasius of the West" for his staunch defense of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Born into a noble, well-educated pagan family in Poitiers, Gaul (France), Hilary converted to Christianity as an adult after studying the Old and New Testaments. He was married and had a daughter Abra of Poitiers/ˈæbrə/ (c. 343 – c. 360 who also became a saint.
He was elected Bishop of Poitiers around 353 AD. He quickly became involved in the Arian controversy, a heresy that denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.
His opposition to Arianism and refusal to condemn Saint Athanasius led Emperor Constantius II to banish him to Phrygia (modern-day Turkey) for nearly four years (c. 356–360). During his exile, he wrote his most significant theological work, the twelve-book treatise De Trinitate (On the Trinity), which clarified Church teachings and influenced later theologians like Saint Augustine. He also introduced the practice of singing hymns to the West.
After his return from exile, he continued to combat Arianism vigorously throughout Gaul and beyond, working closely with other church leaders, including Saint Martin of Tours, who founded a monastery at Ligugé with Hilary's support.
Prayer to St Hilary
St Hilary of Poitiers Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son, which the Bishop Saint Hilary taught with such constancy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen
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