HILARY, St. Bishop of Poictiers, was born in the same town at the beginning of the 4th century. His parents were pagans of distinction, who afforded him every means of acquiring a good education. He was particularly struck with the writings of Moses, and afterwards with the gospels. He became a Christian, and was baptized along with his wife and daughter. He was greatly respected in his native city, and, although married, he was chosen bishop. This took place at the middle of the 4th century. At this period Arianism was spreading rapidly through the Western Church, and he set himself to oppose it. With this view he obtained the excommunication of Saturninus, bishop of Arles. But by the Council of Beziers, A.D. 356, he was banished to Phrygia. In 359 he made his appearance at the convocation of bishops at Sileucia in Isauria, and energetically resisted the opponents of the consubstantiality of the Word. Thereafter, at Constantinople, he was so persevering against the prevailing Arianism of the court, that he was sent back to his bishopric at Poictiers. Though he was received in triumph, he had enough to do for some time in eradicating the Arianism which had sprung up during his absence. After expelling Saturninus a second time, he accused Auxentius, bishop of Milan, of holding erroneous views. Both were summoned before the emperor Valentinian. Auxentius gave satisfactory answers. Hilary declared him a hypocrite, and was ordered to leave Milan as a disturber of the peace of the church. He died in January 368. His great energy of character, his courage and unwearied perseverance rendered him very influential during his life. His zeal, however, was often injudicious. He was called the hammer of the Arians (Malleus Arianorum), from his determined opposition to the Arian heresy. Of his works, his Commentary on Matthew is the oldest extant on that evangelist. His most elaborate work consists of twelve books on the Trinitarian controversy. He wrote several books addressed to the Emperor Constantius in favour of the Catholics against the persecutions of the Arians; he wrote also several epistles still extant, and some poems have been ascribed to him. The best edition of his works is that of Constant, reprinted by Scipio Maffei, 1730. 2 vols. folio.