Life of St. Hilary

Life of St. Hilary Bishop of Poitiers  

Doctor of the Church.

St. Hilary, Early Christian Painting

St. Hilary was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" (Latin: Malleus Arianorum) and the "Athanasius of the West."   His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful.   His optional memorial in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints is 13 January.   In the past, when this date was occupied by the Octave Day of the Epiphany, his feast day was moved to 14 January.[2]

Bishop, born in Poitiers at the beginning of the fourth century; died there 1 November, according to the most accredited opinion, or according to the Roman Breviary, on 13 January, 368.   Belonging to a noble and very probably pagan family, he was instructed in all the branches of profane learning, but, having also taken up the study of Holy Scripture and finding there the truth which he sought so ardently, he renounced idolatry and was baptized.  Thenceforth his wide learning and his zeal for the Faith attracted such attention that he was chosen about 350 to govern the body of the faithful which the city had possessed since the third century. “So great was the respect in which he was held by the citizens of Poitiers that about 353, although still a married man, he was unanimously elected bishop.”  

We know nothing of the bishops who governed this society in the beginning. Hilary is the first concerning whom we have authentic information, and this is due to the important part he played in opposing heresy. The Church was then greatly disturbed by internal discords, the authority of the popes not being so powerful in practice as either to prevent or to stop them. Arianism had made frightful ravages in various regions and threatened to invade Gaul, where it already had numerous partisans more or less secretly affiliated with it. Saturninus, Bishop of Arles, the most active of the latter, being exposed by Hilary, convened and presided over a council at Béziers in 356 with the intention of justifying himself, or rather of establishing his false doctrine. Here the Bishop of Poitiers courageously presented himself to defend orthodoxy, but the council, composed for the most part of Arians, refused to hear him, and being shortly afterwards denounced to the Emperor Constantius, the protector of Arianism, he was at his command transported to the distant coasts of Phrygia.

But persecution could not subdue the valiant champion. Instead of remaining inactive during his exile he gave himself up to study, completed certain of his works which he had begun, and wrote his treatise on the synods. In this work he analysed the professions of faith uttered by the Oriental bishops in the Councils of Ancyra, Antioch, and Sirmium, and while condemning them, since they were in substance Arian, he sought to show that sometimes the difference between the doctrines of certain heretics and orthodox beliefs was rather in the words than in the ideas, which led to his counselling the bishops of the West to be reserved in their condemnation. He was sharply reproached for his indulgence by certain ardent Catholics, the leader of whom was Lucifer, Bishop of Cagliari. However, in 359, the city of Seleucia witnessed the assembly in synod of a large number of Oriental bishops, nearly all of whom were either Anomoeans or Semi-Arians. Hilary, whom everyone wished to see and hear, so great was his reputation for learning and virtue, was invited to be present at this assembly. The governor of the province even furnished him with post horses for the journey. In presence of the Greek fathers he set forth the doctrines of the Gallic bishops, and easily proved that, contrary to the opinion current in the East, these latter were not Sabellians. Then he took part in the violent discussions which took place between the Semi-Arians, who inclined toward reconciliation with the Catholics, and the Anomoeans, who formed as it were the extreme left of Arianism….

…He then returned to his city of Poitiers, from which he was not again to absent himself and where he was to die. This learned and energetic bishop had fought against error with the pen as well as in words. The best edition of his numerous and remarkable writings is that published by Dom Constant under the title: "Sancti Hilarii, Pictavorum episcopi opera, ad manuscriptos codices gallicanos, romanos, belgicos, necnon ad veteres editiones castigata" (Paris, 1693).

The later years of his life were spent in comparative quiet, devoted in part to the preparation of his expositions of the Psalms (Tractatus super Psalmos), for which he was largely indebted to Origen; of his Commentarius in Evangelium Matthaei, an allegorical exegesis of the first Gospel; and of his no longer extant translation of Origen's commentary on Job.

            While he thus closely followed the two great Alexandrians, Origen and Athanasius, in exegesis and Christology respectively, his work shows many traces of vigorous independent thought.

 Towards the end of his episcopate and with his encouragement Martin, the future bishop of Tours, founded a monastery at Ligugé in his diocese.

            He died in 368; no more exact date is trustworthy

The Latin Church celebrates his feast on 14 January, and Pius IX raised him to the rank of Doctor of the Universal Church.

The Church of Puy glories in the supposed possession of his relics, but according to one tradition his body was borne to the church of St-Denys near Paris, while according to another it was taken from the church of St-Hilaire at Poitiers and burned by the Protestants in 1572.

Catholic Encyclopedia -- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07349b.htm

And  Wikipedia--  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_of_Poitiersnd

The Life of St. John Chrysostom

Icon of St. John Chrysostom

The Life of St. John Chrysostom

John was born in Antioch in 349 to Greco-Syrian parents. Different scholars describe his mother and his father was a high ranking military officer.  John's father died soon after his birth and he was raised by his mother.

            He was baptised in 368 or 373 and tonsured as a reader (one of the minor orders of the Church). As a result of his mother's influential connections in the city, John began his education under the pagan teacher Libanius. From Libanius, John acquired the skills for a career in rhetoric, as well as a love of the Greek language and literature.

                As he grew older, however, he became more deeply committed to Christianity and went on to study theology under Diodore of Tarsus, founder of the re-constituted School of Antioch. According to the Christian historian Sozomen, Libanius was supposed to have said on his deathbed that John would have been his successor "if the Christians had not taken him from us".

            He lived with extreme asceticism and became a hermit in about 375; he spent the next two years continually standing, scarcely sleeping, and committing the Bible to memory. As a consequence of these practices, his stomach and kidneys were permanently damaged and poor health forced him to return to Antioch.

John was ordained as a deacon in 381 by Saint Meletius of Antioch who was not then in communion with Alexandria and Rome. After the death of Meletius, John separated himself from the followers of Meletius, without joining Paulinus, the rival of Meletius for the bishopric of Antioch, but after the death of Paulinus he was ordained a presbyter (that is, a priest) in 386 by Evagrius, the successor of Paulinus.   He was destined later to bring about reconciliation between Flavian I of Antioch, the successor of Alexandria and Rome, thus bringing those three sees into communion for the first time in nearly seventy years.

            In Antioch, over the course of twelve years, John gained popularity because of the eloquence of his public speaking, especially his insightful expositions of Bible passages and moral teaching. The most valuable of his works from this period are his Homilies on various books of the Bible. He emphasised charitable giving and was concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor.  He also spoke against abuse of wealth and personal property:

“Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"... What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well.”

          He became the Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities.   After his death in 407 (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed" in English, and Anglicized to Chrysostom.

           The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and parts of the Lutheran Church, commemorate him on 13 September. Some Lutheran and many Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria also recognizes John Chrysostom as a saint (with feast days on 16 Thout and 17 Hathor).

        John is known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist. Among his homilies, eight directed against Judaizing Christians remain controversial for their impact on the development of Christian antisemitism. ....

Excerpts taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostom

Check also  Catholic Encyclopedia  

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08452b.htm

Writings from St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor

St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Writings from St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor

From a letter by St. Peter Damian

Let us rejoice in the joy that follows sadness

                You asked me to write to you some words of consolation, my brother.  Embittered by so many tribulations, you are seeking some comfort for your soul.  You asked me to offer you some soothing suggestions.     

                But there is no need for me to write.  Consolation is already within your reach, if your good sense has not been dulled.  My son, come to the service of God.  Stand in justice and fear.  Prepare your soul; it is about to be tested.  These words of Scripture show that you are a son of God and, as such, should take possession of your inheritance.  What could be clearer than this exhortation?

                Where there is justice as well as fear, adversity will surely test the spirit.  But it is not the torment of a slave.  Rather it is the discipline of a child by its parent.

                Even in the midst of his many sufferings, the holy man Job could say:  Whip me, crush me, cut me in slices!  And he would always add:  This at least would bring me relief, yet my persecutor does not spare me.

                But for God’s chosen ones there is great comfort; the torment lasts but a short time.  Then God bends down, cradles the fallen figure, whispers words of consolation.  With hope in his heart, man picks himself up and walks again toward the glory of happiness in heaven.

                Craftsmen exemplify this same practice.  By hammering gold, the smith beats out the dross.  The sculptor files metal to reveal a shining vein underneath.  The potter’s furnace puts vessels to the test.  And the fire of suffering tests the mettle of just man.  The apostle James echoes this thought:  Think it a great joy, dear brothers and sisters, when you stumble onto the many kinds of trials and tribulations.

                When men suffer pain for the evil they have perpetuated in life, they should take some reassurance.  They also know that for their good deeds undying rewards await them in the life to come.

                Therefore, my brother,  scorned as you are by men, lashed as it were by God, do not despair.  Do not be depressed.  Do not let your weakness make you impatient.  Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face.  Let the joy of your mind burst forth.  Let words of thanks break from your lips.

                The way that God deals with men can only be praised.  He lashes them in this life to shield them from the eternal lash in the next.  He pins people down now; at a later time he will raise them up.  He cuts them before healing; he throws down to raise them anew.

                The Scriptures reassure us: let your understanding strengthen your patience.  In serenity look forward to the joy that follows sadness.  Hope leads you to that joy and love enkindles your zeal.  The well-prepared mind forgets the suffering inflicted from without and glides eagerly to what it has contemplated within itself.

                The feast day of St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor is celebrated on February 21.

books.google.ca

 

Taken from the Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Ordinary Time, Catholic Book Publishing Corp.  New York, 1975