Hilary of Arles

Hilarius episcopus Arelatensis

Biography

Born around 401, the kinsman and successor of Saint Honoratus († 430), the founder of "Lérins", known for his spiritual influence and the warmth of his personality, Hilary (or Hilarius) stayed with him in Lérins, where he was in charge of the education of the future bishop of Geneva, Salonius, the son of Eucher, himself a future bishop of Lyon. When Honoratus became bishop of Arles in 426/427, he took Hilary with him, but the latter, in love with monastic life – Eucher addressed to him his Praise of the Desert –, soon returned to Lérins. Honoratus came and snatched him from there so that this time he would agree to follow him and stay with him. He succeeded him as Bishop of Arles, working as a pastor and gaining a solid reputation for holiness. He was a friend of Germanus of Auxerre. Apart from the Life of St. Honoratus, a long panegyric sermon that he delivered probably on the first anniversary of the death of his predecessor, his literary work seems to have been sparse. He died about 449.

Hilary of Arles
Birth date ?
Death date ? (Arles)
Activity Arles
Group of authors Gaul (up to the 8th century)