Hilary riled some, including a pope

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. Hilary of Arles When: c.400-449 Where: France What: Monk and archbishop Feast: May 5

A haunting story in the Gospel (Mk 10:17-22) tells about a wealthy man who asks Jesus how to share in eternal life. Jesus first tells him to follow the commandments. The young man assures Jesus that he's done that since he was a child.

Then Jesus said, "There is one more thing you must do. Go and sell what you have and give to the poor; you will then have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow me."

With that, the young man grew sad, turned and walked away, for he had many possessions.

This reaction was the exact opposite of Hilary of Arles. He was born into a noble pagan family in Lorraine. One day, at the urging of St. Honoratus, a relative, he abandoned a government career, gave his possessions to the poor and joined Honoratus at a monastery in Lérins.

In 426, Honoratus was elected archbishop of Arles. Hilary joined him as an aide. Three years later, Honoratus died. Hilary was returning to Lérins when he learned he had been chosen the next archbishop of Arles. As archbishop, he continued to follow a strict monastic life. He built monasteries, ransomed captives, helped the poor and became a well-known and popular preacher.

Hilary was also noted for his temper which, at times, caused him to act rashly. Once, he deposed Cheldonius as a bishop in southern Gaul because of reports Cheldonius had married a widow after his ordination and, as a judge, administered the death sentence. Either charge, if true, disqualified him from being a bishop. Cheldonius appealed to Pope Leo the Great, who ruled against Hilary.

Soon, Hilary again sparked debate when he appointed a successor to Projectus, the mortally ill bishop of Gaul. But Projectus recovered, leaving the diocese with two bishops. Hilary stuck by his appointment, possibly because Projectus was too ill to serve.

Again the matter was appealed to Leo and again Hilary was overruled. Plus, Leo censured Hilary, prohibiting him from naming any bishops and transferred the powers of archbishop to another bishop.

Little is known about the rest of Hilary's life, but he did continue working with the same amount of zeal as he had earlier shown. And he reconciled with Pope Leo. He died in 449 on May 5, his feastday.