On Tue, 14 Jan 1997 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Today, 14 January, is the feast of ...
>
>
> * Hilary of Poitiers, doctor of the Church (c. 368)
> - born a pagan, he converted by meditating on the absurdity
> of polytheism, and on the essence of the words 'I AM WHO
> AM'
>
Also a strong opponent of Arianism, Hilary opposed the condemnation of
Athanasius at the Councils of Milan (355) and Beziers (356). He was
subsequently exiled, prob. to the diocese of Asia (356-361 CE). While in
the east, Hilary whose Greek (as well as whose Latin) was outstanding
emersed himself in Greek philosophic and theological discourse. It was
while he was in exile that he produced his great work on the Trinity (De
Trinitate) which translated for the first time in a systematic way the
language of Greek theology into a Latin idiom. Important as a defence of
Orthodoxy in general and Athenasius' position in paricular, The De
Trinitate was a crucial text in the development of western thinking on the
Eucharist (what would eventually be described as "transubstansiation").
Upon his return from exile, Hilary resumed his duties as bishop of
Poitiers and opponent of Arianism. The monastery of Saint-Hilaire was
founded in Poitiers at the tomb of this saint who retained a considerable
cult throughout the middle ages. The monastery during the Carolingian era
became the home of canons rather than monks while her daughter house,
Nouaille, was reformed as an abby of Benedictine monks, thus setting the
stage for a long-term ecclesiological struggle in the diocese. In a
discusson of Hilary's christology on the feast of the saint (!) at the
legatine Council of Poitiers in 1075 (discussions of such issues had been
mandatory at synods since ancient times-- it was only apprropriate that
Hilary's work be chosen. Usually, the Atenasian creed was explicated),
Berengar of Tours made some remarks that called into question the
orthodoxy of the church father (given the importance of Hilary's thought
to supporters of the "real presence", this was only to be expected--
albiet highly impoloitic), thereby setting off a riot among the
participants at the synod. It was this event that may well have sealed
Berengar's fate (the acta of the synod are the first to use the term
"substantialiter" w/respect to the eucharist-- an important development
that (1) corrected the embarrassing realism of the formula at Rome in 1059
and (2) led directly to the formulation at Rome in 1079); that started the
papacy on the road to the reform of the French church; and finally,
illustrated the depth of dedication which Hilary retained in the poitevin
church.
Michael F. Hynes
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