Saint Hilary (Illier) of Mende

Soon after, followed by three companions animated by the same spirit as himself, he chose a place of retreat about two miles from the small town of Mende. From there, he often came during the night to spend it in prayer near the tomb of Saint Privat. The saint Privat Predecessor of Firmin and martyr under Gallienus and Valerian. demon, displeased with such a holy life, did not fail to persecute him. For this, he took advantage especially of the time of darkness, when the holy young man came to pray during the night in the church of the patron saint of the diocese. Once, he made appear before him what seemed like a vast pond of fire; but Saint Hilaire made the sign of the cross and continued on his way without receiving any harm. Another time, as he was returning from fulfilling his devotion, the demons, seizing his person, transported him far away into the middle of a thick forest, where his companions, desolate and running everywhere in search of him, discovered him at the end of three days, celebrating the praises of God with psalms.

His way of life and the radiance of his virtues did not take long to attract other disciples to him, which led him to conceive the plan of founding a true monastery. He went to establish it on the banks of the T rivière du Tarn River on the banks of which the saint founded his monastery. arn river, at some distance below the current town of Sainte-Enimie. The author of his legend informs us that he had a well-built house constructed in this place, which required much expense and labor, and that he subsequently gathered a very large number of religious there.

One day, as he was passing along the bank of the Tarn on a very bad path, his foot slipped and he fell into an abyss, at the bottom of which he remained for two hours. When news of this unfortunate accident became known, people hastened to go to his aid or search for him by means of a boat, and suddenly they saw him standing on the surface of the water, full of life and celebrating the goodness and power of God.

In order to give his many disciples the true spirit of religious life, Saint Hilaire, taking with him some of his brothers, went to establish himself for a time in a solitary place, not far from Marseille; and from there he made frequent visits to the monks of the island of Lérins, to b e instructed île de Lérins Famous monastery where Domitian stayed. in their school in the ways of perfection.

Once, while returning from this famous monastery, he spent a few days in Marseille for reasons of charity. He had a vision in which God made it known to him that He was going to chastise this city. Indeed, shortly after his departure, an epidemic occurred there so terrible that it resisted all remedies and did not even give time to use them. A servant of the host who had lodged him was struck by the plague. His master, remembering the holiness of Hilaire, quickly went to fetch his cloak which he had forgotten in the monks' room and placed it on the sick man, who was healed immediately. Then the same remedy produced the same miracle on all the other people in the house as well as in the family of the host's brother.

Finally, when Saint Hilary believed he had made sufficient spiritual provisions with the skilled masters of Lérins, he returned to his monastery on the banks of the Tarn. It appears that it was at this time that, the episcopal see of Mende having become vacant, he was called to fill it. A better choice could not have been made: the faithful were not deceived in their hopes, if one is to judge by the other wonders that we are about to recount of him, according to the author of his legend.

A pious person, by the name of Marcianilla, who had consecrated her virginity to God, had in the middle of her properties a fountain which was their life and resource. Now, it had been seven years since it had given any water. This is why, knowing that Saint Hilary was easily heard by God, this woman came to ask him for a miracle. The charitable pontiff welcomed her with kindness and said to her: "We are both going to pray by this fountain, and we must hope that God will hear us." They went there, therefore, and, after having prayed for some time, the spring began to flow again with its former abundance.

During one of his visits to his monastery on the banks of the Tarn, Saint Hilary learned that in the neighborhood a popular festival of pagan origin and full of diabolical rites was being celebrated. Immediately, taking with him only two religious, he headed toward the designated place. As he was about to arrive there, these fanatics thought they saw a numerous army advancing against them and fled in terror in all directions. Then, when they learned the reality of the fact, they recognized the finger of God in what had just happened and asked to be reconciled with the holy Church.

During the episcopate of Saint Hilaire, the Frankish soldier s of Theude Thierry Ier King of Austrasia and Auvergne in the 6th century. ric I, King of Austrasia and eldest son of the great Clovis, advanced into the Gévaudan to conquer it and went to besiege the castle of Méléna, where Saint Hilaire had taken refuge, no doubt with all the forces and resources of the country, of which he was at once the bishop and the temporal sovereign. This siege had already been going on for a long time when God made it known to him that the besiegers were disposed to treat honorably. He therefore left the fortress, and all things came to pass just as heaven had revealed to him.

One of the leaders of the besieging army showed him every kind of regard and even invited him to his table: to which Saint Hilaire acquiesced with kindness and confidence. Now, this warrior had in his service a man who, although a Christian, had made a reputation for great wickedness, even toward innocent people. During the meal, this man dared to sit at the table and ask the bishop for his blessing. Saint Hilaire refused him, saying: "I have nothing in common with men who permit themselves the most execrable things." This refusal excited his anger: he swore the death of the prelate, boasting that he would not let him return home safe and sound. Then, continuing to perform his culinary duties, it happened that, while stoking the fire, he overturned a cauldron full of boiling water onto himself. The excess of pain put him so beside himself that, thrashing about like a madman, he rolled into the middle of the flames of the hearth and soon after succumbed to atrocious suffering.

Some time later, the King of Austrasia having died, his son Theudeb ert I, who suc Théodebert Ier King of Austrasia, son of Theuderic I. ceeded him, came to visit his southern provinces. Saint Hilaire, having learned of his arrival in Auvergne, hastened to go there to treat with him regarding certain affairs of his small state of Gévaudan. On the way, he stopped to rest for the night in a place called Arisen-cus, today Arzenc d'Apcher. Given the small size of the place and no doubt also the mildness of the season, the caravan camped in tents in the open country. Now, during the night, the tribune Leon, who, with the men composing the escort, was keeping watch near the prelate's tent, perceived a great light there and heard mysterious figures who were conversing with him. The next day, the holy pastor, to whom this soldier had no doubt addressed some question relative to this incident, said to him: "Do not make known anything of what you have seen; I will only tell you that God has revealed to me that my journey will be successful and that we will soon be able to return to our homes." Indeed, Saint Hilaire was received with the greatest regard by King Theudebert, who satisfied his proposals and requests with a full heart. This took place in 534.

The following year, with the approval of this same prince, a rathe r import Clermont City of origin of the two saints. ant Council of the entire ecclesiastical province of Bourges was held in Clermont. Saint Hilary was one of the Fathers of this august assembly, which was presided over by Saint Honoratus, Archbishop of Bourges. The Bishop of Mende occupied the fourth rank there.

Saint Hilary died on October 25 (around 540).

## CULT AND RELICS.

The relics of Saint Hilaire first rested in Mende. Later, during the time of Dagobert I or shortly thereafter, the people of Toulouse, having acquired them in an unknown manner, sent them along with those of Saint Patroclus, Bishop of Grenoble and martyr, and those of Saint Romanus, priest and religious of Blaye, to the monks of the mon Saint-Denis Place where the saint's relics were kept until the French Revolution. astery of Saint-Denis, near Paris, with the intent of obtaining in return the body of Saint Saturnin. — The same monks, having founded a monastery at Salone, in the diocese of Metz, transported there the relics of Saint Hilaire and those of Saint Privat, also taken by Dagobert. A little more than a century later, the monks of Salone had to return to Saint-Denis and brought their relics back with them. This was towards the end of the 9th century. The body of Saint Privat was then requested and obtained by the faithful of Mende; but that of Saint Hilaire remained at Saint-Denis, where it perished in 1793.

We owe this notice to the kindness of the Abbé Charbonnel, former professor. (Letter of May 26, 1878.) — Cf. Act. SS. Oct., volume XI, page 619.

SAINT BONIFACE I, POPE AND CONFESSOR. 633