Successor to Saint Leo the Great in the 5th century, Pope Hilary was a rigorous defender of ecclesiastical hierarchy and orthodoxy against heresies. Originally from Sardinia, he enriched Rome with numerous religious buildings, notably at the Lateran, and organized diocesan discipline before dying in 467.
Guided reading
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SAINT HILARY, POPE AND CONFESSOR (467).
Origins and Pontifical Authority
A native of Sardinia, Hilary succeeded Leo the Great and strove to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and hierarchy during a six-year pontificate.
Hilary, Hilaire Pope from 461 to 467, successor to Leo the Great. successor to Sa int Leo the Great ( saint Léon le Grand Predecessor of Hilary on the See of Rome. 440-461), was a native of Sardin ia. His f Sardaigne Island of the exile and martyrdom of Saint Pontian. ather was Crispin, and he sat for six years, three months, and ten days (November 12, 461 – September 10, 467). Amidst the general decadence, he held firm to the ideals of ecclesiastical government. The Acts of his short pontificate all aim to tighten the bonds of the hierarchy, to maintain capable and zealous prelates at the head of dioceses, and to prevent heresy from spreading its ravages. He promulgated a decretal addressed to all the bishops of the East, in which he established the Catholic and Apostolic faith, confirming the three Councils of Nicaea, Ephes Nicée First ecumenical council confirmed by Hilary. us , and Éphèse Ecumenical council that validated the position of Maximian. Chal cedon, rene Chalcédoine Ecumenical council confirmed by Hilary. wing the condemnation brought against Nestor ius, Euty Nestorius Condemned patriarch to whom Maximian succeeded. ches, Dioscorus, their partisans, and all heretics, and finally proclaiming the authority and primacy of the Apostolic See. He published a disciplinary constitution on the 16th of the Kalends of December, under the consulship of Basiliscus and Hermenericus (November 16, 465), in the Basilica of Saint Mary, Mother of God. He erected three oratories in the baptistery of the Constantinian Basilica (Saint John Lateran), in honor of Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Holy Cross. In the latter, he deposited a relic of the Lord's wood enclosed in a solid gold cross, enriched with precious stones. He instituted the ministeriales in the cit y of Rome Birthplace of Maximian. Rome, charged with inspecting the churches designated for the stations. He built monasteries at Saint Lawrence ad Balneum, and at the praetorium of Saint Stephen, erected an oratory in honor of the protomartyr in the Lateran baptistery, and created two libraries there. We also owe to him the monastery located within Rome, at the place called ad Lunam. In an ordination held in Rome in the month of December, he laid hands on twenty-five priests, six deacons, and twenty-two bishops destined for various Churches. He was buried in the crypt of Saint Lawrence, near the body of the blessed bishop Sixtus. Th e Apo Sixte Pope near whom Hilary was buried. stolic See remained vacant for ten days.
Struggle against heresies
The Pope confirms the councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon while firmly condemning the heresies of Nestorius, Eutyches, and Dioscorus.
Liber Pontificalis Liber Pontificalis Primary historical source cited for this biography. , translation by Abbé Darras, in his General History of the Church, volume XIII, page 539.
Foundations and constructions in Rome
He enriched Rome with numerous religious edifices, notably oratories at the Lateran, monasteries, and two libraries.
Hilary, successor to Saint Leo the Great (440-461), was a native of Sardinia. His father was Crispin, and he sat for six years, three months, and ten days (November 12, 461 – September 10, 467). Amidst the general decadence, he held firm to the dreams of ecclesiastical government. The Acts of his short pontificate all aim to tighten the bonds of the hierarchy, to maintain capable and zealous prelates at the head of dioceses, and to prevent heresy from spreading its ravages. He promulgated a decretal addressed to all the bishops of the East, in which he established the Catholic and Apostolic faith, confirming the three Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon, renewing the condemnation brought against Nestorius, Eutyches, Dioscorus, their partisans, and all heretics, and finally proclaiming the authority and primacy of the Apostolic See. He published a disciplinary constitution on the 16th of the Kalends of December, under the consulship of Basiliscus and Hermeneric (November 16, 465), in the Basilica of Saint Mary, Mother of God. He erected three oratories in the baptistery of the Constantinian Basilica (Saint John Lateran), in honor of Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Holy Cross. In the latter, he deposited a relic of the Lord's wood enclosed in a solid gold cross, enriched with precious stones. He instituted in the city of Rome the ministeriales, charged with inspecting the churches designated for the stations. He built monasteries at Saint Lawrence ad Balneum, and at the praetorium of Saint Stephen, erected an oratory in honor of the protomartyr in the Lateran baptistery, and created two libraries there. We also owe to him the monastery located within Rome, at the place called ad Lunam. In an ordination held in Rome in the month of December, he laid hands on twenty-five priests, six deacons, and twenty-two bishops destined for various Churches. He was buried in the crypt of Saint Lawrence, near the body of the blessed Bishop Sixtus. The Apostolic See remained vacant for ten days.
Burial and historical references
Hilary is buried near Saint Sixtus after having ordained many clerics; his history is documented by the Liber Pontificalis.
Hilary, successor to Saint Leo the Great (440-461), was a native of Sardinia. His father was Crispin, and he reigned for six years, three months, and ten days (November 12, 461 – September 10, 467). Amidst the general decadence, he held firm to the ideals of ecclesiastical government. The Acts of his short pontificate all aim to tighten the bonds of the hierarchy, to maintain capable and zealous prelates at the head of dioceses, and to prevent heresy from spreading its ravages. He promulgated a decretal addressed to all the bishops of the East, in which he established the Catholic and Apostolic faith, confirming the three Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon, renewing the condemnation brought against Nestorius, Eutyches, Dioscorus, their partisans, and all heretics, and finally proclaiming the authority and primacy of the Apostolic See. He published a disciplinary constitution on the 16th of the Kalends of December, under the consulship of Basiliscus and Hermeneric (November 16, 465), in the Basilica of Saint Mary, Mother of God. He erected three oratories in the baptistery of the Constantinian Basilica (Saint John Lateran), in honor of Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Holy Cross. In the latter, he deposited a relic of the Lord's wood enclosed in a solid gold cross, enriched with precious stones. He instituted the ministeriales in the city of Rome, charged with inspecting the churches designated for the stations. He built monasteries at Saint Lawrence ad Balneum, and at the praetorium of Saint Stephen, erected an oratory in honor of the protomartyr in the Lateran baptistery, and created two libraries there. We also owe to him the monastery located within Rome, at the place called ad Lunam. In an ordination held in Rome in the month of December, he laid hands on twenty-five priests, six deacons, and twenty-two bishops destined for various Churches. He was buried in the crypt of Saint Lawrence, near the body of the blessed bishop Sixtus. The Apostolic See remained vacant for ten days.
Liber Pontificalis, translation by Abbé Darras, in his General History of the Church, volume XIII, page 539.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election to the pontificate on November 12, 461
- Promulgation of a decretal to the bishops of the East confirming the councils of Nicaea, Ephesus, and Chalcedon
- Publication of a disciplinary constitution on November 16, 465
- Erection of three oratories at the Lateran baptistery
- Institution of ministeriales in Rome for the inspection of stations