The Bishop's Lot is Not an Easy One

                                                    Pray for them


Reflections on bishops and their duties from Francis Phillips.

Hail, Saintly Bishop of Arles

                                            An unusual path to Sainthood
Today is the feast of St. Hilary of Arles, (c. 403-449).  Hilary is one of those names, like Vivian, Carol and Evelyn, which was formerly masculine but is now almost always feminine.  St. Hilary of Arles is probably the least well known of the saints of this name, St. Hilary the Pope (Feb. 28) and St. Hilary of Poitiers (Jan. 13) being the more famous St. Hilarys.  St. Hilary of Arles succeeded his relative St. Honoratus as archbishop of Arles, and participated in various councils  St. Hilary quarrelled with Pope Leo the Great and was excommunicated, but they later reconciled.