The Father's gift in Christ

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

On Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter, a reading from the treatise On the Trinity by Saint Hilary, bishop.

Saint Hilary was a fourth century bishop of Poitiers, France and a Doctor of the Church. His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. Saint Hilary is best known as the leading opponent of Arianism during his time. Arianism was named after Arian, a priest who taught that Jesus Christ was not divine. Arianism was becoming popular among Christians in this era and Saint Hilary’s theological position was supported by Constantine the Great.

During the years between the Council of Nicaea (325) and the Council of Constantinople (381), imperial opposition to Nicene theology sent several of its supporters into exile. One of these supporters was Saint Hilary, the Bishop of Poitiers. Begun during its author's exile (356-360), Saint Hilary's “On the Trinity” provides a comprehensive discussion of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son: they are consubstantial, co-eternal, and fully equal. This work was a trailblazer in its day because, apart from Tertullian's relatively brief remarks on the Trinity, it is the earliest study of Trinitarian doctrine in the Latin language.