Hilary was born at Poitiers in 315. He was brought up a pagan and married young. He later converted to Christianity and, as Bishop of Poitiers, was a leading defender of the Church against the Arian heresy, which caused him to be exiled to Phrygia by the Arian Emperor Constantius. To strengthen the Catholic faith and interpret sacred Scriptures, he wrote works of wisdom and learning. He died in 367. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1851.