I though zenit.org provided a very nice summary of Pope Benedict XVI's teaching about St. Hilary of Poitiers, a Church Father I had never heard of before, but who sounds like an incredible guy:"Benedict XVI lauded what he called a gift of St. Hilary of Poitiers: the ability to combine meekness in interpersonal relationships and firm compliance to sound doctrine.
"The Pope said this today at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, in which he continued his reflection on the Fathers of the Church, turning his attention to the fourth-century bishop.
"Noting that St. Hilary confronted the Arian heresy and suffered exile for his adherence to the true faith, the Holy Father said the saint was 'always firm in his opposition to radical Arians.'
"But, the Pontiff affirmed, Hilary 'showed a conciliatory spirit with those who accepted that the Son was similar to the Father in essence, naturally trying to lead them toward the fullness of faith, which says that there is not only a similarity, but a true equality of the Father and the Son in their divinity.'
"The Pontiff called Hilary's desire to forge unity a characteristic of the saint's life: 'His conciliatory spirit tries to understand those who still have not yet arrived to the fullness of the truth and helps them, with great theological intelligence, to reach the fullness of faith in the true divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"'This was precisely his gift: uniting strength of faith and meekness in interpersonal relationships.'"
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