Oxford, in
1222,[2] that it was then kept a holyday of the third class; on which
all were obliged to hear mass, though they might work afterwards. In
France and Germany all servile work was forbidden on it, by the
capitulars of Lewis le Debonnaire.[3] The emperor Theodosius II. forbids
all civil courts and transactions during eight days before the festival
of the Epiphany, and as many after it.

Footnotes:
1. The church prolongs more solemn festivals during eight days, with a
daily continuation of the sacred office proper to each such
festival. This term is called its octave, and the eighth day is
called the octave-day.
2. Can. 8.
3. L. 2, de feriis.

{140}

JANUARY XIV.

ST. HILARY, BISHOP.

From his own writings, and the histories of that age, which furnish the
most authentic memoirs of his life. See what Dom Coutant, the Benedictin
monk, has recorded of him in his excellent edition of his works; as also
Tillemont, t. 7, Ceillier, t. 5, and Rivet, Hiss. Lit. t. 1, part 2, p.
139. The two books, the one of his life, the other of his miracles, by
Fortunatus of Poictiers, 600, are inaccurate. Both the Fortunatases were
from Italy; and probably one was the author of the first, and the other
of the second book.

A.D. 368.

ST. AUSTIN, who often urges the authority of St. Hilary against the
Pelagians, styles him _the illustrious doctor of the churches_.[1] St.
Jerom says[2] that he was a _most eloquent man, and the trumpet of the
Latins against the Arians_; and in another place, that in _St. Cyprian_
and _St. Hilary_, God had transplanted two _fair cedars_ out of the
world into his church.[3]

St. Hilary was born at Poictiers, and his family one of the most
illustrious in Gaul.[4] He spent his youth in the study of eloquence. He
himself testifies that he was brought up in idolatry, and gives us a
particular account of the steps by which God conducted him to the
knowledge of his saving faith.[5] He considered by the glimmering or
faint light of reason, that man, who is created a moral and free agent,
is placed in this world for the exercise of patience, temperance, and
other virtues, which he saw must receive from God a recompense after
this life. He ardently set about learning what God is; and after some
researches into the nature of the Supreme Being, quickly discovered the
absurdity of polytheism, or a plurality of gods; and was convinced that
there can be only one God, and that the same is