St Irenaeus, with whom Hilary of Poitiers has much in common, says: ‘No doubt there are many tongues spoken throughout the world, but the strength of tradition is one and the same … for as one and the same sun, created by God, shines throughout the world, so the light of truth shines everywhere, enlightening all who wish to know it'. St Hilary is one of the first saints in the calendar on January 14th, perhaps because his very name is in keeping with the joy of that season of the year, reflected from the coming of Christ anew each Christmas.

He can be a model for Christians of whatever kind. He was a married Man, yet his life was as austere as a monk's. He was a bishop and champion of truth, an exile and refugee, a writer and theologian; active all his life, yet deeply contemplative.