Hilarus of Mende, St.
HILARUS OF MENDE, ST.
Also known as Ilerus, Hilarius, bishop; d. c. 540. Little credence is to be given to the 10th-or 11th-century vita, according to which Hilarus lived as a hermit on the banks of the Tarn, making periodic visits to lÉrins. A group of disciples gathered about him for whom he built a monastery, from which he was summoned to the See of Mende (Javols, Civitas Gabalum ) sometime before 535. Of his episcopal activities the vita says nothing. Fortunatus records an instance of his hospitality in granting shelter to St. leobin of chartres. The council signatures attest his attendance at the synod of Auvergne (Clermont) in 535.
Feast: Oct. 25.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum Oct. 11:619–638. Vita s. Leobini, Monumenta Germaniae Auctores antiquissimi (Berlin 1825–) 4.2:74. Monumenta Germaniae Concilia (Berlin 1825–) 1:70. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae et mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 1898–1901; suppl. 1911) 1:3910–12. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 10:850–851, gives an extensive bibliog.
[g. m. cook]