Mter leaving the army he sought out the holy Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, 1 a man well known at that time for his proved fidelity in the things of God. He stayed with him for a while and Hilary tried to attach him more closely to himself and to bind him to the sacred ministry by conferring the diaconate upon him. But he refused again and again, vehemently protesting his unworthi- ness, until this deeply understanding man saw that there was only one way of keeping a hold on him and that was by conferring on him an office which could be taken as a slight on him. He therefore told him that he must be a