ILDEPHONSUS OF TOLEDO, BISHOP
By RICHARD P. McBRIEN
Ildephonsus of Toledo (ca. 607–77) was a leading figure in the Spanish Church of the seventh century. Born of a noble Spanish family, he became a monk early in his life against the opposition of his parents, was ordained to the priesthood ca. 637, and was appointed abbot of Agalia ca. 650. As an abbot, he participated in the councils of Toledo in 653 and 657 and was appointed archbishop of Toledo in 657. Ildephonsus had great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and wrote a tract on her perpetual virginity that exercised great influence on the development of Marian evotion in Spain. His feast is not on the General Roman Calendar.
