Patron of hunters became shepherd of souls

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. Hubert When: c. 656-c. 727 Where: Belgium What: Bishop Feast: Nov. 3 Patron: Hunters, furriers, trappers, machinists, mathematicians, metal workers, precision instrument makers and against rabies

With the start of the gun-deer hunting season only weeks away, thoughts might turn to St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunters.

This medieval saint was the eldest son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and Hugbern or Afre, the sister of St. Oda. As a youth, he went to the court of Neustria in northwest France, where he became known as the "count of the palace."

For political reasons, he and several other nobles moved to Austrasia, between modern France and Germany. Pepin Heristal, mayor of the palace, named Hubert the grandmaster of the household and soon after Hubert married Floribanne, daughter of Dagobert, Count of Louvain.

One Good Friday, while others were in church, Hubert was engaged in his favorite pastime - hunting. Suddenly, he saw a crucifix between the antlers of a stag he was chasing and he heard a voice say: "Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you will quickly go to hell." Hubert got off his horse, laid down and asked, "Lord, what would you have me do?" He was told, "Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you."

Hubert, whose wife died in childbirth either shortly before or after this - the accounts vary - went to Maastricht and met with St. Lambert, the bishop, who became his spiritual director. Soon after, Hubert gave his birthright and custody of his son to his younger brother, his wealth to the poor, and began studying for the priesthood. He was ordained by Lambert and became one of his chief assistants.

A few years later, Lambert angered Pepin by denouncing him for committing adultery, so Pepin had his soldiers kill Lambert at Liège, Belgium, while Lambert was on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Hubert was chosen as his successor. As bishop, Hubert was known for his excellent preaching and his generosity to the poor.

Several years later, in response to a vision, Hubert ordered that the remains of Lambert be moved from the cathedral at Maastricht to Liège, then a small village, where he had a church built to house the relics.

A year later Hubert transferred the see to Liège, and the church he built became the cathedral. St. Lambert is honored as the patron of the diocese and St. Hubert as the patron and founder of the city of Liège.

As bishop, Hubert devoted himself to missionary work in the forest of Ardenne, where people still worshiped idols. This was the forest where Hubert saw the miracle of the stag. He gradually converted the inhabitants to Christianity and then would lead processions through the fields, chanting prayers and blessing the crops.

Hubert predicted his death and died praying the Our Father.