St. Hubert of Liege

Hubert was born around 656, the eldest son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine. Hubert was a worldly young man and greatly enjoyed the pleasures of court life; he married Floribanne, daughter of Dagobert the Count of Louvain about 682. He seems to have given little thought to God and one Good Friday, when everyone else was going to church, Hubert went deer hunting, his favorite sport. To his astonishment the crucifix appeared between the horns of the stage he was chasing and he heard a voice warning him that he would go to hell, if he did not mend his ways. He immediately sought the counsel of St. Lambert, the bishop of Maastricht and Lambert became his spiritual director. When Hubert’s wife died, he gave up his wealth and put his baby son in the care of his brother; he studied for the priesthood and was ordained. He became bishop of Maastricht on the death of Lambert and was the first Bishop of Liège. He exerted every effort to convert the people of the Ardennes from idolatry and is known as the Apostle of the Ardennes. He died at Brabant on May 30 in the year 727 or 728. He is the patron of hunters and is invoked against rabies. His feast is November 3.