Hubertus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintHubertus |
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Saint Hubert (Franz Mayer & Co., St. Patrick's Basilica, Ottawa, Canada)
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| "Apostle of the Ardennes" | |
| Born | c. 656–658 Toulouse, Kingdom of the Franks |
| Died | 30 May 727 Voeren/Fourons near Liège, Kingdom of the Franks |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Anglican Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 3 November |
| Attributes | gear nearby; knight with a banner showing the stag's head and crucifix; stag; stag with a crucifix over its head; young courtier with two hounds |
| Patronage | patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians and metalworkers |
Saint Hubertus or Saint Hubert (born around 656 – died May 30, 727 A.D.) was an important Christian saint. He became the first bishop of Liège in 708 A.D. A patron saint is like a special protector. Saint Hubert is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers.
People called him the "Apostle of the Ardennes" because he spread Christianity there. For a long time, people believed he could help cure rabies using a special item called the traditional Saint Hubert's Key.
Saint Hubert was very respected during the Middle Ages. Many stories and pictures about him are mixed with those of another saint, Saint Eustace. Hubert died on May 30, 727 A.D. His special day, or feast day, is November 3.
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Hubert's Early Life
Hubert was born around 656. He was the oldest son of a powerful Frankish duke. When he was 10, he almost died from a fever.
As a young man, Hubert went to the royal court in Paris. This was the court of King Theuderic III. Hubert was charming and friendly. He quickly became an important official called a "count of the palace." Like many nobles back then, Hubert loved to hunt.
Around 682, Hubert married a woman named Floribanne. She was the daughter of the Count of Leuven. Hubert and Floribanne had a son named Floribert of Liège. Later, Floribert would also become a bishop, just like his father. Hubert then moved to another royal court. There, he was welcomed by Pepin of Herstal, a very powerful leader. Pepin quickly made Hubert the Grand Master of the household.
His Spiritual Change
Hubert's wife, Floribanne, died while giving birth to their son. Hubert was very sad. He left the royal court and went to live in the Ardennes forests. There, he spent all his time hunting.
A famous story says that one Good Friday morning, Hubert was hunting. Most people were in church. He was chasing a large stag, which is a male deer. Suddenly, the stag turned, and Hubert saw a shining crucifix between its antlers. He heard a voice say, "Hubert, if you don't turn to God and live a holy life, you will quickly go to Hell."
Hubert got off his horse and knelt down. He asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" The voice told him, "Go and find Lambert. He will teach you." This story about the stag first appeared much later, in the 15th century. It was actually taken from the legend of another saint, Saint Eustace.
Hubert's Religious Journey
Hubert immediately went to Maastricht to meet Bishop Lambert. Lambert was kind to him and became his spiritual guide. Hubert gave up all his important titles and wealth. He gave his family lands to his younger brother, Odo. He also asked Odo to take care of his young son, Floribert.
After giving his money to the poor, Hubert went to the Ardennes. He lived among the people and forest animals. Hubert studied to become a priest. He was ordained and soon became one of Bishop Lambert's main helpers.
In 708, Bishop Lambert asked Hubert to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. While Hubert was away, Lambert was killed. Stories say that the Pope had a vision about Lambert's death. In the vision, the Pope was told to make Hubert the new bishop of Maastricht.
Hubert gave his church income to the poor. He prayed and fasted often. He was also known for being a great speaker. In 720, Hubert moved Saint Lambert's remains from Maastricht to Liège. This was a very grand ceremony. A large church was built where Lambert had died. This church became a cathedral the next year. The main church office moved from Maastricht to Liège. This helped Liège become a very important city. Lambert is honored as its patron saint, and Hubert as its first bishop.
Hubert worked hard to teach Christianity to people in the large Ardennes forests. He also taught in a region called Toxandria. He earned the trust of these people because of his outdoor skills. He became an expert on forest matters.
Hubert's Death
Hubertus died peacefully on May 30, 727 or 728. He passed away in a place called Fura, about 30 miles from Liège. First, he was buried in a church in Liège. But in 825, his bones were moved to the Abbey of Amdain in the Ardennes.
This abbey became a popular place for people to visit on pilgrimages. However, Hubert's coffin disappeared during the Protestant Reformation. His feast day, November 3, is likely the date his relics were moved to Amdain.
How Hubert is Honored
Hubert was widely honored in the Middle Ages. Because he came from a noble family, several military groups were named after him. These included orders in Bavaria and Bohemia.
Hubertus was also honored as one of the Four Holy Marshals in the Rhineland. The St. Hubertus Orden, a chivalric order, was started in 1444. In the Anglican Communion, at least two churches in England are named after Saint Hubertus.
Patronage
Saint Hubert of Liège is the patron saint of many groups. These include archers, dogs, forest workers, trappers, hunters, mathematicians, metal workers, smelters, and the city of Liège.
Hunters often see Saint Hubert as the person who started ethical hunting rules. Ethical hunting means hunting in a fair and respectful way. However, after his vision of the stag, Hubert stopped hunting. It was believed that God saw his hunting life as wrong. When Hubert became a priest, clergy were not allowed to hunt. If they did, they had to do penance, which means showing they were sorry.
Hubert's Legacy
Hubert is respected by sport hunters for teaching good hunting behavior. Some stories say the stag told Hubert to respect animals more. It said animals are God's creatures and have value. For example, a hunter should only shoot if they can make a clean, quick, and kind kill. Hunters should only shoot older stags, not those still breeding. They should also help sick or injured animals. And they should never shoot a female deer with her young. This way, the young deer have a mother to guide them.
These ideas are still taught today in hunting courses in Germany and Austria. Hubert's legacy is also followed by French chasse à courre hunters. These hunters ride horses to hunt deer, boar, and roe. They are the last direct followers of Hubert's traditions in Europe. They use special rules and tactics that are very old. They honor Hubert every year in special ceremonies.
The St. Hubert Club of Great Britain works to manage deer responsibly. The St. Hubertus Club Chicago is a German group. It promotes German culture and hunting traditions. The Svätý Anton manor house has a museum about forests, wood, and hunting. It hosts a festival called St. Hubertus Days every September.
Images for kids
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Saint Hubertus Deer, the coat of arms of the municipality of Hollola
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The Vision of Saint Hubert (c. 1617) by J. Brueghel and P. P. Rubens, Prado, Madrid.
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A print in the style of an illuminated manuscript showing Hubert of Liège with the stag.
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Russian Orthodox church and monastery, interior in Sint Hubert, Netherlands
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Stained glass window in St. Ethelbert's Church, Herringswell, Suffolk, dedicated to the memory of Llewellyn Sidney Davies.
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A zinc statue of Saint Hubert and a deer outside Bistra Castle in Slovenia
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Depiction of the miracle of the stag at Château d'Amboise, France.
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Glass window with St. Hubert from Vorarlberg, Austria.
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Saint Hubertus Deer, the coat of arms of the city of Grodno
See also
In Spanish: Huberto de Lieja para niños
- Chronological list of saints in the 8th century
- Jägermeister
- Saint Eustace
- St. Hubert's hound
