Feast day: 3 November
Hubert was born in about 656 and was the eldest son of a Frankish duke. At the age of ten he nearly died of a fever. He was sent as a young boy to the Neustrian court of Theuderic III, King of the Franks at Paris, where his charm led him to be invested with the title “count of the palace.” Like many nobles of the time Hubert was a hunting enthusiast.
About this time Hubert married Floribanne, daughter of the Count of Leuven (their son, Floribert of Liège, would succeed his father as Bishop of Liège). Bishoprics at that time were considered as inheritable fiefs in the great families of the Merovingian dynasties. Hubert moved to the Austrasian Court where he was warmly welcomed by Pepin of Herstal, Mayor of the palace, who entitled him almost immediately as Grand Master of the household (Austrasia would now include parts of France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany).
Hubert’s wife died giving birth to their son Floribert, and in his grief he withdrew from the court. He then spent his time hunting. There is a legend that while he was hunting in the forest he came upon a magnificent stag; the animal turned and Hubert was amazed to see a crucifix between its two antlers. He heard a voice saying: “Hubert,unless thou turnest to the Lord and leadest a holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into Hell.” Hubert quickly dismounted and prostrated himself and asked: “Lord, what wouldst thou have me do?” He was told to seek Lambert, who would instruct him. However, this story had been appropriated from St Eustace and was only applied to St Hubert in the 15th century.
Hubert went to Maastricht to meet Lambert, a bishop, who received him kindly. Hubert gave up all his honours and his lands to his brother Odo, whom he made guardian of his young son. He gave all his wealth to the poor and was sent by Lambert to the Ardennes, to live among the people and the forest creatures. He studied for the priesthood and soon became one of Lambert’s chief associates in the administration of the diocese. At the bishop’s request Hubert made a pilgrimage to Rome in 708, but during his absence Lambert was murdered in Liège by the followers of Pepin (Lambert, like John the Baptist, had opposed Pepin’s extra marital liaison). The Pope had a vision in which he was instructed to appoint Hubert as Bishop of Maastricht.
Hubert distributed his episcopal revenues among the poor. He fasted and prayed frequently and was an eloquent preacher. In 720 after receiving a vision he brought St Lambert’s remains from Maastricht to Liège with great pomp and ceremony, with several local bishops assisting. A basilica for the relics was built on the site of Lambert’s martyrdom and was consecrated as a cathedral the following year. The see was removed from Maastricht to Liège which was only a small village. Liège became the seat of the future prince bishops, who were also electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Hubert was its first bishop.
He evangelized the pagans in the Ardennes forests and also in Toxandria (now part of the southern Netherlands and northern Belgium). The local people trusted him because they were aware of his skills as a hunstsman. He died peacefully in 727 or 728. Initially he was buried in the collegiate St Peter’s church, Liège, but in 825 his bones were transported to the Benedictine Abbey of Amdain, which became a place of pilgrimage. However, during the Reformation his coffin disappeared.
St Hubert, pray for us.