Hunting is a big part of what the girls and guys do here. It is an affordable way to put some healthy meat on the table. It’s not easy, as you can imagine. The kids hunt with compound bows. Rosie just started with a crossbow this year because her shoulder is giving her trouble. She has got many a deer with a compound bow, too. Theresa and Hannah have both hunted in the past. So it is not just for the guys.

Two of my daughters married brothers from Maine. They were big hunters and fishermen in those days. They still like to hunt but they are also very busy husbands and fathers.

Anyway, it was mostly because of them that our family got in the swing of things. It always amazes me each year the patience and endurance one must have to sit in a hunting stand….either sweating or freezing and just wait…without moving, for hours. And they can go all season without getting anything. 

If it’s warm, they come home covered with ticks and chiggers. If it’s cold, well…it’s cold!

They love the silence, the outdoors and the feeling of accomplishment when they can put food on the table.

Which brings me to St. Hubert. I never knew he existed until the whole hunting thing. Here is his story and some facts about his life…

St. Hubert – The Hunter Who Found His True Prize

Feast Day: November 3

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33

Among the many saints who show how grace can transform even the most worldly of hearts, few stories are as striking as that of St. Hubert, the Patron Saint of Hunters. His life reminds us that God calls each soul—no matter how distracted or ambitious—to a higher, holier pursuit.

A Noble Beginning

Hubert was born around 656 AD into a noble family of Aquitaine, France. Handsome, intelligent, and of distinguished lineage, he quickly rose in favor at the court of the Merovingian kings. There, he became renowned not for piety, but for his passion for hunting.

He married a virtuous woman named Floribanne, who bore him a son, Floribert (later to become a bishop). When his wife died unexpectedly, Hubert sought to drown his sorrow in sport and excitement rather than in faith.

The Vision in the Forest

Tradition tells us that one Good Friday morning, while the faithful were gathered in prayer, Hubert went hunting in the deep Ardennes forest. As he pursued a magnificent stag, the animal turned—and between its antlers appeared a radiant crucifix.

A voice spoke to him, saying:

“Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord and lead a holy life, you shall quickly go down to hell.”

Struck to the heart, Hubert dismounted, fell to his knees, and asked, “Lord, what would You have me do?”
That moment marked his conversion. He renounced his titles and worldly life, and placed himself under the guidance of St. Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht.

From Courtier to Bishop

Hubert devoted himself to prayer, study, and service to the Church. He was ordained a priest and, after the martyrdom of St. Lambert, succeeded him as Bishop of Maastricht. Later, he moved the episcopal see to Liège, which became a flourishing center of faith and learning.

As bishop, St. Hubert was tireless in his mission work. He preached to the pagan tribes of the Ardennes, converted many souls, and became known for his humility, charity, and deep love of God’s creation. He gave away much of his wealth, cared for the poor, and lived a life of prayer and penance.

His Death and Legacy

St. Hubert died peacefully on May 30, 727 AD, after years of faithful service to his flock. His body was later enshrined at the Benedictine Abbey of Amdain (now Saint-Hubert, Belgium), and miracles soon followed through his intercession.

He is honored as the Patron Saint of Hunters, Archers, Forest Workers, and Dogs, but his story carries a far deeper message: the hunter who once chased earthly trophies found instead the eternal prize of grace. His famous vision, though legendary in some details, conveys a profound truth—that God meets us where we are and calls us higher.

Feast Day Celebration

Each year on November 3rd, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Hubert, honoring the man once known for his passion for the hunt who became a shepherd of souls. In parts of Europe—especially Belgium, France, and Germany—this feast is marked by special “St. Hubert’s Masses,” the Blessing of the Hunters, and even traditional horn music recalling the call to conversion.

It is a day to remember that all creation—from the quiet forest to the noble stag—points us toward the Creator.
May St. Hubert inspire us to seek holiness in the ordinary paths of life and to respond, as he did, when Christ calls us out of the chase and into His peace.

Prayer to St. Hubert

O glorious St. Hubert,
faithful servant of God and gentle shepherd of souls,
guide us to seek our Lord above all things.
Teach us to use the gifts of nature wisely and to treat all living creatures with reverence.
Obtain for us the grace of conversion of heart,
that we may love God with the same fervor that once drove you to the hunt,
and find in Him our truest reward. Amen.

Introduce your children into the family’s prayers at the earliest age possible. As often as possible, say morning and night prayers or the Rosary with your children. Train them to take part in prayers before and after meals. In time of danger or sorrow, resort to prayer as the first and most important source of help and consolation. -Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik. The Catholic Family Handbook

St. Hubert Wire Wrapped Rosaries! Available here.

Each link is handmade and wrapped around itself to ensure quality. 

Catholic Advent Coloring Pages! Available here.

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Roses Among Thorns ~ St. Francis de Sales     Available here.

If you find it difficult to live amid the clamor of the world with your eyes fixed on Christ alone, let St. Francis de Sales teach you how to live as a true rose among thorns as you learn . . .

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• How busy people should pray
• Do you fear vice more than you love virtue? A guide to discernment
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• The three things you must do to be at peace
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As you begin to discern God’s loving hand even in seemingly chaotic events, St. Francis de Sales will lead your mind and your heart to the still waters of God’s gentle consolation.

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• Sacred inspirations: not just for the prophets. The many ways God may be knocking on your door — now!
• Changing your life’s direction: how to spot and avoid all-too-common dangers
• The simple rule of charity: how it can help you make vital decisions
• Are you as mature in the virtues as God wills you to be?
• How to distinguish zeal for God’s will from selfish arrogance
• Three ways you can recognize a thought or sentiment that comes from God
• The key ingredient that makes all your actions pleasing to God: can you name it?

• Making decisions: practical advice to help you distinguish between times when you should move slowly and carefully, and when you should act quickly, without undue time for deliberation

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