Saint Hubert of Liege

[Saint Hubert of Liege]Also known as

  • Apostle of the Ardennes
  • Hubertus of Liege



Grandson of Charibert, King of Toulouse. Eldest son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine. Worldly, popular and dissolute layman courtier at Nuestria in northwest France in his youth. For political reasons he emigrated, to Austrasia in the border area between modern France and Germany. Married in 682 to Floribanne, daughter of Dagobert, Count of Louvain. Father of one son, Saint Floribert of Liege.

Hubert was passionately devoted to hunting. While chasing a stag on a Good Friday morning, he received a vision of a crucifix between the animal’s antlers. A voice warned him, “Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly go down to hell.” It was a conversion experience for Hubert.

Spiritual student of Saint Lambert of Maastricht. When his wife died, Hubert renounced all his worldy positions, titles and wealth, handed his patrimony, and the care of his son, to his brother, and studied for the priesthood. After ordination, he served as assistant to Saint Lambert. Pilgrim to Rome, where he was when Lambert was murdered. Chosen bishop of Maastricht. Known for his excellent preaching and his generosity to the poor, stripping the diocese of all excesses to help them. Following another vision, and to defend of the memory of Lambert, he moved his mentor’s body from Maastricht to Liege, and built a church for it on the site of Lambert‘s martyrdom. First bishop of Liege.

Hubert evangelized the Ardenne region, converting pagans and strengthening Christians. He tracked down some of the old idolatrous places of worship, but generally permitted the new converts to decide for themselves to destroy the old idols. They all, naturally, did so.

Hubert predicted the date of his own death, and died while reciting the Our Father. He became highly revered in the Middle Ages, and there were several military orders named in his honor. His association with the hunt led to his patronage of furriers and trappers, and against rabies and bad behavior in dogs, primarily hunting dogs. The breed commonly known as bloodhounds are also called Saint Hubert’s hounds.






MLA Citation

  • “Saint Hubert of Liege“. 14 December 2014. Web. 25 December 2014. <>