*Ø* Blogmanac November 3 | St Hubert and the Sacred Stag

Feast day of St Hubert of Liege (Belgium)

Patron saint of hunters

(Born c. 656; died at Fura (the modern Tervueren), Brabant, 30 May, 727 or 728.)

St Hubert of Liege, who is believed to have been the son of Bertrand, Duke of Guienne in Belgium, is the patron saint of hunters, metal-workers and mathematicians.

He spent so much of his time and energies hunting, thereby neglecting his religious duties, that one day in the woods, a stag bearing a crucifix threatened him with eternal damnation if he did not mend his ways.

On a Good Friday morning, when the religious were crowding the churches, Hubert instead went out hunting. As he pursued a magnificent stag, the animal turned and, according to the legend, he was astounded to see a crucifix between its antlers. Hubert heard a voice saying: “Hubert, unless thou turnest to the Lord, and leadest an holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into hell”. Hubert dismounted, prostrated himself and said, “Lord, what wouldst Thou have me do?” He received the answer, “Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you.”

More about St Hubert and the stag at The Horned God and Western Saints