The logo for both the Hartford Insurance Company and Jaegermeister German liqueur is traced to the vision of the apostle of the Ardennes, Saint Hubert of Maastricht, confessor, thirty-first Bishop of Maastricht, and first Bishop of Liège. He was born about 656 and he died at Fura (the modern Tervueren), Brabant, 30 May, 728. He was honored in the Middle Ages as the patron of huntsmen. Jaegermeister means “master of the hunt.” As a young man Hubert seemed to have given himself entirely up to the vanities of this world, especially to the chasing of stags. However, a great spiritual awakening was imminent.
On Good Friday morn, while the faithful were crowding the churches, Hubert went off to hunt. As he was pursuing a magnificent buck the vision occurred. Between the deer’s antlers, there appeared a luminous cross, while a voice could be heard saying: “Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly go down into hell.” Not waiting to get struck off his horse, like St. Paul and, later, St. Norbert, the young hunter leapt off the steed, prostrated himself and said, “Lord, what would You have me do?” He received the answer, “Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you.” Accordingly, he set out immediately for Maastricht, where St. Lambert was then bishop. The latter received Hubert kindly, and became his spiritual director. Shortly after this Hubert’s wife died. He then renounced all his honors and his military rank, and gave up to his younger brother his birthright to the Duchy of Aquitaine, to whom also he gave guardianship of his infant son, Floribert. Having distributed all his personal wealth among the poor, he entered upon his studies for the priesthood, was soon ordained, and shortly afterwards became one of St. Lambert’s chief associates in the administration of his diocese. By the advice of St. Lambert, Hubert made a pilgrimage to Rome and during his absence, the saint was assassinated by the followers of Pepin. At the same hour, this was revealed to the pope in a vision, together with an injunction to appoint Hubert bishop, as a worthy successor to the see. Hubert was so much possessed with the idea of himself winning the martyr’s crown that he sought it on many occasions, but unsuccessfully.
As shepherd of Maastricht, St. Hubert distributed all his revenues among the poor, was diligent in fasting and prayer, and became famous for his eloquence in the pulpit. At the risk of his life he penetrated the remote lurking places of paganism in his pursuit of souls, and finally brought about the total abolishment of the worship of idols in his neighborhood. Between Brussels and Louvain, about twelve leagues from Liège, lies a town called Tervueren, formerly known as Fura. There Hubert went in order to dedicate and consecrate a new church. Being apprised of his impending death by a vision, he preached his valedictory sermon at Fura, fell sick almost immediately, and in six days died with the words “Our Father, who art in Heaven . . .” on his lips. Saint Hubert is the patron saint of hunters.
