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Honor God by Honoring His Creatures: The Story of St. Hubertus and Ludington's Sin
In the same month that we are celebrating the Holy Week in Ludington, with the last day of the month being Easter, the City of Ludington invited total strangers into town conscripted by the federal government to shoot deer at two places where there have never been any formal complaints or problems with deer. Any female deer taken, and we have been told there was 33 taken, is likely to have been heavy and carrying one to three well-developed fawns.
The blood of many innocents was shed in Cartier Park because of the wishes of a select few who valued their own landscaping over living in harmony with their natural environment we have been blessed with here in Ludington. Those behind the commission of this egregious sin against nature and those who would subject us to this sacrilege in the future could learn a valuable lesson from the patron saint of hunters, hunting ethics, and wildlife conservation.
HISTORICAL NOTE: The following is the Legend of St. Hubertus as popularized through the ages. Historical writings and source documents have been consulted and verification of dates and facts has been made where possible. However, as with any history which spans 1,000 years, complete accuracy is difficult to achieve and cannot be assured.
Hubert was noble-born circa 656AD into French nobility, probably in the European city of Toulouse. He was the eldest son of Bertrand, Duke of Aquitaine, and, thus, heir to the Duchy and all of the appurtenant wealth and hereditaments. Hubert was also the grandson of Charibert, King of Toulouse, and a descendant of the legendary Pharamond, King of Francs.
As legend has it, Hubertus was raised among the splendors of court life and was afforded the finer things in life, including the best education, military training, and ample time for leisure. He had vast wealth, influence and importance, and was described as intelligent, physically handsome, energetic and personable.
At an early age, Hubert was drawn to one of the pleasurable activities of young nobles, the hunt, called la chasse. In fact, the hunt of animals was the primary activity in which he spent his days. His love for the chase was such that he gradually stopped practicing any religious affiliation, instead spending his days in the fields and woods, trapping and hunting.
It is said that Hubert was a renowned bowman, often exhibiting his marksmanship in competitions. He devoted most of his time, even on holy days, to the hunt, a sacrilege in the God-centered times of the Middle Ages.
According to legend, at the Court of Theuduric in Metz Hubert met Floribanne, daughter of a noble, who, while a pious and devoted Christian, liked to ride and frequently accompanied Hubert on his hunts. In 682, they married to great court pomp and ceremony. A son, Floribert, was born to them. Shortly after giving birth, however, Floribanne became ill and she died at the beginning of Holy Week in 684.
As the legend continues, on that Good Friday morning, when the faithful were crowding the churches, Hubert went out to hunt. As he was pursuing a magnificent stag, the animal turned and Hubert was astounded to see a vision of a crucifix standing between its antlers.
He heard a voice from Heaven saying: “Hubert, unless you turn to the Lord, and lead a holy life, you shall quickly go down into Hell.” Hubert dismounted and fell to his knees saying, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?”. The Heavenly Voice replied, “Go and seek Bishop Lambert, and he will instruct you.”.
After his vision, Hubert renounced all of his royal titles and hereditaments. This included the right to succeed his father as Duke of Aquitane, which he conferred upon his younger brother, Eudon, in whose care he also placed his infant son, He gave his considerable wealth and possessions to the poor, and set out immediately for Maastricht where Bishop Lambert received Hubert kindly, and became his spiritual advisor.
Lambert directed Hubert to go and live among the people and creatures of the nearby forest of the Ardennes, and to devote himself to prayer and study. Hubert did so, and studied for the priesthood, into which he was soon ordained, and shortly afterwards became one of Bishop Lambert’s chief associates in the administration of his diocese. Hubert made a pilgrimage to Rome in 708, during which Bishop Lambert was assassinated. Pope Sergius I consecrated Hubert as 31st Bishop of Maastricht. He later became first Bishop of Liege, and was widely known as the Apostle of the Ardennes.
Bishop Hubert was diligent in fasting and prayer, and became famous for his eloquence in the pulpit. He remained steadfast in his concern for the needs of the people and creatures of the forest and set out to convert the pagans and bandits of the Ardennes Forest. It is said that he made many forays into the forest for that purpose, and used his considerable archery skills to gain their respect and trust, at which time they became more receptive to the Gospel. Hubert was ultimately able to convert many of these people to Christianity. He became an advocate for the people of the forest and his wise judgment and intercession was frequently sought in many matters, including those involving the forest, wildlife, and hunting.
Many American Catholic churches feature statues of St. Hubert. Some show him with a quiver full of arrows and a recurve bow. Others show him with hounds, a horse and a long spear. We might never know the exact methods Hubert used when he was hunting (he probably used both), but the lessons passed down to us today remain as clear now as they were then: Don’t put hunting or any other worldly pursuit above your faith. It was further believed that God had seen Hubert’s obsessive hunting life as an unholy, idolatrous one that would lead him to Hell.
The shooters who participated in the Ludington deer cull and their enablers, killing does large with multiple fawns inside, must reckon with themselves and their God whether these acts of iniquity are what they want to be part of in this Holy season, nearly a half year after hunting season.
Honor God by honoring his creatures and eschew the meaningless slaughter of deer in a public park which violates many laws and codes of sportsmanship and accomplishes nothing in the long run except damaging our city's reputation and ethos.
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