St. Hubert Statue for Hunters

The Nazareth House in Henry, Illinois has a new statue on the property.  The bronze statue sculpted by A.T. Merhaut Company, stands 5 foot in height and depicts St. Hubert (San Humberto), a deer, Laborador retriever, and ducks.  All are encouraged to come visit and pray near this new statue.

History: The feast day of St. Hubert is November 3rd.  Hubert was a married court­ier serving Pepin of Heristal, France. He reportedly had a vision of a crucifix between the horns of a stag while hunting. Widowed, he entered Stavelot Monastery, Belgium, and was ordained by St. Lambert at Maastricht. He succeeded St. Lambert about 705 as bishop.  He was noted for his miracles and for converting hundreds. Hubert died at Tervueren, near Brussels, Belgium, on May 30, 727. He is a patron saint of hunters.

Blessing from a priest:  By the intercession of St. Hubert, patron saint of hunters, may you always honor God the Creator, who set man in dominion over all the animals.  May the Lord God make you an honorable hunter who respects fellow hunters, the animals, and all creation; May He keep safe you and all who share the field or the forest; May He make all hunters proud of their kill, generous with their meat, and thankful in all circumstances.  May God bless you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayer for hunters: By the grace of God may I always honor, thank and adore the Lord God who created the animals and saw that each species was good. Let me love the God who made humans in His own image and likeness and set them over the whole world, to have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth (Gen 1:26). By my honorable conduct as a hunter let me give a good example and teach new hunters principles of honor, so that each new generation can show respect for God, other hunters and the animals, and enjoy the dignity of the hunt.