Nicholas of Flue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Saint Nicholas of Flue | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas of Flue, from the altar piece of the local parish church in Sachseln. |
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| Brother Klaus | |
| Born | 1417 in Unterwalden, Switzerland |
| Died | 21 March 1487 in Sachseln, Switzerland |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Beatified | 1669 |
| Canonized | 1947 by Pope Pius XII |
| Major shrine | Sachseln, Switzerland |
| Feast | 21 March (25 September in Switzerland) |
| Patronage | Switzerland |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint Nicholas of Flüe (Niklaus von Flüe) (1417 – March 21, 1487) was a Swiss hermit and ascetic who is the patron saint of Switzerland. He is sometimes invoked as "Brother Klaus." He was born in the canton of Unterwalden, the son of wealthy peasants, and made himself distinguished as a soldier in action against the canton of Zurich, which had rebelled against the confederation. At around the age of 30, he married Dorothy Wiss, a farmer's daughter. They farmed in the municipality of Flueli in the alpine foothills, above Sachseln on the Sarnensee. He also continued in the military to the age of 37, rising to the position of captain, reportedly fighting with a sword in one hand and a rosary in the other. After serving in the military, he became a councillor and judge for his canton in 1459 and served as a judge for nine years. He declined the opportunity to serve as Landamman (governor) of his canton.
After receiving a mystical vision, he decided to devote himself entirely to the contemplative life. In 1467, he left his wife and his ten children with her consent and set himself up as a hermit in the Ranft valley in Switzerland. According to legend, he survived for nineteen years with no food except for the eucharist. His reputation for wisdom and piety was such that figures from across Europe came to seek advice from him, and he was known to all as "Brother Klaus." His counsel prevented a civil war between the cantons meeting at the Diet of Stans in 1481 when their antagonism grew. The advice he gave them remains a secret to this day. When he died, he was surrounded by his wife and children.
He was beatified in 1669. After his beatification, the municipality of Sachseln built a church in his honour where his body was interred. He was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is March 21, except in Switzerland, where it is September 25.
[edit] External links
- Tradition in Action, a Roman Catholic hagiography with commentary
- Bruder Klaus (German)
- Catholic Encyclopedia article
[edit] Further reading
- Abel, Winfried, “The Prayer Book of St. Nicholas of Flue: Mystery of the Center”, Christiana Edition, Stein Am Rhein, 1999.
- Boos, Thomas, “Nicholas of Flue, 141-1487, Swiss Hermit and Peacemaker”, The Pentland Press, Ltd, Edinburgh, 1999.
- Kaiser, Lother Emanuel, “Nicholas of Flue-Brother Nicholas: Saint of Peace Throughout the World.” Editions du Signe, Strausbourg, 2002.
- Yates, Christina, “Brother Klaus: A Man of Two Worlds” The Ebor Press, York, England, 1989.
- “Brother Klaus: Our Companion Through Life” , Bruder-Kalusen-Stiftung-Sachseln, 2005.
