St. Niklaus von Flüe is the patron saint of Switzerland. Swiss mystic and man of complete moral integrity, he is also referred to affectionately as "Bruder Klaus".
He was born in a farmhouse in Flüeli, a village in Canton Obwalden, in 1417. He married Dorothea Wyss in 1447 and they had 10 children together.
In 1467, with Dorothea's permission, he abandoned all to become a hermit and pilgrim of God. His life was focused on fasting, prayer, and meditation. Bruder Klaus was also known as a peacemaker throughout Europe and consulted on many affairs. In 1481, he averted a civil war situation in Switzerland.
When Niklaus von Flüe died in 1487, his body was brought to Sachseln and buried in the Parish Church.
After Pope Innocent X beatified Niklaus von Flüe on February 1, 1649, the people of Sachseln built a larger church for him. His remains were moved to the new Parish Church on completion and rest there to this day.
He was later canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 15, 1947.∼Born 1417, Unterwalden, Switzerland
Died 21 March 1487, Sachseln, Switzerland
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified in 1669
Canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII
Major shrine Sachseln, Switzerland
Feast 21 March (25 September in Switzerland & Germany)
Patronage Switzerland
Saint Nicholas of Flüe (German: Niklaus von Flüe) 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 Flüeli in the alpine foothills, above Sachseln on the Lake Sarnen. 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 of a lily eaten by a horse, which he recognized as indicating that the cares of his worldly life (the draft horse pulling a plough) was swallowing up his spiritual life (the lily, a symbol of purity) 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, establishing a chantry for a priest from his own funds so that he could assist at mass daily. 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." In 1470, Pope Paul II granted the first indulgence to the sanctuary at Ranft and it became a place of pilgrimage, being as it lay on the Jakobsweg (English: Way of St. James), the road pilgrims travelled on to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 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. Despite being illiterate and having limited experience with the world, his is honored among both Protestants and Catholics with the permanent national unity of Switzerland. Letters of thanks to him from Berne and Soleure still survive. 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 and Germany where it is September 25.
He was born in a farmhouse in Flüeli, a village in Canton Obwalden, in 1417. He married Dorothea Wyss in 1447 and they had 10 children together.
In 1467, with Dorothea's permission, he abandoned all to become a hermit and pilgrim of God. His life was focused on fasting, prayer, and meditation. Bruder Klaus was also known as a peacemaker throughout Europe and consulted on many affairs. In 1481, he averted a civil war situation in Switzerland.
When Niklaus von Flüe died in 1487, his body was brought to Sachseln and buried in the Parish Church.
After Pope Innocent X beatified Niklaus von Flüe on February 1, 1649, the people of Sachseln built a larger church for him. His remains were moved to the new Parish Church on completion and rest there to this day.
He was later canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 15, 1947.∼Born 1417, Unterwalden, Switzerland
Died 21 March 1487, Sachseln, Switzerland
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified in 1669
Canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII
Major shrine Sachseln, Switzerland
Feast 21 March (25 September in Switzerland & Germany)
Patronage Switzerland
Saint Nicholas of Flüe (German: Niklaus von Flüe) 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 Flüeli in the alpine foothills, above Sachseln on the Lake Sarnen. 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 of a lily eaten by a horse, which he recognized as indicating that the cares of his worldly life (the draft horse pulling a plough) was swallowing up his spiritual life (the lily, a symbol of purity) 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, establishing a chantry for a priest from his own funds so that he could assist at mass daily. 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." In 1470, Pope Paul II granted the first indulgence to the sanctuary at Ranft and it became a place of pilgrimage, being as it lay on the Jakobsweg (English: Way of St. James), the road pilgrims travelled on to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 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. Despite being illiterate and having limited experience with the world, his is honored among both Protestants and Catholics with the permanent national unity of Switzerland. Letters of thanks to him from Berne and Soleure still survive. 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 and Germany where it is September 25.
St. Niklaus von Flüe is the patron saint of Switzerland. Swiss mystic and man of complete moral integrity, he is also referred to affectionately as "Bruder Klaus".
He was born in a farmhouse in Flüeli, a village in Canton Obwalden, in 1417. He married Dorothea Wyss in 1447 and they had 10 children together.
In 1467, with Dorothea's permission, he abandoned all to become a hermit and pilgrim of God. His life was focused on fasting, prayer, and meditation. Bruder Klaus was also known as a peacemaker throughout Europe and consulted on many affairs. In 1481, he averted a civil war situation in Switzerland.
When Niklaus von Flüe died in 1487, his body was brought to Sachseln and buried in the Parish Church.
After Pope Innocent X beatified Niklaus von Flüe on February 1, 1649, the people of Sachseln built a larger church for him. His remains were moved to the new Parish Church on completion and rest there to this day.
He was later canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 15, 1947.∼Born 1417, Unterwalden, Switzerland
Died 21 March 1487, Sachseln, Switzerland
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified in 1669
Canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII
Major shrine Sachseln, Switzerland
Feast 21 March (25 September in Switzerland & Germany)
Patronage Switzerland
Saint Nicholas of Flüe (German: Niklaus von Flüe) 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 Flüeli in the alpine foothills, above Sachseln on the Lake Sarnen. 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 of a lily eaten by a horse, which he recognized as indicating that the cares of his worldly life (the draft horse pulling a plough) was swallowing up his spiritual life (the lily, a symbol of purity) 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, establishing a chantry for a priest from his own funds so that he could assist at mass daily. 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." In 1470, Pope Paul II granted the first indulgence to the sanctuary at Ranft and it became a place of pilgrimage, being as it lay on the Jakobsweg (English: Way of St. James), the road pilgrims travelled on to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 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. Despite being illiterate and having limited experience with the world, his is honored among both Protestants and Catholics with the permanent national unity of Switzerland. Letters of thanks to him from Berne and Soleure still survive. 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 and Germany where it is September 25.
He was born in a farmhouse in Flüeli, a village in Canton Obwalden, in 1417. He married Dorothea Wyss in 1447 and they had 10 children together.
In 1467, with Dorothea's permission, he abandoned all to become a hermit and pilgrim of God. His life was focused on fasting, prayer, and meditation. Bruder Klaus was also known as a peacemaker throughout Europe and consulted on many affairs. In 1481, he averted a civil war situation in Switzerland.
When Niklaus von Flüe died in 1487, his body was brought to Sachseln and buried in the Parish Church.
After Pope Innocent X beatified Niklaus von Flüe on February 1, 1649, the people of Sachseln built a larger church for him. His remains were moved to the new Parish Church on completion and rest there to this day.
He was later canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 15, 1947.∼Born 1417, Unterwalden, Switzerland
Died 21 March 1487, Sachseln, Switzerland
Venerated in Roman Catholicism
Beatified in 1669
Canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII
Major shrine Sachseln, Switzerland
Feast 21 March (25 September in Switzerland & Germany)
Patronage Switzerland
Saint Nicholas of Flüe (German: Niklaus von Flüe) 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 Flüeli in the alpine foothills, above Sachseln on the Lake Sarnen. 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 of a lily eaten by a horse, which he recognized as indicating that the cares of his worldly life (the draft horse pulling a plough) was swallowing up his spiritual life (the lily, a symbol of purity) 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, establishing a chantry for a priest from his own funds so that he could assist at mass daily. 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." In 1470, Pope Paul II granted the first indulgence to the sanctuary at Ranft and it became a place of pilgrimage, being as it lay on the Jakobsweg (English: Way of St. James), the road pilgrims travelled on to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 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. Despite being illiterate and having limited experience with the world, his is honored among both Protestants and Catholics with the permanent national unity of Switzerland. Letters of thanks to him from Berne and Soleure still survive. 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 and Germany where it is September 25.
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