St. Nicholas of Flue

St. Nicholas of Flue was born into a wealthy family in Unterwalden, Switzerland in 1417. When he was 21 he joined the army; the cantons of Switzerland were at war at the time. He earned the reputation of a distinguished soldier. In 1447 he married a farmer’s daughter named Dorothea Wyss, and they began to farm in the alpine foothills of Lake Sarnen above Lake Lucerne.

Nicholas continued to serve in the army for seven more years. It was said he would fight with a sword in one hand and a rosary in the other. After leaving the army, he served as a councillor and judge for his canton.

One day, Nicholas received a vision of a lily being eaten by a horse, which he interpreted as his worldly pursuits devouring his spiritual life. He decided to leave everything and devote himself to contemplation. In 1467, he left his wife, their ten children, and his political duties and set up a hermitage and private chapel. (It is said that he only left after Dorothea consented.)

As a hermit, he continued to receive mystical visions. His reputation as a spiritual advisor grew, and people would travel from all over Europe to seek his wisdom. He became known as Brother Klaus. In 1470 Brother Klaus’ chapel became a place of pilgrimage along the Way of St. James.

In 1481, his piety and counsel was credited by both Catholics and Protestants with preventing another civil war between the Swiss cantons.

He still remained in touch with his family. His wife and children were by his side when he died on March 21, 1487.

During World War II, the Swiss bishops promised to make a pilgrimage to Brother Klaus’ if Switzerland was spared from the effects of the war. He became known as the spiritual savoir of Switzerland, and he was canonized in 1947.

St. Nicholas of Flue’s feast day is March 21, except in Germany and Switzerland, where it is celebrated on Sept. 25. He is the patron saint of large families, the Swiss Guard, and Switzerland.