Last Updated on January 18, 2024 by pg@petergamma.org
Niklaus von Flüe ( 1417 – 1487) was an influential Swiss hermit, previously a mountain farmer, politician, judge and soldier:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niklaus_von_Fl%C3%BCe
He was married and had ten children. He lived as a wealthy farmer for the time. In October 1467 – the youngest child was not yet a year old, the eldest son Hans was already twenty, so that he could support the family as a farmer – Niklaus left his family with his wife’s consent to become a hermit. Then he lived in solitary retreat until in 1487 Brother Klaus died on the floor of his cell after a hard agony. He lived in solitary retreat for 20 years of his life.
He is considered the patron saint of Switzerland and was declared holy in 1947.
Niklaus von Flue was a very efficient Swiss. He first had a successful career and 10 children. But then he became a hermit and lived in solitary retreat for 20 years, to become a holy person 500 years later on.
To be declared as a holy person by the Catholic Church takes time. “We decide that Niklaus von Flüe is a saint.” said the Pope Pius XII 1947.
This pictures shows Pope Pius XII.
