Life of Brother Klaus
Brother Klaus, who is the patron saint of Switzerland, was born in Flueli in 1417. For fifty years, he lived 'in the world', worked as a peasant, served as a soldier, and was happily married. He was father of ten children, carried out the functions of an alderman and judge who stood up for right and peace.
But in the heart of this esteemed man there was a restlessness that urged him away from his worldly task into a lonliness and nearness to God. Heimann Am Grund, the parish priest from Kriens, was his advisor and the helper on his way. In 1467 Klaus left his family and possessions and became a hermit. Even then he did not cease to be counsellor and peacemaker for his fellow countrymen. Above all is know his interference by the 'Tagessatzung' (council of the Swiss counties) in Stans in December 1481.
As for the rest he lived in his cell in the Ranft, a secluded glen of the Melcha valley. Nearly twenty years he lived there without food. The power of his prayer, his deep ties with god, and his theological clarity have been a miracle for his contemporaries by which they were attracted and at the same time terrified.
Brother Klaus died on March 21th 1487. He is still the quiet warning voice that cannot be ignored.
Prayer of Brother Klaus
O mein gott vnd mein herr,
nym mich mir, vnd gib mich gantz zw aygen dir.
O mein gott vnd mein herr,
nym von mir alles das mich hindert gegen dir.
O mein gott vnd mein herr,
gib mir alles, das mich fürdert zw dir. Amen.
The prayer ascribed to Br. Klaus is known in different versions. The text above is from a Prague manuscript of the 15./16. century.)
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