The very name of our saint is indicative of his origin and home, for "de Flüe"—or in Latin "de rupe"—signifies "from the rock or mountain."  Not only the Alpine republic at large, but its rocky centre, the four so-called "forest cantons," the very cradle of Switzerland's national liberty and independence, is our saint's home.  Nicholas, the first-born child of the pious farmer-parents Henry and Herma de Flüe, opened his eyes to the light of this world on the 21st of March, 1417.  The times were bad, and corruption had already begun to reach even the lower classes of the people, and thus prepared the great apostasy that tore the greater portion of Switzerland from the union of the church. (Catholic World, Paulist Fathers, v.45, 1887)