Peter Friedhofen
German Roman Catholic religious, founder and blessed (1819–1860)
Feast: 21 December (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Peter Friedhofen was born at Weitersburg, Germany, on 25 February 1819, sixth of seven children; his father died when he was one and his mother when he was nine, and he knew hardship early. He worked as a chimney sweep.
A layman, he founded the Brothers of Mercy of Mary Help of Christians, bearing mockery and harassment with gentleness and unshakable trust in Providence and in Mary. He died in Koblenz on 21 December 1860, aged 41; his brothers now serve in Europe, Brazil and Malaysia.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
An orphan chimney sweep who founded a brotherhood of mercy, trusting in Providence.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Pietro Friedhofen
- Wikidata Q66706 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Peter Friedhofen (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.