Peter Friedhofen

Peter Friedhofen (25 February 1819 – 21 December 1860) was a German Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Brothers of Mercy of Mary Help of Christians. Friedhofen worked as a chimney sweep with his older brother until the latter died. This prompted Friedhofen to take care of his brother's widow and children until he founded his own religious order in mid-1850.

Pope John Paul II beatified Friedhofen in 1985.

Life Peter Friedhofen was born at the beginning of 1819 on a small farm in Weitersburg as the sixth of seven children to Peter Friedhofen and Anna Maria Klug. Historians later approved the direction of the cause on 6 May 1981 while the postulation submitted the Positio dossier to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in 1983.

Theologians approved the cause on 3 May 1983 as did the C.C.S. on 5 July 1983 which allowed for Pope John Paul II to declare Friedhofen as Venerable on 24 September 1983 upon the confirmation of his heroic virtue. A miracle needed for him to be beatified was investigated and then validated by the C.C.S. on 18 February 1983 which led to a medical board approving the miracle on 6 April 1984 and theologians following suit on 17 July 1984; the C.C.S. did so as well on 20 November 1984. The pope approved this on 14 December 1984 and beatified Friedhofen on 23 June 1985.