It is quite informative and exciting to read letters preserved from Peter Friedhofen as well as his other thoughts committed to writing. From the writings he left, we see his simplicity, but also how much he felt led and strengthened by the Spirit of God and filled with his sense of calling. A new fire burned within him. So he wrote on 7 March 1850 to his great supporter Liehs, »New fire, new spirit, new impulses! I feel myself driven to many things.« And on 24 September 1850, »I am writing a rule inspired by new fire and new impulses, by which we should guide ourselves and by which we will live.« Thus his writings, published in 1953, was given the title »New Fire« (Neues Feuer, Paulinus, Trier).
 
What Peter Friedhofen meant by this new fire can be seen in his letter of 7 March 1850. There, he writes, »First of all, I feel myself drawn to be close as possible to Jesus, to commune often, to lead an earnest life of repentance, and more and more to grow in the love of God. Second, to apply myself to the conversion of sinners... third, I also feel myself driven to plant the love and honor of Mary in people’s hearts...fourth, I wish to care for the sick in Christian love...This is my plan which with the manifold support of the blessed Virgin Mary, my beloved Mother, I realized through the grace of God…The fire that I feel in me is, as I hope, the grace of God, which, as I hope, guides everything well. But I do not wish to trust in myself, but rather submit everything to his Excellency the Bishop and wish to follow his advice and orders with childlike obedience.«
 

Peter Friedhofen realized his plan with astounding resolve and tenacity. The »mammoth drive« he felt inside was followed with iron determination. »I am ready for everything the Lord might send.« Though they often seemed insurmountable, Peter overcame all difficulties that stood in the way of his work, whether these obstacles came from others, from his poor health, or from lack of means. »Let whoever is against me be against me! When God and Mary are with me, then no enemy can harm me. It may be true that the devil roars against me—with good reason, if my little work succeeds!«
In everything, he was inspired by an indestructible trust in the help and power of God. He knew that he was called by God and never doubted that God would lead him the right way.
 
In everything, he was inspired by an indestructible trust in the help and power of God. He knew that he was called by God and never doubted that God would lead him the right way.

The special characteristic of the founder was his devotion to Mary. The Blessed Mother had a powerful attraction for him. Peter Friedhofen grew up in the shadow of church dedicated to Mary in Weitersburg. Since his childhood he was accustomed to make a pilgrimage to the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Koblenz and to ask the Blessed Virgin’s help and guidance in prayer. His vestiture took place on the feast of the Annunciation in the parish Church of Our Lady in Koblenz.
 

Just as Mary was an inseparable part of his life, he felt personally drawn to her. She was his Lady, his Queen, to whom he was »bound in special dedication« and to whom he was »engaged« as for marriage, and in whose honor he dedicated himself as a vessel for the salvation of souls. Further, Mary was for him the highest ideal to which he aspired, knowing that »no one can attain a complete life without being truly devoted to Mary.«
»We gird ourselves with the rosary and with a blue sash. This should be the sign by which we are recognized as sons of Mary, who defend the honor of their beloved Mother and who should perform her devotion in a special way. For I have promised this to the Blessed Mother.«
Finally, Mary was the Mother in whose love and power he felt secure. His letters speak of an unshakable trust in her, an unswerving certainty in the knowledge of his life’s task. »When I couldn’t proceed any further, I would go to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I often experienced her motherly help.« Thus he placed his »little work,« as he humbly called the new order he founded, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin, and according to his expressed wish, the community calls itself the »Brothers of Mercy of the Consolation of Mary.«.
 

There can be no doubt that Peter Friedhofen stood under the influence of a special grace of God and let himself be guided by it. He was called by God to found an order dedicated to the service of the sick. How greatly such a work was needed was shown soon after the founding. From all around came the call for more places where the Brothers of Mercy would care for the sick. They were especially asked to take into their care the poorest of people, the mentally ill.
 

At its heart, however, the goal of Peter Friedhofen was a religious one: to serve God, the Creator and Lord, to further the glory of God and to fulfill God’s will, to lead people back to God, to gather like-minded young men into a religious community in God’s service—this was his plan from which he never deviated.

His deeply religious concern is, and always will be, a testament to the future. The generosity and sense of oblation in which he consecrated himself wholly to the service of God and faithfully followed the goal to which he knew God was calling him should also be a encouraging model for our own time: that we know we belong to God the Creator, that we cannot refuse him the same readiness for service of Peter Friedhofen.