8 . S T .
M A X I M I L I A N
C H U R C H
CITADELLSTRASSE 2A
In 1651 , six Franciscans settled on the then almost
undeveloped Citadel of Düsseldorf and began to
serve God and their neighbors .
Their extraordinary preaching talent and devoted
pastoral and charitable work soon made them so
popular in the city that four years later they were
able to start building monasteries and churches
with donations from citizens and nobles . Almost
half a century later , these buildings were too small
to accept everyone . The building of the monastery
was expanded , and instead of the first church , a
new , larger one was built . October 4 , 1737 she was
lit .
From the very beginning , the Franciscans solemnly
celebrated their services . Thousands of people
visited their teachings . They were favorite
confessors , led a large infirmary that helped all
citizens , fed and clothed the poor , ran a monastic
brewery and , not least , allowed them to receive an
education . Thus , in 1673 , they founded a theological
school , which during the Enlightenment in the
Duchy of Berg was a conservative counterbalance to
the deviation from the University of Rome Bonn .
During the secularization of the early 19th century ,
the Franciscan church and monastery were in
danger of being destroyed . However , this was
caused by the stormy protest and passive resistance
of the inhabitants of Düsseldorf , that this worst was
prevented . Although the religious community was
dissolved , the church building in the late Baroque
style survived and became the second parish church
in Düsseldorf under the name of St . Maximilian .
“ Max ,” since the church is known for being short and
affectionate , remained one of the most popular
churches in the Rhineland as the center of the
Liturgy , the Annunciation and Caritas . The former
monastic building now houses the Maxhouse , a
townhouse of Düsseldorf Catholics .