In 1651, six Franciscans settled on the then still almost undeveloped Citadelle in Düsseldorf and began their service to God. Their extraordinary preaching talent and their dedicated pastoral and charitable work soon made them so popular in the city that after just four years they were able to begin building a monastery and church with the help of donations from the citizens and the nobility. Barely half a century later, these buildings proved to be too small. The convent building was extended and a new, larger church was built in place of the first. On October 4, 1737, the first service was celebrated in this church, which was initially dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua and now bears the name St. Maximilian.
