The Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen began in Dillingen, Bavaria in 1241 when " and his son, (1248-1286), donated to the Community of Ladies in Dillingen a house near the parish church and with it one lot of land, a cabbage patch and a meadow." The community is now the oldest group of Third Order Franciscan Sisters in continuous existence. The founders wanted the women to "serve God, their Creator, peacefully, devoutly, and zealously for the benefit of all the faithful, giving praise and honor to the Blessed Trinity."About 200 years later, in 1438, the building burned and all the founding documents were lost.For about 200 years, from the late 1500s until the late 1700s, the community was more secluded, living more of a contemplative life rather than being active out in the