bavarikon4UDescription
Parish priest Hainreich and the sworn council of the town of Straubing, consisting Gotschalch Pekch, Chunrad Hofman, Johann Göls dem probst, Fridreich Grubär dem chamerer, Ruger Glatzelmann, Hartlieb Chumber pey dem nydern tor, Fridreich Geschirrer and Härtweig dem recht Chumber, confirm the endowment of an "almshouse" near the church of St. Peter, including six spiritual sisters who serve there, by the Augsburg cathedral provost Johann von Göls.
The establishment of the Sisters of Prayer house in the old town of Straubing (Unteres Betschwesternhaus) was intended to give women in need a livelihood as well as a home, board and lodging (but "only to those persons who are fit, hungry and thirsty for the six works of mercy, do not have a proud nature about them and do not merely seek alms"). The women, often unmarried daughters from the artisan and peasant classes, lived together under a "mistress" in a loose, religious community with certain prayer obligations, but without order-like vows. In return, they undertook to care for the town’s dead. Two to six sisters were supported depending on the foundation’s financial situation. In 1924, the Oberes Betschwesternhaus in the new part of town, which had existed since 1364, and the Unteres Betschwesternhaus were combined and the house in the old town was disbanded as a home for the sisters. The trend towards the profession of a "mortuary nurse" is already recognisable among the Sisters of Prayer in the 19th century. Since 1986, the municipal mortuary nurses have been based in the mortuary at St Michael’s cemetery and continue to care for the deceased.
Seal:
The Straubing town seal shows a triangular shield with the Bavarian lozenges, a plough and a lily. Priest Hainreich’s seal shows St. Peter with a key and book.