Guilds were professional associations for tradesmen. They were also religious, moral and social organisations. They each had specific patron saints. The 8 most important guilds each funded and maintained a chapel and altar in the church and supported religious and charitable works.

All guild members took part in processions, carrying their guild monstrance at the front. Three examples can be seen here: 

On the left is the butchers’ monstrance with depictions of Saint Erasmus, Saint Vitus and Saint Margaret. 

On the right is the wainwrights’ monstrance, which depicts Saint Catherine.

The third monstrance is the carpenters’. It is made of wood and the middle section depicts the Holy Family. The monstrance was made by the Schwanthaler workshop in the 19th century.