Roman Sebastian Zängerle

After studying with the Benedictines at Wiblingen Abbey, Zängerle became a novice there in 1788, took his vows on February 5, 1792, and was ordained priest on December 21, 1793.

In 1824, fifteen years after the suppression of his monastery, when there was no further hope of its restoration, he obtained dispensation from his religious vows in order to accept a canonry at Vienna.

These two dioceses, with a population of 800,000, had been without a bishop for twelve years, during which time the government had free scope to infuse Josephinistic ideas into the clergy and laity.

The monasteries, almost without exception, had relaxed in discipline; the clergy, both secular and regular, were for the most part worldly-minded and exceedingly lax as pastors of the faithful.

Despite governmental opposition, Zängerle inaugurated a thorough religious renovation in both dioceses, reformed the existing monasteries, introduced the Redemptorists, Jesuits, Carmelites and Vincentian Sisters, founded the School Sisters of the Third Order (1843), erected a boys' seminary for both dioceses at Leoben, thoroughly renovated the diocesan seminary religiously and educationally, introduced annual retreats for the clergy, and in many other ways provided for the welfare of both dioceses.