Premonstatensians
The Premonstratensian Order is named after the Prémontré Monastery founded by Norbert of Xanten near Laon in 1120. The Catholic order, which resulted from a reform movement, was based on the rules of Saint Augustine and propagated an ascetic priestly life in poverty and itinerant preaching according to the example of the apostles. The monks devoted themselves primarily to spiritual guidance and education.
The wooly, unbleached penitential robe of Saint Norbert developed into the white robe of the Order. As a result, they were also called the "White Order". In contrast to the begging orders, the Premonstratensians purchased property and exercised dominion. The order active in spiritual guidance was first able to resettle in Germany in 1921. It developed an enormous effect when it helped many obtain food and lodging directly after World War II. Today it numbers approximately 1,400 members worldwide.
Abbot Augustinus Arzet (1656-1666)
One of the monastery's most important abbots was Abbot Augustinus Arzet, who initiated the Baroque rebuilding phase. He spent his years as a student in Rome, Paris and Siena. In Rome he worked for several years as pastor to the Swiss Guard.
Arzet had the south wing of the enclosure with the refectory rebuilt according to the plans of Michael Beer. The bones of Saint Vincent he brought along from Italy were laid in the side wing of the church. In 1663 Augustinus Arzet was appointed General Vicar of his order.
Wilhelm Hanser, monastery composer (1738-1796)
Johann Nepomuk Joseph Hanser, born near Leutkirch in 1738, took his vows to the order in 1758 in Bad Schussenried and was given the name Wilhelm. As music director of the monastery he composed his Opus 1 with 24 vesper psalms for choir and orchestra, with which he achieved great notoriety in Southern Germany. As the "star" discovered by the mother monastery Prémontré he used his favorable position in France to establish a monastery music school and lived an extremely exclusive and expensive life. His students included Nicolas Méhul, who was among the leading opera composers of Paris around 1800. The specialized French literature call Wilhelm Hanser the best organist of the Swabian Group and a talented teacher, who was known for his passionate organ playing and his exquisite melodies. The monk later returned to Schussenried and composed further works there which have been largely lost today.
Gustav Mesmer, "Icarus of the Lauter valley" (1903-1994)
Gustav Mesmer, the builder of flying bicycles, is certainly the most famous patient of the psychiatric hospital at Schussenried. He was held there from 1929 to 1949. After he had interrupted a service with a spontaneous sermon which he supposedly peppered with abusive calls on the blood of Christ, a doctor sent him to Schussenried. There he was diagnosed as being schizophrenic. Mesmer himself later called the occurrence " a religious accident". The inventor, draftsman, joiner, basket weaver and do-it-yourselfer dreamed himself over the walls of the institution. His put his ideas for flying machines down on paper with poetic drawings and design notes. The doctors certified him as having "Erfinderwahn" (inventor's insanity). Later, at the "Landheim" in Buttenhausen (country home for the aged and handicapped), he tested his self-built flying machines on the surrounding slopes. His dream remained a flying machine operated only with muscle power. Two years before his death one of his flying bicycle was exhibited at the World Exhibition in Seville on the subject of "The Dream of Flying".