- published: 09 Jun 2014
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A friar, or occasionally fray, is a member of one of the mendicant orders. "Fray" is sometimes used in former Spanish colonies such as the Philippines or the American Southwest as a title, such as in Fray Juan de Torquemada.
Friars differ from monks in that they are called to live the evangelical counsels (vows of poverty, chastity and obedience) in service to a community, rather than through cloistered asceticism and devotion. Whereas monks live in a self-sufficient community, friars work among laypeople and are supported by donations or other charitable support. A monk or nun makes their vows and commits to a particular community in a particular place. A friar in making vows commits to a community spread across a wider geographical area known as a province, and so they will typically move around, spending time in different houses of the community within his province.
In English the name Friar is probably derived from the French word frère ("brother" in English), as French was still widely used in official circles in England during the 13th century when the great orders of friars started. The French word frère in turn comes from the Latin word frater (brother), which is widely used in the Latin New Testament to refer to members of the Christian community.