A friar is a man who belongs to one of the mendicant religious orders of the Catholic Church, such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, or Augustinians. He makes vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, lives in community with his brothers, and serves God’s people out in the world rather than behind the walls of a monastery. The word itself simply means “brother”: it comes from the Latin frater, through the French frère.
As Franciscan brothers, we hear this question often, usually from someone who has just met one of us in our habit. Here is how we would answer it over a cup of coffee. And if you are a young man wondering whether God is calling you to this life, take our short Test Your Calling questionnaire.
Where Did Friars Come From?
Friars appeared in the early 1200s, when Europe’s towns and cities were growing quickly. Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic each gathered men who wanted to live the Gospel radically, owning nothing and going wherever the Church needed them. Because they relied on the generosity of others for their daily bread, these communities became known as the mendicant, or begging, orders.
Francis called his followers the Friars Minor, the “lesser brothers.” He wanted them to be little, poor, and close to ordinary people, especially the sick and the forgotten. Eight centuries later, that same spirit shapes every Franciscan community, including ours.
What Is the Difference Between a Friar and a Monk?
People often use the two words interchangeably, but they describe different callings. Both are good and holy; they simply serve the Church in different ways.
| Monk | Friar | |
|---|---|---|
| Home | A monastery, usually for life (a vow of stability) | A friary, and he may be sent wherever he is needed |
| Focus | Prayer and work within the monastery | Prayer joined to service among the people |
| Examples | Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappists, Carthusians | Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Augustinians |
| Shared by both | Vows, life in community, the Liturgy of the Hours, and a religious habit | |
A simple way to remember it: a monk’s life is anchored in one place, while a friar’s life is anchored in one family of brothers and sent outward.
Is a Friar a Priest?
Not necessarily. Some friars are ordained priests, and many are not. Every friar, ordained or not, is first of all a brother: a man consecrated to God by vows and living in fraternity. A friar who is not a priest is called a religious brother.
What Does a Friar’s Day Look Like?
Every community has its own rhythm, but the heart of the day is always the same: prayer, brotherhood, and work offered to God.
In our friary in Lincoln, Nebraska, the day is built around Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It includes Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and time in Eucharistic adoration, when a brother kneels before the monstrance simply to be with Our Lord. Between times of prayer we work, study, care for our home, and serve those who come to us. We share meals and recreation as a family. It is an ordinary life in many ways, but it is lived entirely for Christ.
The Three Vows of a Friar
- Poverty: a friar owns nothing personally. Everything is held in common, and the community depends on God’s providence and the generosity of friends.
- Chastity: he gives his whole heart to God, which frees him to love everyone as a brother.
- Obedience: he listens for God’s will through the Rule, his superiors, and the life of the community.
How Does a Man Become a Friar?
No one becomes a friar overnight. The path usually takes several years, so that both the man and the community can be sure the call is real.
- Discernment: prayer, spiritual direction, and visits to communities. Our short Test Your Calling questionnaire, at the end of this page, is the best place to start.
- Postulancy: a first period of living with the community.
- Novitiate: receiving the habit and learning the life in depth.
- Temporary vows: several years of living the vows before making them for life.
- Final vows: a lifelong consecration to God in the community.
Could God Be Calling You?
If the life of a friar keeps returning to your thoughts, do not brush it aside. Bring it to Jesus in the Eucharist and ask Him plainly what He desires. We would be glad to pray with you and answer your questions.
The best first step is our short Test Your Calling questionnaire below. It takes only a few minutes, and it helps us get to know you so a brother can follow up with you personally. There are no set visiting dates at our friary; if you would like to come and see, simply tell us in your answers.
Test Your Calling
A Prayer for Discernment
Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Francis before the Crucifix of San Damiano