What does OFM stand for? The initials mean Ordo Fratrum Minorum, Latin for the Order of Friars Minor. The name chosen by St. Francis of Assisi expresses two essential parts of Franciscan life: the friars are brothers, and they seek to be “lesser”—humble servants rather than men pursuing status.
Revised October 5, 2026, to replace a reproduced homily with original writing about the name, spirituality, and daily meaning of Franciscan fraternity.
What Does OFM Mean?
OFM is the abbreviation for the Order of Friars Minor, one of the principal branches of the First Order founded by St. Francis of Assisi. Members commonly place the initials after their names.
The wider Franciscan family also includes the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv.), the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.), communities of the Third Order Regular, Poor Clare sisters, Secular Franciscans, and other institutes inspired by Franciscan spirituality.
Why Are Franciscans Called Friars Minor?
They are called Friars Minor because Francis wanted his followers to live as brothers who willingly take the lower place. The Latin fratres minores means “lesser brothers.”
“Minor” does not mean unimportant or immature. It describes the Gospel choice to serve rather than dominate. Jesus told his disciples that the greatest among them must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves (Luke 22:26).
What Is Franciscan Fraternity?
Franciscan fraternity is a shared life in which men receive one another as brothers called by the same Father. It includes common prayer, meals, work, recreation, correction, forgiveness, and responsibility for the community’s mission.
Fraternity is more demanding than friendship based only on shared interests. A friar does not choose every brother with whom he lives. He learns charity through ordinary realities: listening when tired, sharing work fairly, asking forgiveness, and remaining present when relationships require patience.
Why Did St. Francis Emphasize Brotherhood?
Francis understood his first companions as a gift from God. He did not begin with a plan for status or institutional power. The brothers gathered around a common desire to live the Gospel under the Church’s guidance.
Their brotherhood challenged social divisions. Wealth, education, family background, and former position could not determine a friar’s worth. Each brother received the same call to humility, obedience, poverty, and service.
Does “Friar Minor” Mean a Franciscan Must Think Poorly of Himself?
No. Christian humility is truth, not self-contempt. A friar recognizes his gifts and limitations, receives his dignity from God, and uses his abilities for others without making superiority his goal.
Minority becomes practical when a brother accepts unnoticed work, listens before insisting, cares for someone who is struggling, and treats employees, guests, benefactors, and strangers with equal dignity.
How Is a Friar Different from a Monk?
A friar normally belongs to a mendicant community whose vocation combines common life with active service. A monk is ordinarily rooted in a monastery and its stable rhythm of prayer and work. Both may be priests or non-ordained brothers, depending on their vocation.
Our guide to what a friar is explains those distinctions more fully. The present article stays focused on the specifically Franciscan meaning of “minor” and “brother.”
How Can Lay Catholics Live Franciscan Fraternity?
- Choose one hidden act of service each day.
- Refuse gossip that damages family, parish, or workplace relationships.
- Ask forgiveness promptly instead of defending every mistake.
- Share time and possessions with someone who cannot repay you.
- Pray for the person you find most difficult to receive as a brother or sister.
These practices do not require pretending that conflict is harmless. Charity can include firm boundaries and honest correction. Franciscan fraternity seeks reconciliation grounded in truth.
Learn more through our articles on Franciscan poverty and religious brotherhood.
A Prayer for Franciscan Fraternity
Father of all,
you gave St. Francis brothers to share his Gospel life.
Make us humble in service,
patient in community,
quick to forgive,
and joyful in the good of others.
Teach us to take the lower place with love
and to recognize Christ in every brother and sister.
Amen.