What is the difference between a monk and a friar?

[lak611]

I know that men in some religious orders are called monks, and those in other religious orders are called friars. What is the difference?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I know that men in some religious orders are called monks, and those in other religious orders are called friars. What is the difference?

Generally, friars tend to be active and monks tend to be cloistered.

Also, monks tend to follow the Rule of St Benedict and friars follow one of the rules of the mendicant orders (Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, Augustinian).

 

[lak611]

Generally, friars tend to be active and monks tend to be cloistered.

Also, monks tend to follow the Rule of St Benedict and friars follow one of the rules of the mendicant orders (Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, Augustinian).

Thanks for the information. Are Benedictines monks even if they are active?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Thanks for the information. Are Benedictines monks even if they are active?

Benedictine men are monks.

 

[lak611]

Benedictine men are monks.

Thank you.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Thanks for the information. Are Benedictines monks even if they are active?

Yes, just as there are Carmelite friars who are hermits.

That is why I used the word “generally”.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

In a good old English monastery, for many years the men ate the most delicious ‘fish and chip’ meals prepared by two of their fellows. The food was so delicious, in fact, that the abbot received permission from the bishop to open up a refectory hall for community dining.

The first night the hall was opened, several hundred people were served. On subsequent nights, if anything, MORE people attended.

After a few weeks, the inevitable publicity had focused strongly on just WHO these chefs were. Despite the wish of those in the monastery to have the chefs’ privacy perserved, the media blitz was so intense that the bishop gave the abbot permission to have the chefs meet in a one-time only media conference to answer questions.

Finally, with the cameras rolling, and hundreds of newspeople crowded into the nearby studio, the abbot and two men walked up to the podium.

“Let me introduce our chefs”, said the Abbot.
This is Brother Hugh --he is the chip monk.
And this is Brother Elias --he is the fish friar.

 

[lak611]

Yes, just as there are Carmelite friars who are hermits.

That is why I used the word “generally”.

Thanks! That helps clarify things.

 

[lak611]

In a good old English monastery, for many years the men ate the most delicious ‘fish and chip’ meals prepared by two of their fellows. The food was so delicious, in fact, that the abbot received permission from the bishop to open up a refectory hall for community dining.

The first night the hall was opened, several hundred people were served. On subsequent nights, if anything, MORE people attended.

After a few weeks, the inevitable publicity had focused strongly on just WHO these chefs were. Despite the wish of those in the monastery to have the chefs’ privacy perserved, the media blitz was so intense that the bishop gave the abbot permission to have the chefs meet in a one-time only media conference to answer questions.

Finally, with the cameras rolling, and hundreds of newspeople crowded into the nearby studio, the abbot and two men walked up to the podium.

“Let me introduce our chefs”, said the Abbot.
This is Brother Hugh --he is the chip monk.
And this is Brother Elias --he is the fish friar.

I like this one. It’s cute.