Franciscan

The Order of Friars Minor (commonly called the Franciscans) is a mendicant religious order of men tracing their origin to Francis of Assisi and following the Rule of St. Francis. The official Latin name is the Ordo Fratrum Minorum (literally, "Order of Little Brothers"); Francis thus referred to his followers as "Fratricelli", meaning "Little Brothers". Franciscan brothers are informally called friars. The order has historically been known as the greyfriars. Among the most important Franciscans are its founder, Francis, as well as Anthony of Padua, Bonaventure, John Duns Scotus, Roger Bacon, Alexander of Hales, William of Ockham, and Giovanni da Pian del Carpini.

External links

• Ordo Fratrum Minorum, official website
• Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum, official website
• The National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order - USA
• The Catholic Encyclopedia: The Franciscan Order
• The Catholic Encyclopedia: The Fraticelli