The Franciscan Holy Land Custodians

I have followed with great interest the latest developments in the Bethlehem stand-off between the group of Palestinian gunmen and civilians in the Nativity Basilica and the Israeli soldiers besieging the compound, which houses two monasteries belonging to the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox monks, the Franciscan Friary and the Pilgrim Hostel, or Casa Nova, run by the same Franciscan friars.

I noted that all correspondents normally refer to the Franciscans, who are the official Custodians of the Holy Land Sanctuaries, as "monks". This is inaccurate. The term "monk" refers to "a member of an all-male religious group who swears to serve God by living a life of service, obedience and prayer, usually in a monastery" (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English).

The Benedictines, for example, are monks. The Franciscans, together with the other "mendicant orders" (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans) are "friars", not monks. The term comes from the Latin "frater", meaning "brother", and denotes the characteristic way of life of those religious who are not bound to a particular place in order to be more free to preach the Gospel by their way of life.

This is a subtle, but important distinction between the male religious orders of monks and friars.