lay brother

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See also: lay-brother

English

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Alternative forms

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Noun

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lay brother (plural lay brothers or lay brethren)

  1. (Christianity) A layman who is a member of a religious congregation or monastic order without the intention to become a priest.
    Synonym: conversus
    In feudal days lay brothers were usually uneducated commoners, who did most menial, manual labor while the learned priestly monks held the more spiritual jobs.
    • 2010, WHY A LAY BROTHER?, Franciscan Friars
      The male branch of the Franciscan family, a community of Lesser Brothers, is made up of men who are both clergy and consecrated laity traditionally called "lay brothers".
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