Why were St. Francis of Assisi’s followers called the Friars Minor or Lesser Brothers?

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Bonaventura Berlinghieri: St. Francis and Scenes from His Life — St. Francis of Assisi *St. Francis and Scenes from His Life*, tempera on panel by Bonaventura Berlinghieri, 1235; in the Church of San Francesco, Pescia, Italy.

St. Francis of Assisi’s followers were called the Friars Minor, or Lesser Brothers, to reflect their commitment to humility and their identity as a mendicant order dedicated to poverty and service.12

By adopting this name, the followers emphasized their status as the "least" among the people, mirroring the spirit of St. Francis, who sought to imitate the life of Christ through total denial of self and the rejection of worldly possessions. This designation distinguished them from other groups and served as a constant reminder of their vow to live in obedience and chastity without owning anything of their own.1