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Definition 2024


lay_brother

lay brother

English

Noun

lay brother (plural lay brothers or lay brethren)

  1. (Christianity) A layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest.
    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
    • 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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