Minister General is the term used for the Superior General of the different branches of the Franciscan Order. It is a term exclusive to them, and comes directly from its founder, St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis chose this term to designate the leaders of the various communities scattered around Europe even within his lifetime. He chose this word over "Superior" out of his vision that the brothers of the Order were all to be equal, and that the friar supervising his brothers was to be a servant who cared for (ministered to) them, not one who lorded over them.
In the 20th century, the term also came to be used as well by many religious congregations of Religious Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, in the effort to follow more closely the spirit of the founder of their movement.
See:
- List of Ministers General of the Order of Friars Minor
Famous quotes containing the words minister and/or general:
“But, my dear, you cannot live in isolation from the human race, you know.”
—John Clifford, U.S. screenwriter, and Herk Harvey. Minister (Stan Levitt)
“In the drawing room [of the Queen’s palace] hung a Venus and Cupid by Michaelangelo, in which, instead of a bit of drapery, the painter has placed Cupid’s foot between Venus’s thighs. Queen Caroline asked General Guise, an old connoisseur, if it was not a very fine piece? He replied “Madam, the painter was a fool, for he has placed the foot where the hand should be.””
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)