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:
“Just let him be minister if that’s what he desires, but without his brother and his brother-in-law.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
“I never saw any people who appeared to live so much without amusement as the Cincinnatians.... Were it not for the churches,... I think there might be a general bonfire of best bonnets, for I never could discover any other use for them.”
—Frances Trollope (1780–1863)