“Ad servitium et communem utilitatem fratrum” The concept of goverment of the fraternity according to the mind of saint Francis

Saint Francis of Assisi envisaged a new form of government in the Order of friars Minor. In a time when the prevailing model was the monastic and Benedictine model of the abbot or prior as father and head of the community of monks, Francis introduced the figure of the minister and servant of the fraternity, calling him by various names, such as minister, custos and guardianus.

Ad servitium et communem utilitatem fratrum