Order of Minims facts for kids
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Ordo Minimorum
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Francis of Paola (1416–1507), founder of the Order of Minims
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| Abbreviation | OM |
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| Formation | 1435 |
| Type | Mendicant order of pontifical right (for men) |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy |
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Membership (2018)
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176 (including 123 priests) |
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Superior General
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Gregorio Colatorti, OM |
The Minims are a special group of Catholic friars. Their official name is the Order of Minims (Latin: Ordo Minimorum). In some German-speaking countries, they are known as the Paulaner Order.
This religious order was started by Francis of Paola in Italy during the 1400s. The Minims quickly grew and spread to countries like France, Germany, and Spain. They are still active today.
Like other similar orders, the Minims have three main parts. These include the friars, who are like brothers. There are also contemplative nuns, who live a quiet life of prayer. Finally, there is a Third Order for regular people, called laypeople. These laypeople live by the spirit of the order in their everyday lives. Today, there are only two groups of Minim laypeople, both in Italy.
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History of the Minims
The founder of the Minims, Francis of Paola, was born in 1416. He was named after Francis of Assisi. When Francis was just one month old, he became very sick. His mother prayed to Saint Francis. She promised that her son would spend a year at a Franciscan friary if he got better.
Francis did recover, and his mother believed God had answered her prayer. At 13 years old, Francis kept that promise. After this year, he decided to live a life of quiet prayer and simple living as a hermit.
In 1435, two people joined Francis. This was the start of the community. At first, they were called the "Poor Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi." Francis and his followers built quiet places for prayer, called hermitages. They built one in Paterno in 1444 and another in Milazzo, Sicily, in 1469.
The local Archbishop approved their group on November 30, 1470. This made them a proper religious order. Pope Sixtus IV confirmed this approval in 1474. At that time, the Pope also changed their status. They went from being hermits to mendicant friars. This means they relied on donations to live.
The name Minims comes from the Italian word minimo. This word means "the smallest" or "the least." Francis of Paola wanted to show that he was even less important than the Friars Minor. The Friars Minor were founded by his patron saint, Francis of Assisi.
Francis wrote a set of rules for his community in 1493. These rules were approved under the name "Hermits of the Order of the Minims." The final version of their rules was approved by Pope Julius II in 1506. The Pope also made their name simpler: the Order of Minims (Latin: Ordo Minimorum).
Besides the usual three religious vows (promises) of chastity, poverty and obedience, the Minims have a special fourth vow. It is called "a Lenten way of life" (Latin: vita quadragesimalis). This is a key part of being a Minim. This vow means they promise to always avoid all meat, eggs, and dairy products. They can only eat these foods if they are very sick and a physician says they must. The order also goes discalced, meaning they do not wear shoes.
The Minim habit, or clothing, is a black wool tunic. It has wide sleeves, a hood, and a short scapular. They wear a thick, black cord around their waist. This cord has four knots, which stand for their four vows.
The Order of the Minims grew throughout Italy in the 1400s. They came to France in 1482. Later, they spread to Spain and Germany in 1497. After the French Revolution, some of their houses in Spain, Germany, and France faced challenges and closed down. By the early 1900s, only 19 friaries were left. Most of these were in Italy.
By 2010, the order had 46 communities with 174 members. 112 of these members were priests. Most Minims are in Italy. However, they also have communities in places like Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Czech Republic, India, Mexico, Spain, and the USA.
Paulaner Brewery Connection
The Minim friary in Munich, Germany, used to brew beer. They did this to help support themselves. After the friars left, the brewery kept going on its own. It still brews the famous Paulaner brand of beer today. The beer's name comes from Francis of Paola, the founder of the Minims.
Notable Minim Friars
- Gaspar de Bono (1530–1604)
- Marin Mersenne (1588–1648)
- Emmanuel Maignan (1601–1676)
- Jean François Niceron (1613–1646)
- Nicholas Barré (1621–1686)
- Charles Plumier (1646–1704)
- Nicholas of Longobardi (1650–1709) (became a saint in 2014)
- Fra Galgario (1655–1743)
- Louis Feuillée (1660–1732)
Notable Minim Laypeople
- Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
- Vincent de Paul (1581–1660)
The Minim Nuns
In 1483, King Louis XI of France asked Francis of Paola to come and be his confessor as he was dying. While Francis was in France, the Spanish ambassador, Don Pedro de Lucena, met him. Don Pedro was a very religious man and admired Francis greatly.
He sent reports about the holy friar to his family in Jaén. His daughter, Elena, and her two daughters, Maria and Francisca, were inspired by these reports. They wanted to live the same kind of life Francis had started. They asked Francis to give them rules for how they could live. Francis was very happy to help them. He changed the friars' rules so the women could live as cloistered nuns.
Don Pedro gave a part of his land to the young women. There, they formed a small community of nuns. They received the Minim religious habit on June 11, 1495. They then started the Monastery of Jesus and Mary. This was the first and is still the oldest monastery of the Minim nuns. Francisca was chosen as the first leader of the community. She was a leader for many years and became known for her holiness. Today, she is honored as Blessed Francisca. Their own rules were approved by the Holy See in 1506, at the same time as the friars' rules.
Today, the Federation of Minim Nuns of Saint Francis of Paola includes 14 monasteries. These are located in Spain, Italy, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Notable Minim Nuns
A new community of Minim nuns was started in Barcelona in 1623. In 1936, 25 members of this community in Barcelona faced great challenges. Nine choir nuns and one extern Sister were killed on July 23. They were honored as "Blessed" by Pope Francis on October 13, 2013. They are remembered on July 23 each year.
- Josefa Pilar García Solanas (María Montserrat)
- Ramona Ors Torrents (Margarida d'Alacoque of Saint Raymond)
- Dolors Vilaseca Gallego (Maria de l'Assumpciò)
- Mercè Mestre Trinché (Maria Mercè)
- Vicenta Jordá Martí (María de Jesús)
- Josepa Panyella Doménech (Josepa of the Heart of Mary)
- Teresa Ríus Casas (Trinitat)
- Maria Montserrat Ors Molist (Enriqueta)
- Ana Ballesta Gelmá (Filomena of Saint Francis de Paola)
- Lucrecia García Solanas
The Minim Daughters of Mary Immaculate is a different group of sisters. It was founded in 1867 in Guanajuanto, Mexico, by Pablo de Anda Padilla. These sisters work in schools and medical centers. They serve in Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador, Rome, and Nogales, Arizona.
