Prior (ecclesiastical) facts for kids
A Prior (or Prioress for women) is a special leader in some religious orders. The word comes from Latin and means "earlier" or "first." Think of them as a manager or a supervisor.
In older times, "prior" could mean any leader in a monastery. But in places like an abbey, a prior was usually ranked below the abbot or abbess, who was the main head.
Leaders in Monasteries
The idea of a "prior" changed over time. In the old Rule of Saint Benedict, it was a general term for any leader.
Later, around the time of the Cluniac Reforms, the term "prior" got a more specific meaning. It became the title for a leader who was like a second-in-command. Many groups, including the Benedictine Order and Cistercians, started using this specific title.
Some religious groups, especially those that started as hermits (people living alone for religious reasons), don't use the title "abbot." They prefer "prior" or "prior general." This is because they want to stay focused on their spiritual life and avoid worldly connections. Examples include the Camaldolese and the Carthusians.
The title "prior" is also used by mendicant orders, like the Carmelites and Dominicans. This applies to both the male members (friars) and the nuns. When someone is called "prior general," it means they are the "first among equals" among their group.
Different Kinds of Priors
The Benedictine Order and some other groups have three main types of priors:
- the claustral prior
- the conventual prior
- the obedientiary prior
A Claustral Prior is like the assistant manager of a monastery. They are the second-in-command after the abbot (or grand-master in military orders). They help the abbot run the monastery. The claustral prior follows the abbot's directions and doesn't have independent power. The abbot usually chooses this person and can remove them if needed.
In bigger monasteries, the claustral prior might have a helper called a Sub-prior. This person is third in charge. In the past, very large monasteries sometimes had even more priors, like a "third prior" or "fourth prior." These extra priors were sometimes called circa because they would walk around the monastery to check if everything was okay. They would report any problems to the claustral prior.
A Conventual Prior is the main leader of a monastery that is not yet big enough to be called an "abbey." These monasteries are called "priories." For some orders, like the Benedictines, a priory can become an abbey later if it grows. But for other orders, like the Camaldolese and Carthusians, a conventual prior is the normal leader, and they don't have abbots. For nuns in the Dominican and Carmelite orders, the leader is called a Prioress.
An Obedientiary Prior leads a smaller monastery that is like a branch of a larger abbey. If an abbey gets too big, or if a new monastery is needed in a different area, the abbot might send a group of monks to start a new place. This new place remains connected to the main abbey until it becomes strong enough to be independent.
A Prior Provincial is a regional leader for certain orders, like the Dominicans or the Carmelite friars. They oversee a specific area or province. The leader of the entire order is called the prior general.
Among groups of friars, the second-in-command is often called the sub-prior. Their role is similar to that of a claustral prior in the Benedictine Order.
Leaders in Knightly Orders
In the Middle Ages, knightly groups also used the title "prior." For example, in the Knights Hospitaller, a Grand Prior managed a large area called a Grand Priory. These Grand Priories were part of even bigger groups called "Langues," which were based on language.
The Grand Priories were sometimes divided into smaller priories and other units. Even though the "Langues" system ended in 1798, the idea of Grand Priories still exists today in the Sovereign Order of Malta, which is a modern version of the Knights Hospitaller.
Other knightly orders, like the military Order of Christ, had one Grand Prior who was the main religious leader for the whole order. During their most powerful times, these knightly Grand Priors were considered as important as a bishop. Today, in some Spanish knightly orders, the Bishop of Ciudad Real also holds the title of prior. In the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, the main leader, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, is also called the Grand Prior.
See also
In Spanish: Prior para niños
