What is the difference between a monk and a friar?
A monk (such as the Benedictines or Trappists) is a priest or brother who lives in a monastery and has limited contact with the outside world. A friar (such as Franciscans, Carmelites, or Dominicans) is a priest or brother who belongs to a religious order founded in the Middle Ages that combines life within the religious community and an active presence in the outside world.
