lay brother

American  

noun

1. a man who has taken religious vows and habit but is employed by his order chiefly in manual labor.

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lay brother British  

noun

1. a man who has taken the vows of a religious order but is not ordained and not bound to divine office

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Etymology

Origin of lay brother

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

“The most vulnerable are always an easy target, even if they are under our sanctuary,” said Jun Santiago, a lay brother of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and a member of Rise Up.

From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2017

After Serenelli's release from prison, he became a lay brother in a monastery.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2015

“MEETING them where they are” is a mantra among St. Boniface’s five priests and a lay brother, who make it a point to invite new faces to monthly home-cooked lunches in the rectory.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2012

At 17, Giuseppe was accepted by the Capuchins as a lay brother, but after eight months they turned him out�he kept dropping stacks of plates, and couldn't even learn to make a fire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Seeing his plight the porter gave him wine, and sent a lay brother to summon the abbot.

From The Winning of the Golden Spurs by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)