CHAPTER III
: THE ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES AND THE FORMATION OF MEMBERS
ARTICLE 1:
ADMISSION TO THE NOVITIATE
Can.
641 The right to admit candidates to the novitiate belongs to the major
Superiors, in accordance with the norms of the institute's own law.
Can.
642 Superiors are to exercise a vigilant care to admit only those who, besides
being of required age, are healthy, have a suitable disposition, and have
sufficient maturity to undertake the life which is proper to the institute. If
necessary, the health, disposition and maturity are to be established by
experts, without prejudice to can. 220.
Can.
643 §1 The following are invalidly admitted to the novitiate:
1° One who
has not yet completed the seventeenth year of age;
2° a
spouse, while the marriage lasts;
3° one who
is currently bound by a sacred bond to some institute of consecrated life, or
is incorporated in some society of apostolic life, without prejudice to can.
684;
4° one who
enters the institute through force, fear or deceit, or whom the Superior
accepts under the same influences;
5° one who
has concealed his or her incorporation in an institute of consecrated life or
society of apostolic life.
§2 An
institute's own law can constitute other impediments even for the validity of
admission, or attach other conditions.
Can.
644 Superiors are not to admit secular clerics to the novitiate without
consulting their proper Ordinary; nor those who have debts which they are
unable to meet.
Can.
645 §1 Before candidates are admitted to the novitiate they must produce proof
of baptism and confirmation, and of their free status.
§2 The
admission of clerics or others who had been admitted to another institute of
consecrated life, to a society of apostolic life, or to a seminary, requires in
addition the testimony of, respectively, the local Ordinary, or the major
Superior of the institute or society, or the rector of the seminary.
§3 An
institute's own law can demand further proofs concerning the suitability of
candidates and their freedom from any impediment.
§4 The
Superiors can seek other information, even under secrecy, if this seems
necessary to them.
|