ARTICLE 2:
THE NOVITIATE AND THE FORMATION OF NOVICES
Can.
646 The purpose of the novitiate, by which life in an institute begins, is to
give the novices a greater understanding of their divine vocation, and of their
vocation to that institute. During the novitiate the novices are to experience
the manner of life of the institute and form their minds and hearts in its
spirit. At the same time their resolution and suitability are to be tested.
Can.
647 §1 The establishment, transfer and suppression of a novitiate house are to
take place by a written decree of the supreme Moderator of the institute, given
with the consent of the council.
§2 To be
valid, a novitiate must take place in a house which is duly designated for this
purpose. In particular cases and by way of exception and with the permission of
the supreme Moderator given with the consent of the council, a candidate can
make the novitiate in another house of the institute, under the direction of an
approved religious who takes the place of the director of novices.
§3 A major
Superior can allow a group of novices to reside, for a certain period of time,
in another specified house of the institute.
Can.
648 §1 For validity, the novitiate must comprise twelve months spent in the
novitiate community, without prejudice to the provision of can. 647 §3.
§2 To
complete the formation of the novices, the constitutions can prescribe, in
addition to the time mentioned in §1, one or more periods of apostolic
activity, to be performed outside the novitiate community.
§3 The novitiate
is not to be extended beyond two years.
Can.
649 §1 Without prejudice to the provisions of can. 647 §3, and can. 648 §2, a
novitiate is invalidated by an absence from the novitiate house of more than
three months, continuous or broken. Any absence of more than fifteen days must
be made good.
§2 With the
permission of the competent major Superior, first profession may be
anticipated, though not by more than fifteen days.
Can.
650 §1 The object of the novitiate demands that novices be formed under the
supervision of the director of novices, in a manner of formation to be defined
by the institute's own law.
§2 The
governance of the novices is reserved to the director of novices alone, under
the authority of the major Superiors.
Can.
651 §1 The director of novices is to be a member of the institute who has taken
perpetual vows and has been lawfully designated.
§2 If need
be, directors of novices may be given assistants, who are subject to them in
regard to the governance of the novitiate and the manner of formation.
§3 Those in
charge of the formation of novices are to be members who have been carefully
prepared, and who are not burdened with other tasks, so that they may discharge
their office fruitfully and in a stable fashion.
Can.
652 §1 It is the responsibility of the directors of novices and their
assistants to discern and test the vocation of the novices, and gradually to
form them to lead the life of perfection which is proper to the institute.
§2 Novices
are to be led to develop human and christian virtues. Through prayer and
self-denial they are to be introduced to a fuller way of perfection. They are
to be instructed in contemplating the mystery of salvation, and in reading and
meditating on the sacred Scriptures. Their preparation is to enable them to
develop their worship of God in the sacred liturgy. They are to learn how to
lead a life consecrated to God and their neighbour in Christ through the
evangelical counsels. They are to learn about the character and spirit of the
institute, its purpose and discipline, its history and life, and be imbued with
a love for the Church and its sacred Pastors.
§3 Novices,
conscious of their own responsibility, are to cooperate actively with the
director of novices, so that they may faithfully respond to the grace of their
divine vocation.
§4 By the
example of their lives and by prayer, the members of the institute are to
ensure that they do their part in assisting the work of formation of the
novices.
§5 The
period of novitiate mentioned in can. 648 §1, is to be set aside exclusively
for the work of formation. The novices are therefore not to be engaged in
studies or duties which do not directly serve this formation.
Can.
653 §1 A novice may freely leave the institute. The competent authority of the
institute may also dismiss a novice.
§2 On the
completion of the novitiate, a novice, if judged suitable, is to be admitted to
temporary profession; otherwise the novice is to be dismissed. If a doubt
exists concerning suitability, the time of probation may be prolonged by the
major Superior, in accordance with the institute's own law, but for a period
not exceeding six months.
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