ARTICLE 1:
THE REQUIREMENTS IN THOSE TO BE ORDAINED
Can.
1026 For a person to be ordained, he must enjoy the requisite freedom. It is
absolutely wrong to compel anyone, in any way or for any reason whatsoever, to
receive orders, or to turn away from orders anyone who is canonically suitable.
Can.
1027 Aspirants to the diaconate and the priesthood are to be formed by careful
preparation in accordance with the law.
Can.
1028 The diocesan Bishop or the competent Superior must ensure that before they
are promoted to any order, candidates are properly instructed concerning the
order itself and its obligations.
Can.
1029 Only those are to be promoted to orders who, in the prudent judgement of
the proper Bishop or the competent major Superior, all things considered, have
sound faith, are motivated by the right intention, are endowed with the
requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, and have moral probity, proven
virtue and the other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the
order to be received.
Can.
1030 The proper Bishop or the competent major Superior may, but only for a
canonical reason, even one which is occult, forbid admission to the priesthood
to deacons subject to them who were destined for the priesthood, without
prejudice to recourse in accordance with the law.
Can.
1031 §1 The priesthood may be conferred only upon those who have completed
their twenty-fifth year of age, and possess a sufficient maturity; moreover, an
interval of at least six months between the diaconate and the priesthood must
have been observed. Those who are destined for the priesthood are to be
admitted to the order of diaconate only when they have completed their
twenty-third year.
§2 A
candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married may be admitted to the
diaconate only when he has completed at least his twenty-fifth year; if he is
married, not until he has completed at least his thirty-fifth year, and then
with the consent of his wife.
§3 Episcopal
Conferences may issue a regulation which requires a later age for the
priesthood and for the permanent diaconate.
§4 A
dispensation of more than a year from the age required by §§1 and 2 is reserved
to the Apostolic See.
Can.
1032 §1 Aspirants to the priesthood may be promoted to the diaconate only when
they have completed the fifth year of the curriculum of philosophical and
theological studies.
§2 After
completing the curriculum of studies and before being promoted to the
priesthood, deacons are to spend an appropriate time, to be determined by the
Bishop or by the competent major Superior, exercising the diaconal order and
taking part in the pastoral ministry.
§3 An
aspirant to the permanent diaconate is not to be promoted to this order until
he has completed the period of formation.
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