CHAPTER III. The Admission of Candidates and the Formation of Members

Art. 1. Admission to the Novitiate

Can.641 The right to admit candidates to the novitiate belongs to major superiors according to the norm of proper

law.

Can.642 With vigilant care, superiors are only to admit those who, besides the required age, have the health, suitable

character, and sufficient qualities of maturity to embrace the proper life of the institute. This health, character, and

maturity are to be verified even by using experts, if necessary, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 220.

Can.643 §1. The following are admitted to the novitiate invalidly:

1/ one who has not yet completed seventeen years of age;

2/ a spouse, while the marriage continues to exist;

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 the prescript of can. 684;

4/ one who enters the institute induced by force, grave fear, or malice, or the one whom a superior, induced

in the same way, has received;

5/ one who has concealed his or her incorporation in some institute of consecrated life or in some society of

apostolic life.

§2. Proper law can establish other impediments even for validity of admission or can attach conditions.

Can.644 Superiors are not to admit to the novitiate secular clerics without consulting their proper ordinary nor those

who, burdened by debts, cannot repay them.

Can.645 §1. Before candidates are admitted to the novitiate, they must show proof of baptism, confirmation, and

free status.

§2. If it concerns the admission of clerics or those who had been admitted in another institute of consecrated

life, in a society of apostolic life, or in a seminary, there is additionally required the testimony of, respectively, the

local ordinary, the major superior of the institute or society, or the rector of the seminary.

§3. Proper law can require other proof about the requisite suitability of candidates and freedom from

impediments.

§4. Superiors can also seek other information, even under secrecy, if it seems necessary to them.