Canon 450

Without prejudice to prescriptions of the typicon which require

more, the following cannot be validly admitted to the novitiate:

(1) non-Catholics; (2) those who have been punished with canonical penalties except those mentioned in can. 1426, 1; (3)

those, who are under imminent threat of a serious penalty on account of a crime of which they are legitimately accused; (4)

those who are under 18 years of age, except if it is the case of

a monastery which has temporary profession, in which instance 17

years of age is sufficient; (5) those who are entering the monastery induced by force, grave fear or by fraud or those, who are

admitted by a superior induced in the same way; (6) spouses,

during a marriage; (7) those who are held by the bond of religious profession or by another sacred bond to an institute of consecrated life, unless it is a case of lawful transfer.