Canon 523

1. For validity of the novitiate it is required that it comprise one full and continuous year; an absence of three months,

either continuous or in shorter interruptions, does not affect

the validity, but, if it exceeds fifteen days, the unfinished

time must be made up, even though it had been dedicated to apostolic work arranged for the instruction of the novices. 2. If

the statutes prescribed a longer novitiate, this is not required

for the validity of the profession.