Source: https://canonlaw.ninja/?nums=641-661
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:47:28+00:00

Document:
Canon 641. The right to admit candidates to the novitiate belongs to major superiors according to the norm of proper law.
Canon 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.
5. one who has concealed his or her incorporation in some institute of consecrated life or in some society of apostolic life.
Canon 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.
Canon 645. §1. Before candidates are admitted to the novitiate, they must show proof of baptism, confirmation, and free status.
Canon 646. The novitiate, through which life in an institute is begun, is arranged so that the novices better understand their divine vocation, and indeed one which is proper to the institute, experience the manner of living of the institute, and form their mind and heart in its spirit, and so that their intention and suitability are tested.
Canon 647. §1. The erection, transfer, and suppression of a novitiate house are to be done through written decree of the supreme moderator of the institute with the consent of the council.
Canon 648. §1. To be valid, a novitiate must include twelve months spent in the community itself of the novitiate, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 647, §3.
Canon 649. §1. Without prejudice to the prescripts of can. 647, §3 andcan. 648, §2, an absence from the novitiate house which lasts more than three months, either continuous or interrupted, renders the novitiate invalid. An absence which lasts more than fifteen days must be made up.
Canon 650. §1. The scope of the novitiate demands that novices be formed under the guidance of a director according to the program of formation defined in proper law.
Canon 651. §1. The director of novices is to be a member of the institute who has professed perpetual vows and has been legitimately designated.
Canon 652. §1. It is for the director and assistants to discern and test the vocation of the novices and to form them gradually to lead correctly the life of perfection proper to the institute.
§5. The time of the novitiate mentioned in can. 648, §1 is to be devoted solely to the task of formation and consequently novices are not to be occupied with studies and functions which do not directly serve this formation.
Canon 653. §1. A novice can freely leave an institute; moreover, the competent authority of the institute can dismiss a novice.
Canon 654. By religious profession, members assume the observance of the three evangelical counsels by public vow, are consecrated to God through the ministry of the Church, and are incorporated into the institute with the rights and duties defined by law.
Canon 655. Temporary profession is to be made for a period defined in proper law; it is not to be less than three years nor longer than six.
5. the profession is received by a legitimate superior personally or through another.
Canon 657. §1. When the period for which profession was made has elapsed, a religious who freely petitions and is judged suitable is to be admitted to renewal of profession or to perpetual profession; otherwise, the religious is to depart.
2. previous temporary profession of at least three years, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 657, §3.
Canon 659. §1. In individual institutes the formation of all the members is to be continued after first profession so that they lead the proper life of the institute more fully and carry out its mission more suitably.
Canon 660. §1. Formation is to be systematic, adapted to the capacity of the members, spiritual and apostolic, doctrinal and at the same time practical. Suitable degrees, both ecclesiastical and civil, are also to be obtained when appropriate.
Canon 661. Through their entire life, religious are to continue diligently their spiritual, doctrinal, and practical formation. Superiors, moreover, are to provide them with the resources and time for this.

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