KOVIOE 550 KOVIOE
novices unless their ability and moral character have and the acquisition of virtue. Lay novices are to be
been carefully investigated. Those from whom carefully instructed also in Christian doctrine, for
testimonial letters are thus required by law must which purpose a special conference is to be given to
send them ^gratuitously under seal to the superior, them at least once a week. During the year of the
not to the aspirant, within three months after they novitiate novices must not be employed preaching
have been requested; and letters regarding former or hearing confessions or in the external charges of the
seminarians, postulants or novices must be con- institute (that is works or exercises not immediately
firmed by oath by the rector or superior sending intended for spiritual formation and sanctification),
them. If one who has been asked for letters believes neither must^tney devote themselves to the study of
he has a grave reason for not answering, he must make the sciences, ^arts, or literature: in 1910, the Congre-
the reason known to the Holy See withm the appointed gation of Reli^ous prescribea a limited course of
time; so, too, if the superior receives no reply concern- studies for novices; this is not obligatory under the
ing the aspirant, he must notify the Holy See; if the Code of Canon Law. but commentators on the Code
piSty replies that the aspirant is not sufficiently do not say it is now forbidden. Lay novices mav per-
well known to him, the religious superior must in- form the duties of the lay-brothers within the house,
quire of another reliable person. These letters, but they must hold only subordinate posts and must
which are strictlv confidential both as regards the not be charged with work that would interfere with
informant and the information |;iven, should refer their duties as novices. Novices enjoy all the
to the aspirant's birth, morals, disposition, life, rep- privileges and spiritual favors granted to their
utation, condition and knowled^; they should state institute, and if tney should die as novices they are
if he has incurred any censure, irregularity . or other entitled to all the suffrages prescribed for professed
canonical impediment, and whether or not nis family members.
requires his assistance; finally, in case of seminarians Any renunciation of or encumbrancing of his proo-
or former postulants or novices, whether they left erty by a novice is null and void, but before his simpie
of their own accord or why they were sent away. profession he must make arran^ments for its ad-
HouBE OF Novices. — ^Tne permission of the Holy ministration and for the disposition of its use and See is required for the erection of a house of novices of profits during the time he is simply professed. The a pontificaily approved institute; in the case of other novice is free to designate the beneficiary unless the institutes the constitutions ma^r be followed. If constitutions provide otherwise. The object of this the institute is divided into provinces there may be prohibition against alienation or encumbrancing is to only one house of novices in any province unless for safeguaixl the liberty of the novice or religious in a grave cause and in virtue of an apostolic indult. case it should be necessary or advisable for nim for The novitiate should be separated from the part of any reason to return to secular life. If it should the' house inhabited by the professed so that there happen that after making his simple vows a religious should be no communication between them and the comes into property the right to the use and profits novices. Furthermore lay-brother novices must of which he dia not dispose of as a novice, he must have a place apart for themselves. Novices must dispose of them notwithstanding his vows just as wear the habit prescribed by the constitutions of the would a novice. Such disposals made after pro- institute, unless special local conditions render fession may be changed, not indeed at the mere will another practice advisable. of the religious, unless the constitutions allow him,
Traininq. — As the object of the novitiate is to but with the permission of his ^neral, or in the case test the vocation of aspirants and train them in the of nuns (numudea) f,as yet only simply professed, with school of sanctity, their formation is entrusted to a leave of the local ordinary and of the regular superior master of novices (or mistress of novices, in case ot if the institute is subject to regulars, provided, how- nuns), a religious noted for his prudence, charity, ever, that the religious does not cnange the docu- piety and fidelity to religious observance, one who ment in such a way that a notable part of the prop- is at least thirty-five years of age and who has been erty is given to the institute. Vermeersch considers 20 professed at least ten years, counting from his first to 25 per cent a notable part. If the religious leaves profession; if the order is clercal he must be a priest, the institute, this fact annub any disposal of property For any just reason, for instance, the large number of made as above.
novices, an assistant to the master may be appointed. Before making bis temporary profession in a re-
who must be at least thirty years old and have been ligious congregation — ^but not in an order — a novice
professed five years. Botn the master and his as- must dispose of his present and possible future
sistant must be freed from all other duties so that property By will, devising or beoueathing it in what-
they can give their entire time to the care and govern- ever way he pleases. As the will does not take efifect
ment of the novices. They are to be selected in before the t^tator dies, it is not open to the same
accordance with the constitutions: if they are to hold objection as alienation or encumbrancing. After
office for a definite time they may not be removed simple profession this will cannot be changed except
before its expiration except on serious just ip'ounds; by leave of the Holy See or in case of urgency of a
they may be reappointed on the lapse of their term, higher or even of a focal superior. If for any reason
if the constitutions do not forbid it. Novices are the will was not made before simple profession, the
bound to obey the master of novices and the religious religious, if professed before the promulgation of the
superiors. While the master and the novices are sub- Code, can do what his rule permitted; others, it
ject to the ^neral discipline of the house, no one may would seem, would have to obtain permission from
mterfere with the master in training and governing the Holy See, which in case of urgency might be pre-
the novices, under any pretext, except the superior sumed.
authorized by the constitutions. The master of A novice or postulant must not be charg^ed an3rthing
novices must make, in accordance with the con- for food or clothing unless this is provided by the
situtions, a report about each of the novices for the constitutions or by express contract: if he leave
chapter or higher superior within the year of the he may freely take away anything ne brought in
novitiate. The year's novitiate is devoted to the with him if it has not been used up. formation of the novice by study of the rule and con- A novice is free to leave the novitiate at any time;
stitutions, by pious meditations and assiduous prayer, on the other hand, he may be sent away for a just
by instructions on the vows and Christian virtues, cause by the constitutional authorities, without the
by exercises adapted for the eradication of the roots superior beine obliged to give him any reason for his
of evil, the controlling of the motions of the soul, dispiss^l, If be completes his term of probation
