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LCO / The Life of the Brothers / The Formation of the Brothers / Formation After the Novitiate
Effective Date

Brothers Preparing for Ordination and Brothers Newly Ordained

article, effective: -pres.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n.
Revision history
246 (provisional)
constitution, effective: -pres.
Technice ACG 2016 Bologna n. 246 Revision history

Only those brothers may be promoted to orders who:

  1. are solemnly professed; 
  2. have the necessary qualities;
  3. are presented by their own major superior;
  4. are approved by the conventual council whose responsibility it is to ensure that they have the requirements for ordination (cf. CIC 1029 & 1051).
247 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Technice ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 219 Revision history
  1. Superiors shall not admit a person to orders un­less, after careful inquiry, they are satisfied about his religious conduct (de moribus religiosis), his suitability for priestly office and his progress in study.
  2. Superiors shall question each of those due for ordination and to receive from them a declaration written in his own hand and signed, cf. CIC 1036, in order to satisfy themselves that they freely and deliberately want to be ordained as religious (cf. CCL 1036).
248 (provisional)
constitution, effective: -pres.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
  1. After the council’s approval, and the examination for the particular order has been carried out by those appointed by the provincial chapter, the major superior shall prepare dimissorial letters to be sent to the diocesan bishop in accordance with law (see appendix n. 10).
  2. The prior provincial may grant dimissorial letters only to members of his own province, or, with the consent of the prior provincial of their province of affiliation, to brothers assigned in his province.
249 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Technice ACG 2019 Biên Hòa n. 393 Revision history
  1. Student priests living outside the studentate are to be introduced gradually to the priestly life and apostolate through appropriate conferences and activities. This is the responsibility of the prior or another father brother priest designated by the prior provincial.
  2. They are, however, always under the authority of the prior with due provision for the rights of the regent in matters of study.
250 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
  1. After completing their course of studies, young priests should apply themselves responsibly to the religious and apostolic life so that their priestly ministry will truly nourish their spiritual and intellectual life. They should be aware of the special problems which are part of the first years of priesthood.
  2. the brothers, especially superiors, should help the young priests in their ministries with brotherly care and advice.
251 (provisional)
ordination, effective: -pres.
Definitive ACG 2004 Kraków n. 360, Secunda ACG 1992 México n. 251, Acceptata ACG 1989 Oakland n. 233 Revision history
  1. A special examination must precede the exercise the office of confessor. The manner in which this examination is to be conducted is laid down in the Ratio Studiorum Generalis.
  2. Brothers must take this examination within six months of completing their basic theological studies, or within six months of ordination to the priesthood if this is postponed for any reason.
  3. Before this examination, a vote is to be taken on the moral behaviour of the candidate as mentioned in n. 318, 4 This is required for validity.
Effective Date