1. Without prejudice to n. 443, for a person to be elected validly as regional prior vicar provincial, it is required that:
   1. he be thirty years old and ten years from first profession;
   2. he has not been regional prior vicar provincial in the same region vicariate for the two four-year terms immediately preceding.
2. If any brother cannot be elected because of the lack of one or more of the conditions mentioned in § I, 1 and 2, the brothers may postulate him to the prior provincial who may dispense from the interstices and make provision can provide according to n. 467.

The electors are the brothers having active voice who are assigned to the vicariate directly or indirectly by reason of office.

1. If the statute of the vicariate has determined that the vicar have been designated be designated by election, the president of the election is the brother who actually governs the vicariate in accordance with the norm of 385, § II, 2, or, if he is out of office, the senior in the Order among the superiors of that region of the statute of the vicariate or perhaps another friar appointed by the prior provincial.
2. After consulting the regional vicariate council , it is for him to determine the time of the election and to notify all the voters; he must do this within a month of knowing that the office is vacant.

The novices should be imbued with a missionary spirit, learning about the conditions and needs of people in the world, and realising that they are to be ‘fervent in preaching whenever the opportunity presents itself.’1  Their training, therefore, should be not just theoretical but practical, with an opportunity for some participation in the apostolic activities of the Order.

1. The novices are to be thoroughly instructed by the master and his socii in salvation history, sacred scripture, liturgy, the principles of Christian life, and about the priesthood.
2. They shall also be taught the nature of religious life, and particularly the history, spirituality and laws of the Order. They ought to be introduced to our observances so that the spiritual and apostolic value of our observances becomes apparent.
3. They are to be encouraged to cultivate the human and Christian virtues in order to develop a deeper spiritual life through humility, fervour and self-denial. They shall be taught how to approach fruitfully the sacraments of penance and eucharist, and to practise mental prayer.

At least twice during the novitiate the master shall discuss the novices with the conventual chapter and council. He shall send a written report to the prior provincial.

Voluntary departure or dismissal of a novice is to be recorded in the book of admissions.

There shall be a common novitiate for clerical and co-operator brothers. The novitiate made for the co-operator state is valid for the clerical, and vice versa. However, a transfer from the co-operator to the clerical state and vice versa can only be made with the permission of the prior provincial and his council.

The habit can be given at the beginning of the novitiate or during it, according to the decision of the provincial chapter.

1. The declarations mentioned in the appendix shall be made in the presence of witnesses to candidates who have been admitted to the Order; this shall be recorded in the book of admissions, and signed by the candidates themselves. (see Appendix, n.5).
2. A declaration shall be made to candidates that they can claim no remuneration for any work done for the Order; a document recording this shall be drawn up and signed by the aspirant.
   (see Appendix n.5).
3. Before beginning the novitiate, the aspirant shall free himself from all business interests; any money or other possessions he may have brought with him shall be kept safely by the community. Should he leave the Order before making profession, these shall be returned to him.
4. Each province shall decide how the costs of formation are to be met.