The novitiate is a trial period during which the novices come to understand more clearly the nature of a divine and Dominican vocation. They experience the Order’s way of life, are trained, mind and heart, in the Dominican spirit, that their intention and suitability may be ascertained.

The following, and their delegates, can lawfully give the habit: the Master of the Order, the prior provincial in his own province, the prior or subprior-in-capite of the convent where the aspirant is to receive the habit.

1. When the examination of candidates has been completed, the committee shall meet to decide by secret vote whether to accept or reject each applicant.
2. The president of the committee shall then present the complete report of the proceedings to the prior provincial, to whom it ultimately pertains to admit a candidate; however, the prior provincial cannot admit someone who has been rejected by the special committee.

1. No one may validly enter the novitiate before completing his seventeenth year.
2. To admit into the Order those who have left it or another religious order institute, the prior consent of the provincial council is required, in addition to the following:
   1. admission by the prior provincial if they departed during the novitiate;
   2. admission by the Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, if they departed at the completion of the novitiate, or after profession, with due regard for the prescriptions of CCL 690, § I.

Even though the formation of the brothers continues over many years and is spread over various stages, though studies may be interrupted for the sake of gaining experience, nevertheless it is to be understood and practised as a continuous process directed to one end. In the light of this unity, the different stages of formation mentioned below are to be seen as parts of a whole.

Each province shall devise programmes capable of developing the candidates’ human and religious maturity and of preparing them for the apostolate. The programmes must be suited to their age and condition.

The convent of formation should have everything required for formation, so that with due care for the demands of training, the candidates will be introduced gradually to the conditions of the real life which eventually they must lead.

The master is to oversee the spiritual life and discipline of those in his charge, as is required by the integral training of those in formation. However, brothers in formation have the freedom to approach other priests for spiritual direction of a more personal kind.

Those in charge of formation should be well chosen and carefully trained. While several can cooperate in the work of formation, there is to be one brother who ensures the harmonisation of the whole of formation.

To benefit fully from our formation, the candidate needs the following: physical health, psychological maturity corresponding to his age, ability to live with others, a sound Christian life, aptitude, the right intention and the free will to give himself to God and the Church in the Dominican way of life.