Constitution

The novice master is in charge of the novitiate. However, the master and the novices are subject to the prior in whatever relates to the general discipline of the convent.

1. The novitiate must be made in a convent where authentic Dominican life, regular and apostolic, flourishes. The convent is established for this purpose by a written decree given by the Master of the Order with the consent of his council.
2. The Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, can allow a candidate, in particular cases and by way of exception, to make the novitiate in another house of the Order under the guidance of an approved religious who assumes the role of master of novices. (see CCL 647, § 2).
3. The major superior can permit a group of novices to live for a stated period of time in another house of the Order designated by him (see CCL 647, § 3).

1. Before beginning the novitiate, aspirants shall complete five full days of retreat.
2. The novitiate begins when this is intimated by the legitimate superior, in accordance with n. 174. Notice of intimation and affiliation (nn. 267, 268) must be registered in the book of admissions (see Appendix n. 6) and signed by the novice and two witnesses. 
3. The novitiate lasts at least one year. The year can be interrupted or divided into parts as the provincial chapter decides, but the entire novitiate must be completed within two years. One or more periods for formative activity may be spent outside the novitiate community to complete the novices’ formation. In all these matters, the prescriptions of CCL 648-649 shall be observed.
4. Should a doubt exist about a novice’s suitability at the end of the novitiate year, whether the year has been continuous or interrupted, the prior provincial can extend the time of probation but not beyond six months.

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.