Ordination

Only his own prior provincial may validly admit a brother to renew simple profession, having obtained the consultative vote of the chapter and council of the brother’s convent of assignation. (CCL, nn. 656, 657).

1. At the end of the first three years in simple vows, brothers may, at their own request or the superior’s suggestion, renew simple profession, but not beyond another three years; in which case vows must be renewed each year. The provincial chapter can decide, however, that simple profession will ordinarily be extended after the first three-year period.
2. Those in perpetual or solemn vows who transfer to the Order from another religious institute with the permission of the Master of the Order and their own superior general, and with the consent of their council, cannot make solemn profession until three years have elapsed and only if a novitiate has been completed. (CCL, n. 684, §§1-2).

A prior provincial can reject a novice approved by both chapter and council, but he cannot accept a novice rejected by either one of them. If the novice’s own prior provincial rejects him, the prior provincial of the province in whose convent the novitiate has been made can, with the consent of
his council, accept the novice as a son of his province if he freely and expressly consents in writing.

In convents and houses where, in accordance with n. 139-bis and n. 333, the council is not distinct from the chapter, another vote is taken by the provincial council; in vicariates, it is taken by the vicariate council.

1. During the two months preceding simple profession and the six months prior to solemn profession, a brother shall be examined, and the declarations contained in the appendix shall be made to him. (see Appendix n. 5).
2. As to the subject matter of the examination, he should be questioned about the obligations of our profession as well as the human and spiritual motives drawing him to consecrate his life to God through profession in the Order.
3. With the exceptions mentioned in n. 207, the convent where the brother made his novitiate, or where he is actually assigned, has the right to conduct the examination. The examiners are the brothers designated by the prior provincial, or by the prior with his council, according to the statute of the province. The examination, however, may take place outside the convent of novitiate or of assignation. (C, n. 172; B, n. 251).

One copy of each book published shall be sent to the archives of the Order and another to the archives of the province.

The brothers should always remember that their public statements (in books, newspapers, on radio and television, and other forms of mass media) reflect not only on themselves but also on their brothers, on the Order and the Church. For this reason, in reaching a judgement they should be careful to foster a spirit of dialogue and mutual responsibility with their brothers and superiors. If their speaking or writing is about controversial issues, they should give special attention to this crucial dialogue with major superiors.

Those brothers who have passed the Order’s examination for hearing confessions, by the fact of having a document of approval signed by the examiners, have delegated jurisdiction over those persons subject to the Order, except the nuns, and over those others who live day and night in our houses convents. (CCL 967-969).

The brothers may not preach within the confines of another province without the previous consent of its prior provincial, given at least habitually.

The brothers must have appropriate faculties for preaching and hearing confessions. (CCL, Code of Canon Law, 764-765, 966 and following).