SECOND SECTION

First Section: On the following of Christ:

Second Section: On the formation of the brethren:

Chapters:

6. on common principles; §154
7. on vocations; §165
8. on the novitiate; §177
9. on profession; §188
10. on post-novitiate formation. §213

II.   All should remember, however, that the life and apostolate of every brother and of every community is the primary invitation for entering Dominican life.

II.   The statutes of the school and the rules for conduct shall be drawn up by the brethren more skilled in this area with the authority and approval of the prior provincial and his council.

II.   The time, form, and location of this preparation shall be the duty of the provincial chapter or of the prior provincial with his council to determine.

III.   In order to achieve this purpose, a province may legislate a time of pre-novitiate as the first step towards leading religious life. The purpose of this time is to prepare the aspirant for the novitiate, especially by catechetical instruction and some initiation into leading community life well and to give the Order a chance to discern the suitability of the aspirant for undertaking Dominican life. (MC-260; C-171).

II.   To admit those into the Order who left our Order or another religious institute requires, in addition to the consent of the provincial council:

1. admission by the prior provincial, if they left during the novitiate.

2. admission by the Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, if they left at the completion of the novitiate or after profession, observing the prescriptions of Canon 690,1.

II.   They should have a suitable knowledge of the Latin language or strive to acquire it as soon as possible.

III.   For cooperator brothers, secondary education or its equivalent is required according to the determination of a provincial chapter.

II.   The chairman of the committee then presents a complete report on proceedings to the prior provincial to whom it ultimately pertains to decide about the admission of a candidate in such a way, however, that he cannot admit someone rejected by the special committee.

II.   A protestation shall be made to those candidates that they can claim no remuneration for any work performed for the Order; a document of this protestation signed by the aspirant shall be prepared. (See Appendix n. 5.)

III.   Before beginning the novitiate, an aspirant should free himself from all secular business, and any money or other possessions he may have brought with him shall be kept in a common deposit, and if he leaves the Order without having made profession, they shall be returned to him.

IV.   Each province shall decide about the expenses of formation.

ON THE NOVITIATE

II.   The novitiate begins when designated by the legitimate superior, in accord with n.175. Notification of this designation and of affiliation (nn. 267,268) shall be entered in the book of admissions (see Appendix n. 6) and signed by the novice and two witnesses.

III.   The novitiate lasts at least one year. According to the determination of a provincial chapter, this year can be interrupted or divided into parts in such a way, however, that a full novitiate will be completed within a space of two years. One or more time periods of special formative activity for completing the training of the novices can be spent outside the novitiate community. In all these matters, the prescripts of Canons 648-649 shall be observed.

IV.   Should a doubt exist about a novice's suitability even after the completion of the novitiate year either continuously or with interruption, the time of probation can be extended by the prior provincial but not beyond six months.

II.   The Master of the Order, with the consent of his council, can concede in particular cases and by way of exception that a candidate can make the novitiate in another house of the Order under the guidance of an approved religious who assumes the role of master of novices (cf. Can. 647,2).

III.   The major superior can permit a group of novices to live for a stated period of time which he designates in another house of the Order (cf. Can. 647,3).

II.   They remain in office until the date designated by the following chapter for the new master to take office.

III.   Since the formation of candidates depends in no small way on lasting continuity in this office, the removal of masters outside a chapter should not take place without a grave cause.

II.   The competent superior for dismissing a novice is the proper prior provincial, or, if there is danger in delay, the prior with the consent of his council, in which case an appropriate report must be sent to the prior provincial.

II.   They shall also be instructed thoroughly in the nature of religious life and especially in the history, spirituality, and laws of the Order; they shall be introduced to our observance in such a way that its spiritual and apostolic value becomes apparent.

III.   They shall be encouraged to develop human and Christian virtues so that by humility of heart, eagerness of spirit, and self-denial they may develop a richer spiritual life. They shall be taught how to approach the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist more fruitfully and apply themselves to mental prayer.

II.   By this profession of obedience we intend to accept the obligation of fulfilling the evangelical counsels, renouncing good things without doubt of great value but without detriment to the development of the human person. Embracing Christ's self-emptying, at the same time we share his life in the Spirit. In this way, if we remain faithful, we shall be witnesses in the Church in a more explicit way to the good things of the kingdom of heaven.

III.   Moved by filial devotion, in our profession we also promise to obey the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, as the most loving Mother of our Order.

IV.   When, however, in the same profession we also promise obedience to St. Dominic, we intend to observe fidelity to his spirit and his ideal.

II.   Concerning the subject matter of the examination, he shall be questioned about both the obligations of our profession and the human and spiritual motives which attract him to consecrate his life to God through profession in the Order.

III.   While maintaining n. 207, the right of conducting the examination belongs to the convent where the brother made his novitiate or where he is actually assigned, and the examiners are the brethren designated by the prior provincial or by the prior with his council, according to what is determined in the statute of the province. The examination, however, can be held outside the convent of the novitiate or of his assignment. (C-172; B-252)

II.   The prior shall give a report on all these matters to the prior provincial.

II.   This profession is made for three years; according to the statute of the province it can be made for one or two years, but in such a way that it must be renewed to complete three years (see Canon 655).

1. that he who is about to make profession shall have completed his eighteenth year of age;

2. that profession be made after a validly completed novitiate, unless by a dispensation of the prior provincial it is anticipated but not by more than fifteen days.

3. that the consent of the majority of the chapter and council of the novitiate has been given;

4. that the consent of the prior provincial has also been given or even of each prior provincial if it happens that a novice is being instructed in another province.

"I, brother N.N., make profession and promise obedience to God, and to Blessed Mary, and to Blessed Dominic, and to you brother N.N. Master of the Order of Friars Preachers and to your successors (or: to you brother N.N. Prior Provincial of the province...; or: delegated...; in place of brother N.N. Master of the Order of Friars Preachers and his successors),according to the Rule of Blessed Augustine and the Constitutions of the Friars Preachers, that I will be obedient to you and your successors for three years (or: one year)."

II.   If, however, the Order does not have a Master at the time of profession, the one making profession promises obedience to the brother presiding in the place of the Master of the Order, without mentioning any name.

II.   However, before simple profession, a novice, for the entire time he will be bound by simple vows, must concede the administration of his possessions to anyone he prefers, even to the Order, and dispose freely of their use and usufruct. He is also permitted to make a will regarding his present possessions or those that may come to him in the future.

III.   If the concession or disposal of property mentioned in paragraph II has been omitted because of a lack of possessions and afterward something does come to him, the concession or disposal shall be made or repeated according to the norms stated in Paragraph II despite his having made simple profession.

IV.   Within sixty days before solemn profession -- sooner would be invalid -- a brother must renounce all the possessions he actually owns or expects with certain hope, in favor of anyone he prefers under the condition that profession will follow.

V.   To change these arrangements for a just reason, a brother needs the permission of the major superior. (CIC, 688. par. 2)

II.   Those who, bound by perpetual or even solemn vows, transfer to the Order from another religious Institute with the permission of the Master of the Order and the proper superior general and with the consent of each council, cannot make solemn profession except after a three-year period of time, the superior general of the "a quo" institute having been informed of the three-year trial period to be fulfilled in the Order (see Can. 684, 1 and 2).

II.   The prior provincial has the faculty of permitting for a just cause that the renewal of temporary vows be anticipated for a particular period of time but not beyond a month.

1. when the time for which they were made or renewed has elapsed;

2. by an indult to leave the Order granted by the Master of the Order with the consent of his council (see Can. 688);

3. by dismissal from the Order made in accord with the norm of common law (see Can. 694- 704).

1. that admission be made by one's own prior provincial, after consulting the prior provincial of the province in which a brother is living if the location is different;

2. that a vote be taken of the chapter and council of the convent of assignment in which a brother has lived during the immediately preceding year.

II.   When a brother has spent the aforesaid year outside his proper province, the vote of the chapter and the vote of the council are only consultative. In this case, however, a vote of the council of the province of affiliation is always required. If it is favorable, the prior provincial can admit the brother to profession, but not if it is contrary.

III.   If a brother has not yet lived for a year in the convent where he is assigned and is due to make solemn profession, the convent in which he spent the immediately preceding year gives the vote of the chapter and council in accord with n. 206,2, but before this vote is taken, the convent where he is actually living must give an informative vote.

II.   Therefore, for the period of time determined in our laws, the brothers shall live in a convent of formation where, under the care of a master, they shall dedicate themselves earnestly to understanding more fully and putting into practice the values and demands of their vocation in a faithful and responsible fulfillment of their Dominican profession.

III.   On the appointment of masters, their duration in office and their removal, the norms in n.182 for the master of novices shall be observed.

II.   Led by love for their Dominican family which accepts them and enriches them with its manifold tradition, the brothers should realize that religious life gives them a firmer stability in a way of life, proven teaching for attaining perfection, fraternal communion in the company of Christ, and freedom strengthened by obedience.

III.   Within the time of the studentate the master shall have a discussion, at least once during the year, with the conventual council and send a report of this to the prior provincial. If a brother is studying in a province not his own, the prior provincial of the province of affiliation shall be informed of this discussion. (A-215)

II.   So that the adaptation of religious life may truly correspond to the needs of the world, the brethren, according to each one's talent and ability should acquire not only suitable information about current social practices and reasons for thinking and feeling, but they should learn also to assimilate and judge this in the light of their Dominican vocation.

Art. II -- On the Formation of
Cooperator Brothers

II.   The master of cooperators can be assisted in fulfilling his office by a solemnly professed cooperator brother.

II.   Made sharers in the apostolate of the Order by their profession, the brothers shall be prepared for exercising suitable apostolic activity so that they might become true cooperators in the mission of the Order.

III.   Since the cooperator brothers are very often different in talent and since their activity in the Order can be exercised in many ways, it is necessary to provide them formation suited to each one's ability, keeping in mind the needs of the Church and of the Order in each locality.

II.   Similarly, without neglecting their general education, they should be instructed in the arts and technical skills which will better suit the needs and ministry of the province; if possible, such studies should be recognized by some form of certification.

Art. III -- On the Religious Formation
of Clerical Brothers

II.   According to the needs of different provinces and the decisions proposed by respective chapters or councils, interruption of studies is permitted for the sake of these experiences if this seems necessary for formation.

Art. IV -- On the Intellectual Formation
of Clerical Brothers

II.   Since intellectual formation consists mainly in developing the ability to make judgments, therefore a critical knowledge of sources, an understanding of principles and a method of thinking correctly shall be developed most carefully so that the brethren become able to pursue study on their own initiative and by carefully prepared dialogue.

1. according to the general Ratio Studiorum where whatever is necessary for the overall planning of studies and for the doctrinal unity of the Order is contained;

2. according to the particular Rationes Studiorum developed for the needs of specific places and times.

1. to establish centers of institutional studies;.

2. to appoint regents;

3. to draw up the general Ratio Studiorum, to promulgate it, and to modify it suitably to meet changed contemporary circumstances;

4. to approve particular Rationes Studiorum

1. with his council, to determine the more suitable manner for attending to the formation of the brethren, keeping in mind what is said in n.234;

2. with his council, the commission on the intellectual life having been consulted, to propose the regent to the Master of the Order, of this must be done outside the chapter;

3. to prepare suitable professors for the intellectual formation of the brethren;

4. to impose on brothers the office of teaching in centers of studies of the province according to the statutes of these centers;(W-225; R-335; A-218)

5. to submit the Ratio Particularis of studies the Master of the Order for approval.

II.   A center of institutional studies, in which the whole curriculum required by the general Ratio Studiorum of the Order is to be provided by the center itself, shall offer in the best possible manner intellectual formation according to the tradition of the Order. In so far as possible, provinces shall establish and strengthen such centers.

III.   In places where, because of a reduced number of students or a lack of suitable professors or because of the advantage of collaborating with other institutions for the good of the Church, a provincial center of studies does not provide a complete curriculum and the students, with the consent of the Master of the Order, attend institutions or departments not belonging to the Order, a center should provide, nevertheless, some courses or exercises for the students so that they may have a real experience of study within a community of the Order, especially on topics which pertain to the doctrinal tradition of the Order.

IV.   When students are sent to centers of institutional studies of another province for their institutional studies, they remain assigned to the center of institutional studies of their own province; they return to it for at least some experiences of study within their own province, and are subject to the body of professors of that center insofar as the planning and coordination of their studies is concerned.

V.   When students are sent to centers of higher studies of the Order and to other centers of higher studies, they are subject to the regent of studies for the planning and coordination of their studies.

1. By constituting in a particular nation or region, n. 233 being maintained, an interprovincial center of institutional studies having its own particular statutes in which the entire curriculum according to the Ratio Generalis of studies of the Order can be provided for brethren of several provinces.

2. by providing in the center of one province a part of the curriculum (for example, the philosophical formation for students of two or more provinces) and another part in the center of another province. This collaboration is to be governed according to a particular statute agreed upon among the provinces;

3. by offering to provinces which send students to the center of another province some participation, at least consultative, in the government of that center;

4. by sending students to centers of higher studies of the Order, especially international centers, n.233 being maintained.

II.   In the exercise of their office, the body of moderators of this center is subject to the prior provincial. However, they are subject to the conventual prior in everything that concerns the religious life and the government of the community.

III.   The professors and students, under the authority of the moderator, shall work together willingly to promote study.

II.   As opportunities arise, the brethren engaged in ministry should be invited to have discussions with the professors and with the students on questions which affect people to a great degree and thus provide an incentive for studies.

1. a scientific study of sources especially, indeed, of Sacred Scripture which pertains to theology;

2. the importance of seeking a systematic synthesis by speculative means under the guidance of St. Thomas as teacher (see n.82 above);

3. the more urgent problems of particular times and places.

II.   During the institutional course of study, they can begin some preparation for these studies.

Art. V -- On Brothers to be Ordained and Those
Newly Ordained to the Priesthood

1. have the necessary qualifications;

2. are presented by their own major superior;

3. are approved by the conventual council, whose duty it is to examine whether they have what is required for ordination;

4. are professed by solemn vows.

II.   Superiors must not fail to question each of those to be ordained to make certain that they freely and knowingly want to be promoted to orders in the religious state.

II.   A prior provincial shall not grant dimissorial letters except to sons of his own province or with the consent of the prior provincial of their province of affiliation to brethren assigned in his province.

II.   They shall, however, always be under the jurisdiction of the prior of the convent, while safeguarding the rights of the regent concerning study.

II.   The brethren, especially superiors, should help young priests fraternally in their ministry and assist them with advice.

II.   Brothers must undergo the first examination within six months from the completion of the theological institutional curriculum of studies or within six months from ordination to the priesthood if this is postponed for any reason. (O-233)

III.   Before these examinations, the vote on religious conduct (de moribus), mentioned in n.318,4, is required.

In the provincial community the task of permanent formation pertains to the prior provincial, assisted by the provincial promoter of permanent formation. In the conventual community the task belongs to the conventual prior, assisted by the conventual lector, and to the conventual chapter. In any other community the task belongs to the superior.

1. to work out yearly programs of permanent formation with the assistance of the commission on the intellectual life of the province;

2. at least once a year to coordinate with priors and conventual lectors and superiors of houses the programs of the province and the convents and houses; the regent of studies is to be consulted when there is a question of studies;

3. to be in communication with other centers and institutions for permanent formation and with experts in this field.

1. he is the moderator of the province's center for permanent formation, LCO 92 bis, paragraph I, being observed;

2. he is a member of the commission for the intellectual life of the province;

3. he has an allocation in the annual budget of the province.