Collegial Interpretations of the General Council Interpretation of C 188 — Extension of the Novitiate [Constitutions and Directory, 2018 Edition] Responding to a question from the Superior of American Province regarding the extension of the novitiate in accordance with C 188, the General Council, meeting in session on October 7, 2022, acting collegially in accordance with C 306, explains: C 188, following the norm of common law contained in CIC, can. 653 § 2, establishes that, “At the end of the novitiate, ... If there is doubt about the suitability of a novice, the Major Superior can extend the time of probation ... but not beyond six months.” 1. “At the end of the novitiate” – The norm refers to the novitiate defined as validly completed (12 months spent in a house legally designated for this purpose and under the guidance of the master of novices, taking into account all the requirements as well as the exceptions present in CIC, cann. 647-649); 2. one of the conditions for a valid first profession is precisely that “the novitiate has been validly completed” (can. 656, 2°); 3. the Major Superior, in case of doubts about the suitability of the novice, may extend the time of probation acting on his own initiative or responding to the request of the novice himself, taking into account the following conditions: a. for no longer than six months; b. taking into account that the novitiate has been validly completed, the probationary period may be carried out in another house of the Congregation and under
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==