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Thenovitiate, also called thenoviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christiannovice (orprospective)monastic, apostolic, or member of areligious order undergoes prior to takingvows in order todiscern whether they arecalled to vowed religious life. It often includes times of intense study,prayer, living in community, studying the vowed life, deepening one's relationship withGod, and deepening one's self-awareness. The canonical time of the novitiate is one year; in case of additional length, it must not be extended over two years.[1] In theEastern Orthodox Church, the novitiate is officially set at three years before one may betonsured a monk or nun, though this requirement may be waived. The novitiate is in any case a time both for the novice to get to know the community and the community to get to know the novice. The novice should aspire to deepening their relationship to God and discovering the community'scharism. The novitiate in many communities includes a concentrated program of prayer, study, reflection and limited ministerial engagement.
The novitiate, through which life in an institute is begun, is arranged so that the novices better understand their divine vocation, and indeed one which is proper to the institute, experience the manner of living of the institute, and form their mind and heart in its spirit, and so that their intention and suitability are tested.
- —CIC, can. 646
In some novitiate communities, mostly monastic, the novice often wears clothing that is distinct from secular dress but is not the fullhabit worn byprofessed members of the community. The novices' day normally includes participation in thecanonical hours, manual labor, and classes about the religious life. Spiritual exercises and tests of humility are common features of a novitiate.
A superior should ideally appoint an experienced member of the community to serve asnovice master or mistress.
Different religious communities have varying requirements for the duration of the novitiate. The novice must complete apostulancy before being admitted to the novitiate, the duration of which can be short or extend up to three years.
A novice is free to leave the novitiate at any time and in most communities, the superiors are free to dismiss them with or without cause. At the end of the novitiate, the novices are either admitted totemporary vows or asked to leave. The binding, life-long commitment to consecrated life comes at a later point.
The termnovitiate also refers to the building, house, or complex devoted to the novices'cells or dormitory and other needs, such as study and education.
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