Novitiate

The Canonical Novitiate is defined by the Church as a time of intense formation with the sole purpose of preparing for a vowed life. A novice is instructed regarding “the character and spirit, the purpose and discipline, the history and life of the Institute” (Canon 652 § 2). During this time, a novice learns the practice of the evangelical councils of chastity, poverty, and obedience, which she will later profess, as well as how to live and serve within the community. This time is a deepening of her life of prayer within the unique spirituality of the community. In addition to the Canonical year, there may be additional time that is spent as a novice living in community and serving in the apostolate within the institute itself.

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Religious life begins with the Novitiate, she lets herself be guided with humility and docility of the formatter in silence, solitude and sweet conversation with the Lord. The novitiate aims at becoming gradually woman of God, in the radicalism of following Christ. An integral initiation that goes well beyond simple teaching” (no.47 from Directives of formation).To grow in personal adherence to Christ with Love of Intimacy and service, according to the specific mission of the Institute. A Novice is to be formed in the Eucharistic Life, making the Eucharist the Centre of life and the community and increase the sense of duty, the availability to sacrifice, the spirit of initiative, the sense of solidarity and a sufficient resistance in work.

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She is called to mature towards the ability to develop the capacity of respect for individual differences, of collaboration, co-responsibility, of valuing the other and also to progress in the conquest of affective maturity and to have the fraternal communion in the community life. A Novice is formed to embrace the paschal mystery of Christ through the Evangelical councils according to the spirit of the Institute. She learns to put all her trust in God and not in herself, in order to remain strong even in times of trail.(cons 72:34). 

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Novitiate is the period to lay the foundation for a hard-working and holy life, in accordance with the Guanellian Charism( 72,32)

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At the conclusion of the novitiate, a novice makes her profession of vows.