Concerning Interruption of Studies

To n. 903.

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I. Since it not rarely happens that Religious students, without any fault of their own or of their superiors, are compelled to interrupt studies for several months, for example by reason of infirmity or military service, it is asked whether students of this kind are bound to repeat the whole scholastic year thus interrupted or shortened; or whether they can be dispensed by the Superior General, with the deliberative vote of his Consultors acceding.

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II. Whether the examination or test concerning which there is mention in the Response to n. VI of the Declarations of the Sacred Congregation of September 7, 1909, must be undergone also by students who have not cultivated in schools some discipline accessory to Theology; and if in the affirmative, whether this examination, to be undergone both by these students and by others, can coincide with the examination usually to be undergone at the end of the scholastic year.

"Response to I. In the negative to the first part; in the affirmative to the second, provided that: 1. the interruption or abbreviation of studies, taken as a whole, has not lasted beyond three months; 2. the studies omitted have been supplied by private schools; 3. and in the examination it has been established, from the testimony of the examiners or judges of doctrine, that the students have thoroughly learned the disciplines concerning which treatment was had in the schools during their absence.

"To II. The examination concerning which treatment is had in the Response to n. VI of the Declarations of the Sacred Congregation of September 7, 1909, is required for any omitted discipline; nevertheless the ordinary examination, even one given at the end of the year, suffices, which must be established from the testimony of the examiners or judges of doctrine." Sacred Congregation on Religious, January 8, 1915.