Article I: Of the Requirements in the Subject of Sacred Ordination

§ 1. First tonsure and orders are to be conferred only on those who have the intention of ascending to the presbyterate and whom it is lawful deservedly to conjecture will one day be worthy presbyters.

§ 2. Nevertheless an ordained man who refuses to receive higher orders can neither be compelled by the Bishop to receive them nor prohibited from the exercise of the orders received, unless he is detained by a canonical impediment or another grave cause, in the judgment of the Bishop, obstructs.

§ 3. A Bishop is to confer sacred orders on no one unless from positive arguments he is morally certain of his canonical suitability; otherwise he not only sins most gravely, but also commits himself to the danger of communicating in another's sins.

§ 1. In order that someone can be licitly ordained, there are required:

1° Sacred confirmation received.

2° Morals congruent with the order to be received.

3° Canonical age.

4° Due knowledge.

5° Reception of the lower orders.

6° Observation of the interstices.

7° A canonical title, if there is question of major orders.

§ 2. As regards episcopal consecration, the prescription of can. 331 is to be observed.

The subdiaconate is not to be conferred before the completed twenty-first year; the diaconate before the completed twenty-second year; the presbyterate before the completed twenty-fourth year.

§ 1. No one, whether secular or religious, is to be promoted to first tonsure before the theological course has been begun.

§ 2. With the prescription of can. 975 remaining firm, the subdiaconate is not to be conferred unless the third year of the theological course is ending; the diaconate, unless the fourth year has been begun; the presbyterate, unless after the middle of the same fourth year.

§ 3. The theological course must have been completed not privately, but in schools established for this purpose according to the plan of studies determined by can. 1365.

Orders are to be conferred step by step, so that ordinations by a leap are altogether prohibited.

§ 1. In ordinations the interstices of time are to be observed, during which those promoted exercise themselves in the orders received, according to the prescription of the Bishop.

§ 2. The interstices between first tonsure and ostiariate, or between the individual minor orders, are committed to the prudent judgment of the Bishop; but an acolyte is not to be promoted to the subdiaconate, a subdeacon to the diaconate, or a deacon to the presbyterate, before the acolyte has spent at least one year, and the subdeacon and deacon at least three months, each in his own order, unless necessity or the utility of the Church, in the judgment of the Bishop, demands something else.

§ 3. Nevertheless never, unless by peculiar permission of the Roman Pontiff, are minor orders to be conferred with the subdiaconate, or two sacred orders on one and the same day, any contrary custom being reprobated; indeed it is not lawful to confer first tonsure together with any one of the minor orders, nor all the minor orders together at one time.

§ 1. For secular clerics the canonical title is the title of benefice, and, if this is lacking, of patrimony or pension.

§ 2. This title must be both truly secure for the whole life of the ordained man and truly sufficient for his fitting sustenance, according to norms to be given by the Ordinaries for the different necessities and circumstances of places and times.

§ 1. One ordained in sacred orders, if he loses the title, is to provide another for himself, unless, in the judgment of the Bishop, provision has otherwise been made for his fitting sustenance.

§ 2. Those who, without apostolic indult, knowingly ordain their subject in sacred orders without a canonical title, or permit him to be ordained, must themselves and their successors provide the necessary support to the same needy person, until provision has otherwise been made for his fitting sustenance.

§ 3. If a Bishop has ordained someone without a canonical title with an agreement that the ordained man is not to seek support from him, this agreement lacks all force.

§ 1. If not even one of the titles of which in can. 979, Sec. 1 is available, it can be supplied by the title of service of the diocese, and, in places subject to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, by the title of mission, yet in such a way that the one to be ordained, with an oath interposed, devotes himself perpetually to the service of the diocese or mission under the authority of the local Ordinary for the time being.

§ 2. The Ordinary must confer on the presbyter whom he has promoted by the title of service of the church or mission a benefice, or office, or subsidy sufficient for his fitting sustenance.

§ 1. For regulars the canonical title is solemn religious profession, or the title, as it is called, of poverty.

§ 2. For religious of perpetual simple vows it is the title of common table, of the Congregation, or another similar title, according to the norm of the constitutions.

§ 3. Other religious, even as regards the title of ordination, are governed by the law of seculars.