paragraph — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology
§ 2. Defect of Soul.
147. A threefold defect of soul induces irregularity: defect of the use of reason, defect of knowledge, and defect of firm faith.
Defect of the use of reason and of knowledge can be perpetual, on account of an incapacity of nature, or temporary, which ceases with the passage of time. If the defect is temporary, the supreme pontiff can dispense during the defect, so that, for example, an infant or boy may be ordained, provided that he abstain from the exercise of the order until he has arrived at due knowledge and the required age.
From defect of the use of reason the insane are irregular. If the insanity is perpetual, the irregularity cannot be removed; if the temporary insanity now seems to have ceased, a distinction must be made: if the insane man has already been ordained, after a space of time in which, by the judgment of the bishop, recovery from the disease is proved, he can again minister in the orders received; if he has not yet been ordained, the matter must be defined by the judgment of a physician and the decision of the bishop. For if, by the judgment of a physician, it is established that the insanity has ceased, with the bishop consenting, ordination is licit.
From defect of knowledge the unlettered are irregular, who lack that instruction which is required by the Council of Trent for the several orders.1
From defect of firm faith the following are irregular:
a. Neophytes, i.e. those who from Jews, pagans, or other sects have been converted to the faith in adult age and recently baptized,2 until their firm faith is established from the declaration of the bishop.
How long the ordination of neophytes must be deferred, so that they can be judged sufficiently firm in faith and Christian virtue, is permitted to the judgment of the bishop, whose part it is to issue an authentic declaration on this matter. There are those who say that after ten years from conversion a neophyte is no longer irregular.3
b. The non-confirmed, because before confirmation they are not yet Christians in the full sense (sheep and soldiers of Christ).
The Council of Trent established irregularity from defect of confirmation.4 There are indeed those who deny this irregularity (Suarez, Reiffenstuel); nevertheless recent authors (Gasparri, Aichner, Wernz), appealing to repeated declarations of the Holy See,5 affirm that it exists and must be removed by dispensation of the Holy See.
1 Cf. sess. 23. c. 4. 11. 13. De reform.
2 1 Tim. 3, 6.
3 Cf. St. Alphonsus l. 7. n. 402.
4 Sess. 23. c. 4. De reform.
5 S. C. C. Sept. 27, 1601; May 15, 1802.